You do not need to be a Magic fan to know that the team has one of the most coveted young cores in the league. There is just too much to be excited about in O-Town heading into next season! The Magic have arguably a top 3 defender in the league and a former number one pick, already on his redemption path, coming back from injuries. The team also has two exciting star potential guards from last year’s draft, a “smaller Kawhi” in the words of Terrence Ross and two hungry young centers looking to develop properly under the guidance of Coach Mose. Do not forget also the fact that the Magic have two top 10 picks at their disposal to use at the 2021 NBA Draft in less than two weeks. Jeff and John have certainly wasted no time in reshaping the team’s future after those tide-turning mid-season trades. Things are only looking up from here, but a certain question still remains up in the air. How close are the Magic to being in playoff contention once again?
This week’s article will explore the timetable for the Magic to contend in the Eastern conference, the consequences and rewards of our possible paths, and which situation would be most realistic: Playoffs or playing the lottery game once again?
On paper, most NBA fans will look at Orlando’s current roster and see a guaranteed lottery spot. Considering the lack of a true superstar, that assumption of failure would be pretty standard one to make. Although what some fans fail to take into account is the impact of a new coach. The hire of Jamahl Mosley might have been the best thing to happen to the Magic rebuild. Let’s take a quick look at two recent teams in the East who underwent coaching changes and how those teams went from zero to hero in the matter of a season:
2020-2021 Atlanta Hawks: Perhaps the most exciting and surprising aspect of this postseason was the Cinderella run made by the Atlanta Hawks, led by newly hired coach Nate McMillan. Many will remember this team for their astonishing young core taking complete control of multiple postseason games and feeding off the energy of the opponent. They beat the Knicks in 5 games, the Philadelphia 76ers in 7 games, and eventually lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 6 games in the Eastern Conference Finals. What many fans forget is this team was previously the 2nd worst team in the East with a top 6 pick in the draft and a team with an average age of under 25. Sound familiar? Then, this said team became the 5th seed under a new coach the following year. I understand Orlando does not have their established “Trae Young-type” superstar yet, but what many fail to ignore is that Trae Young certainly was not the only reason they won as much as they did. Watching those games made fans realize how important it is to surround your team with shooters like Huerter, Gallinari and Bogdanovic, rim protectors like Capela, and athletic energizers like Collins. Orlando may not have those exact players, but the team certainly has the tools to acquire those type of players and develop current players to that caliber. If there is anything Atlanta’s last playoff run showed us is that proper coaching, player development, and strong team chemistry can lead to infinite possibilities, regardless of the failures of the previous years.
2020-2021 New York Knicks: This section mainly focuses on the ability to succeed without a established superstar. In 2019-2020, I am certain not a single person looked at the Knicks and saw a star player on that roster, let alone a most improved player candidate, a All-NBA talent or a potential NBA All Star. Julius Randles massive leap from average to monster took the NBA world by storm and rejuvenated the Garden. His high level of play and Thibs’ new defensive schemes led to New York landing the 4th seed. Who’s to say Orlando’s young guys aren’t up next? To me, and I am certain to many other Magic fans, the Magic have at least 3 or 4 possible MIP candidates this coming season. Cole, being snubbed from Team USA selection as well as All-Rookie honors, must have a chip on his shoulder and looks ready to prove his doubters wrong. Prior to Markelle’s ACL tear, he was certainly on track to have a strong season and he was ready to put the league on notice. Now that Clifford is gone and we have a coach who is truly invested in the development of his young players, watch out for Mo Bamba to take a massive leap in minutes and production. Having to take a backseat to Vooch, Birch, and even WCJ took a toll on his early career, however, Mo looks more ready than ever to dominate and prove doubters wrong.
The most important thing to consider when asking ourselves what the Magic desired outcome is for next season is to look at the motivations of brand new head coach Jamahl Mosley. After watching the introductory press conferences and listening to his podcast appearances, it is easy to infer that coach Mosley’s main objective is developing our players’ skills, implement a culture in which our young players can thrive in and playing with offensive freedom. Immediately these attributes strike us as a coach looking to rebuild, but should our team gel properly, take leaps in chemistry and production, and win games consistently under Coach Mose’s pace and space offense, look out for our very own Cinderella run. This type of underdog season could see us fight for a playoff spot and already be considered as a team with Playoffs aspirations only half a year after the big three trades went down, which shows us just how quickly and successful this rebuild can be.
Should the Magic look to strictly focus on rebuilding and not winning? Nobody would be truly disappointed if that was the case. It is exactly what everyone is expecting after a season riddled by injuries and major coaching and roster changes. It would allow the Magic yet another chance to be in the running to acquire some great potential generational talent in the NBA Draft. Some of the more intriguing prospects of 2022 consist of Chet Holmgren (Gonzaga), Paolo Banchero (Duke), and Jaden Hardy (G-League Ignite). Holmgren is a 7 footer with guard skills and elite rim protection, who is a threat from nearly everywhere on the court. His biggest weakness is weakness itself, as many see his frail frame as a possible dealbreaker in the league. Banchero is a powerful slashing forward, drawing comparisons to John Collins or former Magic player Tobias Harris. Hardy is an elite scoring machine who loves playing off the iso, compared to James Harden and Bradley Beal. There’s no question next years draft is loaded with some stellar talent that the Magic would love to have a chance to acquire.
Regardless of which path the Magic take or how things end up playing out next season, after the 2021-2022 season the Magic should most certainly be in a position to push aggressively for a playoff berth. There is no doubt the Magic are in a much better position for a strong rebuild now and it seems as if the years of stress and pain are finally paying off and everything needed for our young guys to succeed is falling into place. Next season, Magic players will see nothing but exponential growth and improvement, regardless of where the team ranks amongst the league. Things are really looking up Magic fans, be ready for what should be exciting 2021-22 season!
By Kieran Patel
