Orlando Magic: Semblence of young core buys them time

Despite looking directionless and with a lot of money invested in their current group, the Orlando Magic have put together a young core worth getting behind.

One pick outside of the NBA Lottery hasn’t been known to change the outlook of a franchise one day after it happened, but in the case of the Orlando Magic, the addition of Cole Anthony came at the perfect time for them. Here is a point guard who, on the surface at least, looks like he will bring some flash to a franchise that has badly needed it in recent years.

Make no mistake, bringing in Anthony doesn’t solve all of the Magic’s problems. It could yet be that he wasn’t the right choice, but the prospect of him backing up, or playing alongside, fellow floor general Markelle Fultz is an exciting one worth giving real consideration too.

With Evan Fournier having opted into the final year of his deal, any Aaron Gordon suitors appearing to have moved on to other targets for now and Nikola Vucevic an All-Star level talent on a different timeline to most of the core, there is still a lot to figure out here. But bringing in Anthony gives the front office some credit with the fans again.

It is frustrating to stand pat while other organizations make bold moves to go all in or plan for the future. The Phoenix Suns went and got Chris Paul, while the Oklahoma City Thunder ensured they will have all 60 picks in next year’s draft, or something close to it. The Magic, did nothing, as has so often been the case.

But with Anthony now a part of the team, they can once again sell fans on the future. This isn’t the horrendous rebuild of before, full of bad decision making and no true superstar from a litany of losing seasons. No, this is the “Rebuild 2.0”, where the Magic are starting from a position of strength and back-to-back postseason appearances.

The market for Fournier isn’t huge, but he is an expiring contract with the kind of offensive game to be a great third option on a solid playoff outfit. He could be turned into more young players or picks so that the Orlando Magic take a step back in the short-term, only to leap above other teams in the next three to five years and near to the top of the standings.

This is hard to explain to fans who have just gone through a decade that was, to put it politely, excruciating at times. But do you know what helps massage this process? Having an exciting guard like Anthony showing off his offensive skills, while Fultz lobs the ball to Gordon for dunks and Jonathan Isaac comes back and locks down opponents.

To enter into a period such as this while so many of the top franchises in the East look as good as ever, the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat for example, also makes sense. There are no moves the Magic could make to overtake them, so why try? Wait it out a couple of years, see what develops internally, and then make your move.

The Orlando Magic’s young core is underway

That young core already in place is a great place to start. Fultz just had a great first year with the Magic. Anthony can hopefully over the next couple of seasons show that he was the right pick for the team. Wesley Iwundu is the kind of “3-and-D” guy that every team needs, and who continues to get better.

Isaac is the jewel in the crown here, and although he will have suffered two devastating injuries in just his first three years in the league, ACL tears aren’t the death sentence to a career they were even 10 years ago. Isaac’s game isn’t totally built on being explosive either, which is a positive. Mohamed Bamba, already somewhat forgotten about, would almost be a bonus if he turned into a competent backup to Vucevic at this point, plus Khem Birch already does that so well.

Even if Fournier can’t be moved, Gordon surely can. Vucevic possibly as well, with the nature of his deal meaning the money owed decreases over time. The Orlando Magic appeared stuck, and in some ways still are, but adding Anthony to the young core brings with it the potential for more flexibility. If he’s amazing right away, perhaps Fultz could be involved in a trade to get better now?

Terrence Ross is another guy who would be perfect on a contender, a Danny Green-lite, and when you consider what Green is still going for, he has value that the Magic could yet cash in on. All of this is possible because of the patience the front office has shown in waiting to get young guys they believe in, and although that isn’t always exciting or fun to watch unfold over time, we are getting to the point now where improvements can and will be made.

It starts with the young core, the group of players that Orlando Magic fans can and should be excited about. This isn’t Victor Oladipo, Mario Hezonja and Elfrid Payton. No, it has the potential to be much better than that. Fans know it too, which is why they are more onside with what the front office is trying to do over the next couple of years. There are exciting times ahead.