Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

5 Worst Starters of the Orlando Magic’s Rebuild Era

By Coby Leibowitz

CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 2: Dewayne Dedmon #3 and Victor Oladipo #5 of the Orlando Magic walk down the court during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 2, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - JANUARY 2: Dewayne Dedmon #3 and Victor Oladipo #5 of the Orlando Magic walk down the court during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on January 2, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next

Ever since the departure of what may be the franchise’s best player ever in Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic have gone through a bit of a rebuilding phase. They have made the playoffs as a lower seed a couple of times but have not been true contenders or threats since 2012.

Through that the Magic have made a lot of good draft picks, trades and signings to help the roster. They have traded for Evan Fournier and Markelle Fultz, and even more recently they drafted Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero.

Those were all great additions to the team that panned out well. But not every move has been like this. The Magic are not perfect and have definitely struck out a couple of times. They have taken big chances on some players in the draft, free agency, and through trades that have not panned out in the way they wanted.

There is a reason the Magic have been rebuilding for about 10 years.

The last decade of Orlando Magic basketball has often been frustrating as the team had talented players but could not put it all together. That is seen in some of the players the team has had to start.

The Magic have put together some solid teams in this process but have never been able to get past mediocrity. They have had some significant performers like Nikola Vucevic, Tobias Harris, Aaron Gordon and Victor Oladipo. But they have never been able to put together a complete roster.

Nikola Vucevic had a season where he averaged 20.8 points per game, 12.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steal per game. Victor Oladipo had a season of 17.9 points per game, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. And Arron Afflalo had a season of 18.2 points per game, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists per game.

These are all stellar seasons that were borderline all-star seasons. But they did not have enough help to have team success and make a playoff push.

These young talents and gems that they find are often surrounded by failed role players, and chances taken on young or new talent that did not pan out.

The team in this era has only had a winning record once, has had a high of 42 wins, finished last in their division six times and has made the playoffs twice, losing in the first round both times. This has been due to incomplete rosters, and players just not living up to expectations.

There have been some great players, some decent players, and some absolute misses during this long rebuilding process. Let’s take a look at who were the biggest misses and flops that were once in the starting lineup for your Orlando Magic.