What’s next, Orlando?

The NBA playoffs continue to roll along but my interest level has declined significantly. I often think to myself, “What if the Magic were still in it?” Alas, we are not, after being eliminated by Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors 4-1 in the first round. Am I sad? Of course! I am not disappointed, though. This Orlando team, which won 42 games this season after only winning 25 last season, is a team on the rise.

What is next? Between expiring contracts, a top-heavy draft, and having an excited fan base, the Magic have a lot on their plate. Unfortunately for them, this isn’t Thanksgiving. Some tough decisions will need to be made.

Mike and I at the Charlotte game in February.

Free Agent Nikola Vucevic

The first task is deciding what to do with first-time All-Star Nikola Vucevic. Putting up career-high numbers (20.8 PPG, 12.0 RPG), Nikola was a threat on offense all season. I was thinking about saving my Keith’s Take for a podcast episode, but I don’t want to hold back. Here goes! I think the Magic should let Vucevic walk, or at least let him explore free agency. Now, before you throw the book at me, hear me out! Vucevic has been excellent for us. His offensive game has expanded each year, his defense has shown glimmers of improvement, and he has become a leader on this young roster. That being said, I don’t think he fits in with the direction the team is going. The team we are building is athletic. A team that can blitz you. A team that can switch and recover. A team where the player playing the 4 can cover point and vice versa. Nik doesn’t fit that mold. He’s an excellent half-court player, and fits perfectly with DJ Augustin’s role with the team. DJ won’t put up the same numbers he did this season and I don’t think Nik will either. I love the guy, I really do. I would love to see him stay in the pinstripes forever. I think in order to take that next step, we need to give the reigns to Mo Bamba.

Free Agent Khem Birch

Re-sign him. If Nikola departs, Khem brought energy and hustle every night when Bamba was sidelined with injuries. He will get you a few buckets, grab a half dozen boards, and block a pair of shots. But it’s what does not show up on the stat sheet that defines Khem’s game.

Free Agent Terrence Ross

Bring back the Human Torch. The leader of our second unit was lights out this season, shooting .383 from deep. He put up career highs in almost every main statistical category COMING OFF THE BENCH. He fits the system. He has a great nickname. His shot is pure (Magic). Why not?

So pure. (Getty)

NBA Draft

This draft will be highlighted by Zion Williamson, we all know that. What should the Magic do? My wish is to get another G/F, or just a straight up point guard. The problem is, this draft is not super deep. The first pick is back in the 19th spot, a different spot for this team in recent history. I will write another article highlighting the potential suitors for the team.

This off-season will be crazy. There could potentially be a ton of moves and there could possibly be close to zero moves. The goal is to set up the remaining pieces to continue the success we had this season, but we all know this team can collapse on command if they want to. No matter what comes of the team, I’ll still stay Magic strong. I still get chills watching DJ drain the three over Marc Gasol to take game one of the series. I want more of that, and I think we will get it. Stay patient, my Magic comrades.

 

The Drought is Over

2012. The last year the Orlando Magic qualified for the NBA Playoffs. The Indiana Pacers completed the “gentleman’s sweep” of the Magic behind Darren Collison’s 19 points off the bench in Game 5. That playoff series loss was the start of the “rebuild” in the post-Dwight era. Five head coaches (yes, James Borrego counts in my book!), a plethora of talent being drafted and shipped away, and many losses later, the Magic are finally heading back to the postseason.

I am always overly confident in the Magic. You call it a fault, I call it believing in something.

“This is the year. On paper, we have the tools to make a run!” – something I would say after winning the first game of the season, then not even eclipsing 30 wins by the end of the year.

Going into this season I was more cautious. I kept a lot of my opinions to myself. I was very critical of Jonathan Simmons, who was traded in February for Markelle Fultz. I was not impressed with Jonathan Isaac’s start to the season. Coming off an injury-plagued rookie season, I expected a monster start. Instead, his explosion didn’t come until after the All-Star break, and his timing could not have been better. Speaking of All-Stars, Nikola Vucevic earned his first trip to the game this season, deservedly so. And how could I forget the Human Torch, a.k.a. Terrance Ross, who should definitely be in the talks for sixth man of the year! All of this plus strong contributions from role players such as Wes Iwundu, Khem Birch, and new-addition Michael Carter-Williams sparked this incredible run.

Steve Clifford, who was fired from Charlotte last season after he struggled with health issues, should be commended for his smart coaching. Instead of forcing lineups that didn’t work, he used trial-and-error to determine what moves to make. “Experts” before the season said our front-court was going to be dominated by Aaron Gordon and rookie Mo Bamba. How about Vucevic and Isaac running the show instead? Gordon slid in the 3, and DJ ran the point with Fournier playing the 2. Bringing Iwundu off the bench to relieve Gordon proved to be a winning move, as Gordon flourished with the second unit as the first starter to come back in. Frank Vogel, the previous coach of the Magic, seemed fixated on forcing people to stay in roles that weren’t fitting, with most notably having Terrance Ross start. Even though he played in just 24 games due to injury, it was evident he could not find his footing as a starter. This season, Ross has started exactly zero games and has been the leader of the second unit. Takes me back to the old days of Pietrus…

Thanks for the W, Charlotte!

This season has been vastly better than the past seven seasons, we know that. Many achievements from this year will be overshadowed in the future due to their actual insignificance in the big picture, but they certainly mean a lot now. Orlando scored the third most points in franchise history against Atlanta two nights ago (149). They also scored the most points in a half (82) in that game as well. A nine-game home win streak to end the season is the first win streak of that length since the 2008-09 season, where they won eleven in a row. Nikola Vucevic passed Shaquille O’Neal for third on the all-time scoring list. A perfect 5-0 record in March marked the first time Orlando swept a homestand of five-or-more games. The other night we did two things that will be overlooked: swept the season series (3-0) against the Celtics for the first time since the 90’s and also won the Southeast division for the first time since the 2008-09 season. I could go on, but you get the idea.

Whether it was just superior coaching and good health or the “magic” of the gorgeous throwback uniforms (which should be made the permanent uniforms), Orlando surprised many people this season. Finishing the season with a win in Charlotte gave the Magic their first winning record in seven years. I am proud of this team, but it is not over yet! Tune into ESPN this Saturday, April 13th at 5:00 PM EST to catch game one of the first-round match-up against the heavily favored Toronto Raptors. Let’s hope we witness some #PureMagic.