Orlando Magic Team Review

 

2021-22 Finish: 44-38

 

Season Highlight:

The Magic had a pretty solid year really. They were touted as a riser but got off to a shaky start. Enter the new management. MaiLo is the highlight of the year for the team. MaiLo is a vet GM from the old league and has in the past been really fruitful with her line ups and sim testing, and this was no exception. The team was struggling and looking like a lock to be top 10 pick this year (which helped spur a Lillard trade to New York, netting this likely valuable pick), but there was a management disagreement and MaiLo was called upon to take over, and the team went from lottery central to finishing up as a 5^th seed. It wasn�t all MaiLo, there were injuries to other key teams but, they were much better even before all that and had a long way to come back from too.

 

Season Lowlight:

While MaiLo is a highlight for what she could do with the roster thrown into the fire mid season, the lowlight was losing Gav as a GM. Gav was by all reports and until the moment he departed, a class act, an easy guy to talk to, had fun, knew how to go after talent and despite struggling to get the results with the talent, he was the one that built the roster that went places under the new guidance, which shows his team building skills. We never like to see a GM leave, particularly under circumstances that are shrouded in confusion and wish Gav all the best.

 

Best Trade:

Magic send: Gordon Hayward, Donte DiVincenzo and Landry Shamet
Magic get: Tobias Harris, Daniel Gafford and Cody Martin

This trade was one of Gav�s last legacies for the team, and it was a winner. I was actually on the other end of this trade and at the time was thinking Hayward/Harris similar, Donte/Gafford similar but different positions and I didn�t need the big man as much at the time, and Shamet > Martin. Hindsight, even by me, says Harris > Hayward even just for games played. Gafford signed an extension and continues to be a solid 2k big man while Donte missed most the year, struggled and now is on a 1+1 deal, and Shamet I salary dumped while Martin broke out�This was a good one for the Magic.

 

Worst Trade:

Magic send: Derrick Jones Jr and 2024 Golden State 1^st round pick
Magic get: Jae Crowder, Pick 45 and 2023 Portland 2^nd round pick

It�s not a team killer by any stretch, but You can basically go here or there on who is better of Jones and Crowder, and yet somehow a 1^st round pick was needed to go out with him? Head scratcher.

 

Other Notable Trades:

Magic send: Markelle Fultz and 2023 Orlando 2^nd round pick
Magic get: Lauri Markkanen

Realy solid deal of need for need when you have Trae and Murray already in tow, switching Fultz to Markkanen.

 

Magic send: Maxi Kleber
Magic get: Derrick Jones Jr.

Not really much to this, simple positional swap.

 

Magic send: Jeff Green
Magic get: Elijah Hughes and cash considerations

Send out the old guy for points and youth.

 

Magic send: Daishen Nix
Magic get: Jock Landale

Nix was due to need a roster spot, and was not needed, so swapped for a young Aussie big man who has now assumed full reserve big man duties for the Suns in the NBA. Good dealing.

 

Free Agency:

The Magic are already well into the hard cap with guaranteed money, let alone with cap holds, so they are a non-player in the FA market. They might use a Tax Payer MLE on someone as they do need to fill 2 roster spots, assuming you let JaMychal Green walk, or do you? They need to pay Cody Martin which is a shame to the bank balance, but otherwise they�re probably set.

Cody Martin � RFA, guaranteed return, and a needed player.

Davon Reed � RFA, guaranteed return and nice rotational young guy so why not.

JaMychal Green � UFA, should be an easy retain for no points, so probably comes back for big man depth.

 

Star:

Trae Young

Who else? This guy is a genuine star of the league and it�s no surprise he�s the star of his own team. 26 points, 3 boards, 6 assists and 48% shooting from deep in an engine that doesn�t like shooting. There is no stopping this guy and with recent changes, he�s all the more important with an anchor down low now, and a nice rotation of wings and others around him. If you can stop Trae, you can stop the Magic, you�d think, but that�s a tall order.

 

Flop:

Dejounte Murray

This is really, really harsh�but I couldn�t see past it when looking for a season disappointment. Sure, Tobias Harris wasn�t a 20 point guy anymore, but Murray who absolutely smashed the NBA last year managed only 12/5/5 here last year including 30% from deep and 68% from the line. The ball isn�t in his hands as much as the NBA, of course, next to Trae, but an NBA Murray next to a 2kTrae is a recipe for much greater things than a 5^th seed. And it got him sent out of town.

 

Draft Grades:

#16 � Ochai Agbaji

I was pleased with it before, and not much has changed since giving an A+ grade to this pick. He was traded in the NBA, but to a team that will likely look to the future very soon and give him all the team he needs to develop and here�s my original break down:

�I love this pick, even more-so because of where he lands with the Magic. They just got Jarrett Allen, they have Aaron Gordon (now, but likely agreed before draft anyway), they have Tobias Harris, they have an elite young guard core. So, what about a potentially elite 2 way wing to throw into the mix? Yes please. Absolute perfect fit. 2way guy, with upside and maybe the best guy on the board still, too.�

 

The Future:

The Magic are a really interesting squad. They have a nice blend of and and reaching their prime, and some kids too. KLove is obviously 34, but he�s expiring. Tobias is 30, but has years left and everyone else? 27 and below. Trae and Jarrett are 24 only. Suggs, Mitchell, Gordon, Martin. It�s got riser written all over it, and they could already challenge for that top 4 seed again next year. In short, they are in the mix now and they have a bright bright future ahead.

C: Jarrett Allen/Jock Landale
PF: Aaron Gordon/Kevin Love/JaMychal Green
SF: Tobias Harris/Cody Martin/Ochai Agbaji
SG: Davion Mitchell/RJ Hampton/Davon Reed
PG: Trae Young/Jalen Suggs