The 2014-15 NBA season is an important year for the Orlando Magic. It will be the third season since Dwight Howard was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, and it is time for the Magic to start showing some improvement. In the last two seasons, the Magic have gone 43-121 as they traded away veteran players for young talent in order to lay a foundation for the future. Now, the Magic are stocked with potential and may be ready to take a step in the right direction this season.
What to Love
- The signing of power forward Channing Frye to a four-year $32 million contract. Frye averaged about 11 points and five rebounds last season and knocked down 37% of his three-point attempts. His shooting ability will help the Magic, who ranked only 20th in three-point field goal percentage last season.
- Rookie additions Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton. The Magic took Gordon, a power forward, with the fourth pick and traded for Payton on draft night, and both can be expected to have an immediate impact on the team this season. Given his preseason play and team needs, Payton will likely be the starting point guard this season, allowing Victor Oladipo to switch back to shooting guard. Payton has averaged 5.5 assists in 27 minutes during the preseason, showing that he is ready to run the Magic’s offense. Aaron Gordon has also played well in the preseason but he should not expect a big role this year. He is only 19 years old and his skill set is limited. He relies mostly on around-the-basket shots and put-backs, and had a 60% free throw percentage during the preseason. He will also have to compete for minutes with Tobias Harris, Maurice Harkless, Andrew Nicholson, and Kyle O’Quinn.
- Nikola Vucevic’s $53 million contract extension. Vucevic, acquired from the 76ers in the Dwight Howard trade, has been truly remarkable for the Magic as their starting center. Originally thought of as no more than a role player when he was traded to Orlando, he quickly proved doubters wrong, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds over the last two seasons. Vucevic was set to become a restricted free agent this summer before signing an extension with the Magic prior to the Oct. 31st He will now remain in Orlando at least through 2019, and will likely be one of, if not the best player on the roster through that time.
- The Eastern Conference. The Magic have missed the playoffs two years in a row and are expected by most to come up short again this year. However, there is always hope in the putrid Eastern Conference. Given the abundance of teams that are either rebuilding or lacking in talent, the Magic could realistically make it into the playoffs with less than 40 wins. This would not be the case in the Western Conference, where the Phoenix Suns won 48 games last year and still missed the playoffs.
What to Hate
- Opening night has yet to arrive, and the Magic are already reeling from injuries to two potential starters. Channing Frye suffered a sprained knee in practice and is out indefinitely, and Victor Oladipo’s potential breakout year will have to wait at least a month as he recovers from a facial fracture. Given that the early portion of Orlando’s season includes far more road games than home games, the Magic may find themselves hopelessly behind in the playoff chase by December.
- Road Games. The biggest threat to Orlando’s playoff hopes is the fact that they have to play half of their games in other cities. The Magic played poorly on the road last year, winning only 4 games. This season, the team has added lots of depth, along with veterans who can hopefully guide the Magic’s young core to a few extra road wins. However, if the Magic do as poorly on the road as they did last season, they will have a hard time reaching 30 wins, let alone the playoffs.
- Dwight Howard. ‘Nuff said.
- The Southeast Division. While the Magic are very lucky to find themselves in the Eastern Conference, they are unfortunately trapped in what may be the toughest eastern division. Lebron James may have returned to Cleveland, but he left behind Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, who look to lead the Miami Heat into the postseason. The Washington Wizards, lead by John Wall and Bradley Beal, knocked the Chicago Bulls out of the playoffs last season and look to build on their recent success. The Charlotte Hornets added Lance Stephenson in free agency and will vie for the division crown. The Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs without Al Horford last season, and now that he has returned from injury, expect to jump up a couple seeds. The Magic will have to constantly fight if they want to avoid finishing last in the division.
What to Ponder
- Can Elfrid Payton win Rookie of the Year? While most believe that honor is already reserved for either Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins, Elfrid Payton could certainly be a dark horse contender for the award. Given his position and Oladipo’s injury, he will receive more than enough playing time to put up good numbers, and if his preseason play is any indication, he is already the best point guard out of the draft.
- What is Tobias Harris’s future with the Magic? The Magic have until Oct. 31st to reach an agreement on an extension, and according to ESPN analyst Chris Broussard, that is not going to happen, which will make Harris a restricted free agent this summer. Also, according to Broussard, Harris’s endorsement deal with Nike allows him to earn more money if he leaves Orlando for a team in Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York.
- Can the Magic return to the playoffs? The talent is certainly there. The question is whether or not head coach Jacque Vaughn can utilize this talent and propel the team into its first playoff appearance since Dwight Howard’s departure.
Prediction
The Magic have talent and potential at every position and the roster has improved significantly from last year. A core of Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, and Nik Vucevic will likely grow into a championship contender in the Eastern Conference over the next few years. But right now, these players are still very young, and given the time Oladipo and Frye will miss with injuries, Orlando is not likely to make their playoff comeback this year. The Magic will likely finish as the 9th or 10th seed in the Eastern Conference.
Record Prediction: 36-46