Hoops Habit
Fansided

Orlando Magic: 3 broad goals for the rest of their season

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: The Orlando Magic look on against the Toronto Raptors on December 28, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: The Orlando Magic look on against the Toronto Raptors on December 28, 2018 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Have an All-Star player

In order for the Magic to move on to the next step in their development, having a recognizable All-Star level player would be ideal. Of course, there is no better candidate for them this year than center Nikola Vucevic.

He’s having the best season of his career, and as of right now ranks an unbelievable sixth in Player Efficiency Rating among all NBA players at 26.2. The Magic have only had one player this decade make an All-Star team, and that was Dwight Howard.

They have only ever had eight players make the midseason exhibition game in their history, and it would be fitting if Vucevic became No. 9. After all, he is in the process of making a case that he is a top 10 player in the franchise history.

Having an All-Star player like Vucevic would also legitimize how they are going about their business too. Their recent draft picks in Isaac and Bamba have been good, and to have an All-Star to pair with these guys and Aaron Gordon would be proof the Magic are going in the right direction.

Vucevic is an unrestricted free agent next summer, and while he is sure to have suitors who will offer him a lot of money, perhaps making a first All-Star team would convince Orlando that it should continue building around him as the team has tried to do for years.

The key difference now is that he has some legitimate help, and while Vucevic, Bamba, Isaac and Gordon all can’t likely play together in the long run, it’s getting harder and harder to think that the Magic would be better off without the Montenegrin big man who is doing it on both ends of the floor now more than ever.

Home/Orlando Magic