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Orlando Magic: 5 Reasons To Be Optimistic About The Future

By Luke Duffy

Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 22, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) high fives mascot Stuff after they beat the Philadelphia 76ers at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) high fives mascot Stuff after they beat the Philadelphia 76ers at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 103-98. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Nikola Vucevic

As a Magic fan it seems silly to point out, but Vucevic is already the real deal and could have been an All-Star this year. I say this is silly because I know how good he is, as do Magic fans. It’s other fans throughout the league, the more casual ones, who are seriously sleeping on this guy. I

n his fourth year in the league, he leads the Magic in points per contest (19.3) and rebounds (11.2). The guy is a double-double machine with a Player Efficiency Rating of 21.8 (league average is 15 and the next highest on this team is Tobias Harris with 16.6).

Offensively he does a heck of a lot for this team, but he’s not much of a rim protector yet. In any event, locking a talent like this down to a four year, $54 million deal is a steal when you consider the cap will rise in the next year or two as a result of the new television rights deal the league agreed.

This may be a guard-dominated league these days, but young bigs with serious potential who already carry teams are so hard to find. The Magic have theirs for the foreseeable future.

Next: That Backcourt

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