Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

3 players the Orlando Magic should cheer for in the playoffs

By Luke Duffy

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Mo Bamba #11 of the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Golden 1 Center on January 09, 2023 in Sacramento, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: Domantas Sabonis #10 of the Sacramento Kings is guarded by Mo Bamba #11 of the Orlando Magic in the second quarter at Golden 1 Center on January 09, 2023 in Sacramento, California. 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 Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before the game against the Utah Jazz. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 09: LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers before the game against the Utah Jazz. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

3. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

We cannot be serious, can we? LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers? The guy who spent so many years in the Eastern Conference tormenting the Orlando Magic, as well as everybody else.

James boasts a 40-20 record against the Orlando Magic, and during his tenure with the Miami Heat, routinely handed out thorough beatings. Interestingly though, he never beat the Magic in a playoff series.

Why fans should want to get behind him, for one game at least, is because his Los Angeles Lakers will be coming up against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their Play-In game Tuesday night.

The Timberwolves are not in a good place right now, with Rudy Gobert not traveling to Los Angeles after striking out at teammate Kyle Anderson. The trade to get him looking worse by the month.

If James and the Lakers can beat the Timberwolves, their other star players in Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards will ask serious questions about the direction that the franchise is headed. Especially heading into Friday’s elimination game against the up-and-coming New Orleans Pelicans or Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Timberwolves are in a dangerous spot in their development. And anything seems like it could be the death blow to this group, making another potential star available on the market.

The Timberwolves are not known for handling their business the right way going back to the Kevin Garnett days, and deep down growing star Anthony Edwards has to know winning at the highest level is unlikely there.

So it may be that the Magic have an unexpected opportunity as soon as this summer to potentially trade for a soon-to-be superstar in Edwards.

They have got the young players, and likely two lottery picks this coming summer as an excellent starting point. A Timberwolves win quells the noise, which is why Magic fans should want James to go off, if only for a single game.