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Orlando Magic: 3 former players that would have helped the current team

By Luke Duffy

16 Feb 2001: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic rests on the court during the game against the Houston Rockets at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. The Magic defeated the Rockets 108-93. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport
16 Feb 2001: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic rests on the court during the game against the Houston Rockets at the Compaq Center in Houston, Texas. The Magic defeated the Rockets 108-93. NOTE TO USER: It is expressly understood that the only rights Allsport are offering to license in this Photograph are one-time, non-exclusive editorial rights. No advertising or commercial uses of any kind may be made of Allsport photos. User acknowledges that it is aware that Allsport is an editorial sports agency and that NO RELEASES OF ANY TYPE ARE OBTAINED from the subjects contained in the photographs.Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport /
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Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic have a long way to go to become contenders again but have a wealth of former players who could be of great help to them right now.

Although we won’t be seeing a lot of change for the Orlando Magic this coming offseason, there is no doubt that they are in a much better place than they were even two years ago. Some shrewd free agency signings and not whiffing in the draft mean they are poised to continue improving if they keep on this trajectory.

With games off the tables for the moment, a fun exercise is looking back at previous players who suited up for the franchise and come up with three who, if you took the versions of themselves that played in Orlando and put them on today’s roster, would be helpful to the Magic now.

The franchise doesn’t get a ton of love from casual fans, or even other players, but throughout their 30-year existence, they have had several memorable players line out for them, even if they’ve never won a championship.

To make this list more interesting though, we tried to shy away from some of the names that jump out immediately. That means both Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard won’t be found here. Both are Hall of Famers and meant so much to the Magic and their fans. But inserting them in here would be too easy.

The league has also changed even since 2012 when Howard departed, with the games of both big men now as strongly linked to winning as before. You could even make the case, although I may have to delete my Twitter account once I do, that current center Nikola Vucevic is more well suited to the league today because of his skill set.

That’s a discussion for another day, but for now, let’s press on with three former players who would be a great help to the Magic if they were around today.

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