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Orlando Magic: 3 way-too-early bold predictions for 2017-18 season

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 23: Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and Head Coach Frank Vogel introduce 2017 Magic Draft Picks Jonathan Issac and Wesley Iwundu during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at Amway Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 23: Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and Head Coach Frank Vogel introduce 2017 Magic Draft Picks Jonathan Issac and Wesley Iwundu during a press conference on June 23, 2017 at Amway Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon, left, and Elfrid Payton celebrate at the conclusion of a 113-109 win against the Detroit Pistons at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images)
The Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon, left, and Elfrid Payton celebrate at the conclusion of a 113-109 win against the Detroit Pistons at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, April 12, 2017. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images) /

2. The Orlando Magic make the playoffs

For a team that haven’t been relevant since Dwight Howard left town in 2012, it’s hard know when their luck is going to change. They’ve won 132 out of a possible 410 games over the last five seasons, and only cracked more than 30 wins (35 in 2015-16) once.

They didn’t make any notable signings and right now not one player on their roster looks like a certain All-Star in the future.

Why then do they have a chance of making the playoffs this season? Well, they play in the Eastern conference.

It really is a simple as that. Just look at the below list of players (minus Gordon Hayward) the team won’t be vying for a postseason spot against.

The Magic will also have some form of continuity in that their core and head coach will remain from last season, while Terrence Ross will have the summer to fully acclimate with the team.

Looking at the teams who made the playoffs last season, both the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls figure to drop out of that top eight.

There are teams more likely to make a jump up the standings than Orlando (the Miami Heat, a healthy Philadelphia 76ers), but the path back to the postseason looks clearly than in years gone by.

It won’t be an easy task, but it’s not impossible either.

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