Hoops Habit
Fansided

Orlando Magic: Their All-decade least liked starting five

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Jeff Green #34 of the Orlando Magic gets introduced before the game against the Washington Wizards at Amway Center on November 25, 2016 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. (Photo by Manuela Davies/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 25: Jeff Green #34 of the Orlando Magic gets introduced before the game against the Washington Wizards at Amway Center on November 25, 2016 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. (Photo by Manuela Davies/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) /

Center – Dwight Howard

Where else can we start but at the center position and Dwight Howard? Time is a great healer, and Howard is having his best season in years with the Los Angeles Lakers, as a backup who does all the things his coaches wanted him to do at his previous stops after the Magic without moaning about his role.

Howard even participated in the Slam Dunk competition at the All-Star weekend in Chicago recently, proving that his public image has been repaired somewhat. He was also seen shaking hands and chatting with the Magic’s Aaron Gordon, and fans didn’t seem to really care. Back in 2012 though, this was a wildly different story.

Related Story. What to watch from all 30 teams in the second half. light

The tale of Howard has been told countless times already, but there is no escaping the fact that his desire to leave the franchise, first for the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to the Lakers, was what led to the many, many terrible years that followed. The Magic may have never won a title with Howard as their best player. They’d had their chance back in 2009, but because of the way he forced his way out, that fact is forgotten about.

The Magic were ahead of their time, playing four shooters around Howard in a style closer to what we see in the league today. The front office of the time did make some questionable moves after that 2009 run though, and Howard can’t be blamed for the fact that a team so close to winning it all lost their key guys and traded for Gilbert Arenas.

What he can be blamed for however is voicing his desire to leave, before changing his mind because of the kind of candy the Magic had on their team plane. Clashing with then-head coach Stan Van Gundy, before getting his wish to leave the organization, being sent to the Lakers instead of the Nets. That was bad, and everything that followed was a direct result of that. He’s the obvious choice for this team.

A special mention must go to Bismack Biyombo. Signed to a four-year, $72 million deal after a couple of good playoff games for the Toronto Raptors, his fit right away next to Vucevic was bad. Signing him made no sense, and it stopped the Magic from using the money in other areas where it was badly needed. Screening and rebounding was really all he did, and his time in Orlando personifies how bad things were there for a number of years.

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