2015-16 NBA Season Preview: Orlando Magic
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Orlando Magic
2014-15
| Record | Southeast | East | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-57 | 5th | 13th | N/A |
Offseason Roundup
Re-signed Tobias Harris (4/$64M)
Projected Starting 5
- PG Elfrid Payton
- SG Victor Oladipo
- SF Mario Hezonja
- PF Tobias Harris
- C Nikola Vucevic
MVP: Nikola Vucevic
There's a case to be made for Harris or Oladipo here, but new head coach Scott Skiles will be hard-pressed to balance his shooting guard and forward rotations with the likes of Hezonja, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Channing Frye, and Andrew Nicholson all vying for minutes.
Although Oladipo is firmly planted as the team's starting two-guard, and Harris will split time between both forward spots, this duo won't have the same importance in Skiles' system as Vucevic.
The mandate for the Magic's coaching staff heading into 2015-16 will be to transform Vucevic from a subpar defender into one capable of guarding pick-and-rolls (i.e. better awareness on screens and nimbler footwork), and protecting the rim (he allowed opponents to shoot 53.7 percent at the hoop last season - ten percent more than his backup, Dewayne Dedmon).
Despite his defensive deficiencies, however, Vucevic is a highly productive offensive player. Making significant strides for a fourth pro campaigns, the 24-year-old averaged 19.3 points (52.3 field-goal percentage) in 2014-15, finishing the year ranked second to only Anthony Davis in total two-point field goals made (629). He also ranked ninth in total offensive rebounds with 238.
If Skiles can successfully morph his gifted big man into more of a two-way threat, Vucevic just may end up representing the Magic at the 2016 NBA All-Star game.
Breakout Player: Elfrid Payton
Payton came into the league touted as a crafty floor general with the ability to defend and distribute the rock with ease. In his rookie season in 2014-15, he lived up to the reputation, while teasing fans with some offensive bursts as an added bonus.
The soft-spoken 21-year-old is a perfect fit for Skiles' system, and a necessary ingredient to the ambitious coach's regular-season goals. At 6-foot-4, Payton is bigger than many of his counterparts, and uses his length to his advantage on defense. He accumulated 142 steals last season - good for seventh among all players.
He is also a pass-first point guard - 6.5 assists per game in 2014-15 - and heads into next season with even more offensively inclined teammates to set up than he had in his rookie campaign.
The 2015 All-Rookie first teamer already has the tools to be be a solid pro. It will be interesting to see how he improves in his sophomore year.
Season Expectations
Although the Eastern Conference remains inferior, top to bottom, than the West, Orlando will still struggle to earn a top-eight seed come April.
On paper, the Magic boast a wealth of young talent. However, as "young" is the operative word, the team may run into consistency issues due to their lack of experience.
With the 2015-16 season drawing nigh, the Magic have several factors working against them: Having one of the youngest rosters in the league, introducing a new coach and new schemes, and being in a division that will pit them against the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and Washington Wizards more times than they'd probably like.
The Magic are heading in the right direction, but they may be a year or two away from punching their ticket to the postseason.