Orlando Magic: Will continuity push them to the top in 2019-20?

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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Orlando Magic
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Predictions

The Magic are a good team that will go on runs as a result of their defensive capabilities and rack up some impressive wins, just like they did last season. 50 wins seems achievable if everything goes really well, and chasing homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs should be the minimum goal set.

Even if they fall short of these expectations, they still have enough young players who have given us reason to believe they can improve. At least one of them should improve to a noticeable degree., enough for others to take notice. Also likely is a second young player (most likely Fultz or Bamba), just being on the court more and helping in less noticeable ways.

They should have at least one All-Star, and a trade doesn’t seem likely at this point. The front office wants to stay the course, and even if the Magic fail to live up to expectations, it would want to go really bad for personnel movement to come about anyway.

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This won’t be a rebuilding year but certainly will be one where they continue to build on what they have started. Only the Denver Nuggets can boast more continuity on their roster than the Magic, and on some nights that will show and get them over the hump. There will be adversity and annoying losses, but they seem better equipped to deal with these setbacks. The Orlando Magic are coming.