Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

5 questions for the Orlando Magic’s 2023 Offseason

By Harrison Brown

The Orlando Magic found themselves facing overtime again against a hot Miami Heat team. This time they pulled through for a win. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic found themselves facing overtime again against a hot Miami Heat team. This time they pulled through for a win. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Bol Bol, Orlando Magic
ORLANDO, FLORIDA – MARCH 05: Bol Bol #10 of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball during the second half of a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Amway Center on March 05, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. 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 James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

5 questions for the Orlando Magic’s offseason

4. Which players are on the bubble to make the team?

Orlando has several players on the roster who have had up-and-down seasons with inconsistent playing time. This is largely due to injuries but also a young team experimenting. There just is not time for everyone. R.J. Hampton was already a casualty of this roster squeeze. The Magic simply cannot play everyone.

The Magic have at least three incoming players if they keep their draft selections and have the fourth-most cap space in the NBA with potentially $37 million to spend this summer (more realistically, it will be in the $23-25 million range for free agency).

Chuma Okeke has seen his role diminish from a primary scorer to an out-of-rotation player throughout his Magic tenure. There was excitement surrounding what Okeke could turn into after an impressive rookie season, but other players have outperformed him in the last two seasons.

He has dealt with a slue of injuries, but the former 16th overall selection has yet to carve out a role while incoming players such as Bol Bol, Moe Wagner and Caleb Houstan have earned rotation minutes.

Hopefully, Okeke can turn his career around, but it will be difficult to crack the depth chart moving forward with Orlando. The Magic might prefer to use his roster spot for new talent with a different skill set.

Bol Bol set the NBA on fire at the start of this season averaging a career-high and taking advantage of his opportunity on an injury-plagued roster. His skill set of ball handling, outside shooting, finishing and passing at his size was an exciting development for the young player.

He was finally starting to see significant minutes and the once top-5 projected NBA prospect was showing what he can become. But his defense was impossible to ignore and once his shots started not falling, and his minutes significantly decreased.

If the front office wants to capitalize on Bol’s value as a tradeable asset, this would be the offseason to do so. Young teams could take a flier on his to see if his midseason regression was a result of his first full NBA season. Orlando has depth at the forward position so this could be a deal to prevent a logjam.

Goga Bitadze was impressive in his 17 games in pinstripes playing as the backup center. He did a great job defending the paint and playing through others on offense, but his finishing and jump shot still need work.

Bitadze is a former first-round pick. But clearly, the big man lacked market value as the Indiana Pacers had to waive him for a cost-cutting trade.

If the Magic feel that they have seen enough through those 17 games to determine they can upgrade the position, then they can look elsewhere as his contract is fully non-guaranteed.

Kevon Harris had an excellent season with the Magic. In his first full NBA season, he played in 34 games and hustled every second. He is 6’6 and strong so he can defend using his size and is a great rebounder as well.

Harris was always exuding energy when in the game and shot 37.2 percent from behind the arc. Out of the Magic players who played at least 34 games, he was second on the team in three-point percentage behind Gary Harris.

Harris is a true professional and never knew when he would be playing on any given night, but he gives his all. He is already 25 years old so the Magic might look to move on from him to find a younger player for their two-way roster spot. Harris though is on the second year of a two-way contract so his role will remain limited if he stays with the team.