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Orlando Magic: 3 goals for the 2019 offseason

By Luke Duffy

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 03: Aaron Gordon #00 Evan Fournier #10 Nikola Vucevic #9 and Terrence Ross #31 all listen to head coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic during the final minutes of the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on March 03, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Magic 107-93. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - MARCH 03: Aaron Gordon #00 Evan Fournier #10 Nikola Vucevic #9 and Terrence Ross #31 all listen to head coach Steve Clifford of the Orlando Magic during the final minutes of the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on March 03, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Magic 107-93. 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. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Sign the right players

More than anything else, the Magic need to make sure they sign the right players to come and join what they’re building. As great as it is to be in the mix for guys of Kemba Walker‘s caliber, this likely isn’t the summer when that big-time move is made. Calls for the addition of Mike Conley through a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies seem wide of the mark given where this team is at too.

We saw already what a positive impact Terrence Ross had when he came over from the Toronto Raptors in the trade that sent Serge Ibaka the other way, and this year he was a snub not to receive Sixth Man of the Year consideration, especially as he became the first player to make over 200 3-pointers off the bench (he finished with 217) without starting a single game.

The Magic need another guy who won’t break the bank to come in and have a similar impact. They need a player who could be the second, or maybe even third, best player on a championship team, depending on how high you think Gordon’s ceiling will ultimately be (or Isaac’s for that matter).

People who fit the bill include Bojan Bogdanovic (unrestricted) and Malcom Brogdon (restricted). Below that tier exist solid veterans who can be leaders and could fit into the Magic’s style of play including Thaddeus Young (unrestricted), J.J. Redick (unrestricted) and Danny Green (unrestricted).

Adding somebody like D’Angelo Russell (restricted, but could find himself as the odd man out if the Brooklyn Nets convince Kyrie Irving to come to town) or DeMarcus Cousins (unrestricted, with injury again muddying his value) may seem intriguing if it is possible to get one of them, but there is always the risk that they could be arriving too soon, or that their personality won’t mix well with what has been created in Orlando.

No matter who the player is, and the Magic will have some money to go out and get players, especially if they bring back only Ross and not Vucevic. They need to make sure they target the right person for where they’re at right now, chasing after proven players who have been in some playoff battles and can elevate those around them.

Next. Post-combine 2019 NBA Mock Draft. dark

They have a nice thing going after being a feel-good story this season, and the plan should be to not rock the boat too much, while also improving the roster. It’s a difficult task, and the most important one the front office will undertake this summer.

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