How to Fix the Orlando Magic

How can we fix the Orlando Magic?

This team has not been to the playoffs since 2012 and has not been past the first round of the playoffs since 2010. In a league where more than 1/2 the teams make the playoffs, it simply isn't good enough. The truth is that it is very sad actually. What's worse is this team looks like it will miss out again this year and it doesn't look to get better anytime soon. What can we do to improve this outlook?

Sell! Sell! Sell!

I get it. Tanking sucks. It sucks to miss out on the playoffs year after year. It is a tough sell to fans, especially when the drought to the playoffs has already been so long. You know what though, it is also necessary. The worst place to be in professional sports other than the NFL is in the middle. We don't want to be in the middle ever (especially the lower 1/2 of that middle like we are now). You have to be really good or really bad. Since we aren't really good, we must trade for the future, get bad now, and go for the future. The painful truth is that it must be done.

The current cast has a ceiling of the 8th seed in the playoffs. That is their ceiling and honestly, I don't see them even accomplishing that. There are too many barriers, but if we tear it down like I outline below, you can make something happen in the next 3 years. If we hit on everything I say, this team can actually compete for an NBA Championship!

Who should we keep and who should we dump though?

I'll split guys into 3 categories, who to definitely keep, who we should try to keep, but be open to move, and who to trade.

KEEP
Jonathan Isaac - Isaac is basically a rookie this year after a devastating injury last year and is starting to develop. He is a great defensive player, has good length, and gets better daily. Additionally, he is fairly cheap for a starting player since he's on his rookie deal.

All Expiring Contracts Unless we get Draft Picks or usable pieces - All expiring contracts can be used to get better players in the off-season. A team that is looking to get better in the long term, must hold onto these in today's NBA. Unless we get great value at the deadline, we should hold onto these players with some exceptions. Use the money to make a run at Klay Thompson. This team just needs a stud in the backcourt and I see Klay Thompson as that franchise changing piece. For some reason, I just get the idea that he wants to be THE GUY. We'd afford him that chance, but have to be able to have $$$ to offer.

Wes Iwundu - Iwundu seems like he could breakout at any moment to me. He's a great switch defender and has a 7'1 wingspan. Add into that the fact that he makes less than 2 million a year and is looked up for 2 years and we need to hold onto Iwundu.

Be Open To Trade
Mo Bamba - I like Mo Bamba. I think he is going to be really good, but this team has a decision to make. Do we move forward with Mo Bamba or do we build the team around our best player in Vucevic and somebody else? We should be giving top $$$ to one frontcourt player and one backcourt player. Having two of our best players as centers doesn't make a ton of sense moving forward. This is especially true with Aaron Gordon making 21 million. We must get a more quality team. While I like Bamba, if trading him gets us more picks or better overall, we must look at a trade.

Nikola Vucevic - I personally feel we should build around Vucevic (who is due a huge raise). Vuc has been our best player and one that is wildly consistent, but.....  we could probably get a haul for him and he is not guaranteed to return to the team. I think we may get some crazy good offers for Vuc.
DJ Augustin - Augustin is actually a decent point guard. He's been effective and hes pretty cheap for an NBA Starting Point Guard. He's not elite enough to take this team to the next level by himself, but he's a good player. I'd like to keep him, but he may be more valuable to the future in a trade.

Terrance Ross - I want to hold onto expiring contracts and I like Terrance Ross. I just feel he is the most likely to be traded. Already used to the 6th man role and could be very valuable to a playoff squad as a shooter off the bench. I can definitely imagine a team like the Lakers giving up some good young talent for Ross.

Try With All Your Might To Trade
Timofey Mozgov - He doesn't even play and he makes 16 million. What a waste of $$$. Try to take back a similar bad contract, but one that expires this year from a playoff team. Pair him with a Vucevic or a Ross and there is a chance it can happen. Again, idea is to free up $$$ for a Klay Thompson type.

Evan Fournier - There is no Magic player (that plays) that frustrates me more than Evan Fournier. Why does this guy make 17 million? He makes it very unlikely we can get an elite guard or keep Vucevic. Our team simply can't compete with the contracts of Mosgov, Fournier and...

Aaron Gordon - I like Aaron Gordon. He's a good player. I can actually see why the Magic think he was worth 21 million. Just think we would be better off getting some other talent and draft picks and using that $$$ elsewhere.

So there you have it. Trade Gordon, Fournier, and Mosgov. Free up cap space. Bring in Klay Thompson or Kyrie or some other stud. OR bring in a group of higher end talent that isn't quite max level, but close and cheaper. Just don't stick with the status-quo of finishing 9th - 11th place in the East. The current plan is not working. Time to change course.

Heck, if you do this, you get a better player in the draft too!

Either way though #PureMagic and Go Magic!

- Noland

2019 And I'm Finally Back!!!!

So guys I know what you are thinking!!!

Noland you only had 2 posts in 2017, in 2018 you only had 1 post and it was an update. Where the heck have you been?

Truth is that I have been focusing on other endeavors as I said in my last post. That is still true, but I promise to post at least once monthly in 2019. The goal for now is 15 posts for the year and I think that will be pretty simple to accomplish. You will get some sports takes here. You will get a lot more if you follow me on Twitter @norob87. However, you will get much more in depth stuff here and I look forward to sharing that stuff with you.

So what has changed for me sports wise from the beginning of 2017 until now?

Well, we are Magic fans now. I no longer support the Wizards mess. I always liked the Wizards growing up, but they are much more difficult to follow in central Florida and I have lived in Florida since 2005. Also, my 6 year old son wanted to pull for the Magic, so that was an easy switch for me to make. I can watch every Magic game and I can't come close to that for the Wizards without buying NBA League pass. Additionally, once the Magic drafted Jonathan Isaac from Florida State in 2017, it was an easy switch to make. Root for the local team and Florida State star Jonathan Isaac or root for a team thousands of miles away with a gator as one of their major stars? The move had to be made to pull for the Magic.

Also we are full blown Bolts fans at this point. We (Jr. and I) finally attended our 1st hockey game and the boys in our family have Bolts fever bad!!! Jr. and I both love Killorn and he is our favorite player. Jr. even got a puck right from Killer Killorn at our 1st Bolts Game!!! He is just a great guy, a real hustle player and he's super clutch. Add in that he was nice to my boy and it's impossible to not love the guy. Eli Thomas prefers Kucherov, but who doesn't. This team is just so likable. We could all make a list of our favorite players and just love this team. Let's Go Lightning!!!! Eli will be attending his 1st game very soon also!!!

Go Noles!
Go Orioles!
Go Bolts!
Go Bucs!
Go Magic!

Lots of hot takes and informative takes to come in 2019. We are still looking for the good guys in sports here too. Luckily, Jr. and I found one in Alex Killorn!

- Noland