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Orlando Magic Best of the Decade: All-2000s Team

By Harrison Brown

ORLANDO, FL - MAY 16: (L-R) Jameer Nelson #14, J.J. Redick #7, Rashard Lewis #9, Vince Carter #15 and Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic huddle up against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 16, 2010 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MAY 16: (L-R) Jameer Nelson #14, J.J. Redick #7, Rashard Lewis #9, Vince Carter #15 and Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic huddle up against the Boston Celtics in Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at Amway Arena on May 16, 2010 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic had a star-studded cast during the 2000s era of their franchise history. There was not a lot of playoff success — at least not until the end of the decade. But the Magic had two superstar players and used a few big Lottery picks to develop a team around them and return to the championship stage.

We saw this in the Dwight Howard rebuild in the middle of the decade when he was selected in 2004.

The teams at the beginning of the 2000s had potential, but injuries and perhaps Doc Rivers hurt their chances to be successful. The rebuild that started after the Tracy McGrady trade brought a new era for Orlando which was filled with excitement.

Still, it was a mixed bag for the decade. The Magic made the playoffs six of the 10 years of the early aughts but did not get out of the first round until the 2008 season, the first playoff series win for the Magic since the 1996 season.

The Orlando Magic had an eventful decade in the 2000s as they spanned the Tracy McGrady era to the Dwight Howard era. It ended with the team on the doorstep of a championship and perhaps the best teams in franchise history.

That is to say, the 2000s were a time of great transition. The Magic initially hoped to have the decade anchored by the free-agent acquisitions of Tracy McGrady and Grant Hill. It ended up getting anchored by their third No. 1 overall pick in Dwight Howard and ended with a trip to the NBA Finals.

Sorting these two eras is certainly difficult in what turned out to be an eventful and franchise-changing decade. To name an all-decade team, I focused on a combination of how well each player played while they were in pinstripes, but also how long they played for the Magic — there was a lot of turnover, especially early in the decade.

I base my decisions on accolades, team success, and tenure. This roster is easily one of the more talented of the 2000s decade and is a bright spot for Magic fans as it includes the last of the true Orlando teams that competed for a championship.