Going into this season everyone knew the Orlando Magic were going to struggle, probably not this bad though.
With the loss of All-Star center Dwight Howard in the offseason, the Magic tried to find a new identity. The problem? He wasn’t the only key component they were going to lose.
Orlando traded Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers last summer and shipped Jason Richardson up to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Mid-way through this season the Magic also moved key player and area favorite JJ Redick to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Any true fan would question these moves and rightfully so. However, first year General Manager Rob Hennigan deserves the benefit of the doubt.
In an era where its “win now” or “what have you done for me lately,” Hennigan is a man who wants to build with young talent and through the draft.
With the additions of young studs like Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic, the Magic are heading in the right direction.
Harris who is averaging 10 points and 5 rebounds per game is showing the Organization a great upside.
Vucevic, who was a part of the Philadelphia deal, is averaging better than 12 points and 11 rebounds per game at center.
“These guys are our future, and I’m excited to see how good they can become,” Hennigan said of his two young stars.
Both players did something this year that hasn’t been done since 1967 – each scored 30 points while snagging 19 rebounds in a game against the Bucks a week ago.
First year Magic coach Jacque Vaughn has done a fantastic job with this young group of kids. He is teaching them the game of basketball and doing it with an old school approach.
“It’s about playing each game as hard as you can, leaving it on the floor,” coach Vaughn said.
This year’s draft doesn’t have a franchise player in it, a game changer or a guy that can have a city put on his back.
For the Magic, that’s a good thing because the last two guys they asked that of, ended up in Los Angeles.
