What am I supposed to write about these guys?
Notable Additions/Subtractions:
Additions: Moe Wagner (2yr/$3.6m), Robin Lopez (1yr/$5m)
Subtractions: Otto Porter Jr. (free agent, Golden State), James Ennis (free agent), Dwayne Bacon (free agent, Knicks)
Projected First Two Rotations:
Starters: M. Fultz, J. Suggs, T. Ross, C. Okeke, W. Carter Jr
Second Unit: C. Anthony, R.J. Hampton, G. Harris, F. Wagner, M. Bamba
Last Season’s Record: 21-51 (14th in the East)
So like, what? I don’t know what to write about this team. All of these blogs have been like 650ish words and now I have to throw up something about the Orlando Magic.
Look at the offseason moves. Oh you brought in Boston Celtics legend Moe Wagner for less than two million dollars per season, congratulations. Oh you brought in Robin Lopez for five million dollars for one season(??????) so the Wizards, a divisional rival, can improve. Congratulations.
The Magic at this point should hope Markelle Fultz gets healthy enough to play basketball again so they can immediately trade him for one more dynamic scoring forward of some variety. Cole Anthony and 2021 #5 overall pick Jalen Suggs should secure the backcourt for the relative future, even if neither of them present over 6’4” or are “wing” scorers in the traditional sense. They’re both explosive lead guards that have the potential to coexist, especially since they’re both good, if not great three point shooters.
The move to trade for Wendell Carter Jr. that landed Nikola Vucevic in Chicago shouldn’t worry Magic fans too much. Vucevic is 30, and the Magic’s roster was simply not built to win in the next 5-6 years without drastic movement to win around Vuc. It’s still not really built to win, but 6’10” with a 7’5” wingspan Carter should anchor their defense for the foreseeable future. Notably, Jonathan Isaac injured himself again, with an ACL tear sidelining him for all of last season, but his return should give the Magic some hope. Whether the backcourt pairing involves Fultz or not, Isaac’s return and pairing with Terrence Ross on the wing is better than not having him, undoubtedly.
Suggs gives the Magic a lot of hope for the future, as he’s charismatic and a great leader, as proved in his championship campaign at Gonzaga. He brings a ton of skill and size, and he has a knockdown jump shot. He sat out a good piece of Summer League due to a sprained thumb, but that shouldn’t be a lasting injury in and of itself. Michigan’s Franz Wagner has the potential to fill some of the Isaac role as well, especially if his injury doesn’t progress back the way that it should.
Yeah I mean I don’t know, they’re the Magic. Jalen Suggs shouldn’t have fallen to them, so they better hope that they don’t blow it. Cole Anthony is good. Wendell Carter Jr. can be good. If Markelle Fultz and Jon Isaac come back, they might be good enough to be not that good, but not the worst team in the East. I don’t know.
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