Orlando Magic: 2018-19 NBA season preview
By Luke Duffy
Storyline 2: The crowded frontcourt
Equally as important to the Magic’s growth this season will be how quickly, if at all, their young core of Gordon, Isaac and Bamba can jell. The sooner this happens, the quicker the organization will rise up through the rankings in the East.
This storyline has far more serious implications if there are issues in year one however, as there is a glaring problem with building around these three players. Having your best three players all be forwards/centers in today’s NBA is unconventional.
The league has gotten smaller and it is guard dominated, although the shooting potential of all three, particularly from deep, may make this a non-issue. What is a problem, however, is what would be required of Gordon if all three become mainstays in the starting unit.
Gordon works best as a power forward, the position currently occupied by Isaac. Although Isaac can also play as a center given his height, Bamba it is hoped will be the long-term solution here. This puts Gordon back as a small forward when playing with the other two.
The last time he played in this position under Vogel, it ended badly. Only when Gordon went back to the four did he have the mini-breakout season that we saw last year. He may not be too thrilled about moving back down the positional ladder.
The final kink to add in here is the fact that there are only so many minutes to go round. If all three grow like they’re supposed to, there’ll come a point when one of them will be unhappy with their role and minutes.
Which is why Orlando is on the clock already to try and figure this thing out. A slow start to this season that ultimately ends with a sub .500 record isn’t a problem. But the prospect of this not working out and another mini-rebuild at some point down the road is too much to handle.