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7 players the Orlando Magic gave up on too soon

By Luke Duffy

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: U.S. Team's Elfrid Payton #4 of the Orlando Magic reacts with U.S. Team's Victor Oladipo #5 of the Orlando Magic during the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge as part of the 2015 NBA Allstar Weekend at the Barclays Center on February 13, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13: U.S. Team's Elfrid Payton #4 of the Orlando Magic reacts with U.S. Team's Victor Oladipo #5 of the Orlando Magic during the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge as part of the 2015 NBA Allstar Weekend at the Barclays Center on February 13, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 08: Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic waits to inbound the ball. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 08: Victor Oladipo of the Orlando Magic waits to inbound the ball. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

7 players the Orlando Magic gave up on too soon

2. Victor Oladipo

This one only hurts more as time goes on, and untangling the mess that it was before Victor Oladipo’s departure is a tricky one.

Picked second overall in 2013 (the highest selection the Magic would ever have in the post-Dwight Howard rebuild era), Oladipo was seen as a player who could one day be a superstar.

It is unfortunate both that the Magic got their highest pick from that era in a particularly weak draft, and that Oladipo would go on to be the best version of himself elsewhere.

You are kidding yourself if you think you were not happy to see him get traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in that horror show Serge Ibaka deal, but that is not the point of this exercise.

Even with the injuries that would surely have come anyway, the best of Oladipo was close to happening in Orlando until the Magic decided to trade him away.

He did become a multiple-time All-Star, and he did transform into one of the 20 best players in the NBA while with the Indiana Pacers.

He helped another small market in the Pacers become a national story while he was at his peak.

So yes, the Magic gave up on his talents too soon. Getting Ibaka back makes this even worse, but really it is the revisionist history on Oladipo’s time with the Magic that grates.

He wasn’t working out as the number one option, although having the likes of Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja trying to help wasn’t ideal.