Orlando Magic Season Preview

Orlando Magic

2014 Record: 23-59

2015 O/U 32.5

Who are their stars?

In the theme that most teams have the inside out combination as their go to I would look at Victor Oladipo and Nik Vucevic to be the winning combo in Orlando. This team is so stacked with young up and coming talent that about three or four other guys could be the stars of this team at some point, but in 2015 I think Oladipo will have to carry some weight. He is arguably the best defender on the team, but nonetheless can hold his own against most guards in the league. If he can figure out the scoring, in which is he isn’t below average at, he is on his way to an all star appearance. Vucevic is valuable in the way that how many teams have that center that they can rely on. “Vucci” is a guy who can score and rebound on the offensive end in a great fashion. Where Oladipo lacks, Vucevic excels, and where Vucci lacks on defense we see Oladipo keeping guards outside of the paint. We may not be looking at Kobe and Shaq, but as mentioned the people surrounding them and the fact that at ages 23 for Oladipo, and 25 for Vucevic that these two are now the leaders of this team is something to look forward to in Orlando.

Who are the glue guys?

I think Oladipo is better, but it isn’t exactly by much over Elfrid Payton. Payton, like Oldaipo is a great perimeter defender, and the two are as a good a combination as any. Payton, also like Oladipo needs to get a better shot. At 21 he has a lot of time to grow, and whichever one becomes the perimeter threat on offense will be the hardest to guard, but they both can attack the rim, and they both can score. Mario Hezonja was drafted after a couple years of pro ball in Europe and he is a guy who has the perimeter shot. He can play with either as the bench guard, can run the offense as the 6th man, and may get minutes at the small forward position when the team wants to run. Hezonja is only 20, but as I mentioned he has been playing with grown men. I don’t expect him to dominant, but as a 6th man and energy guy, you cannot ask for a better fit. Tobias Harris is a guy that does just a little bit of everything that makes you want to keep him around. He can go down and play the stretch four and has enough size to stay competitive, and can also be a scorer next to Oladipo and Payton on what is a long back court lineup.

Who are the rotational players?

Speaking of long players, the bench of Orlando features the size to match their top 5 players. Channing Frye will start, but isn’t necessarily a key piece. He is key in the fact that he can stretch the floor, and defend the four next to Vucevic and ease things up for him, but as mentioned if Harris can do that he may see less time. Aside from Harris, Aaron Gordon enters his second year and has the looks of being that futuristic stretch four. He is extremely athletic at 6’9” and has been developing his game. Running fast would really play well to Oladipo and Paytons’ athleticsm and guys like Gordon and Harris down at the four with Hezonja running in the three seems like a lineup that can run teams off the floor. In for Hezonja, the team can throw Evan Fournier out there who is also young and the rise from rotation to glue player. Fournier can play the two and the three, and the versatility is strong for the Magic. A veteran like CJ Watson is an underrated move in the fact that he can keep this young players in check throughout the season, and teach them how to deal with a night in and night out grind.

Where do they rank? Over Under? How far can they go?

If you cannot tell by the positivity, I see a big step forward for Orlando this year. I think this is the big step for the franchise and I think for the entirety of the year they are dueling for a playoff spot. When ranking these teams I found myself tossing up the Celtics and the Magic for the eight seed, and couldn’t quite bring myself to decide. I see Boston as having the better coach, but if this talent on the team can connect they are going places. In all the eight seed is bright for them and the 9th isn’t awful because it may come with a top ten pick. At the end of the day I will go over here and look for the Magic to make that splash this season.

Over 32.5 wins, 9th in the Eastern Conference, 18th in the NBA