The Orlando Magic have surpassed the 30 wins regular season threshold just once in the past six seasons, having finished 25-57 in the 2017-18 campaign.

Patience runs thin in a city that has not seen the playoffs since the final 2012 campaign of Dwight Howard. Second-year President Jeff Weltman and General Manager John Hammond continue to preach patience and building things the right way, but the time for patience is running short.

The Orlando Magic’s pixie dust has appeared to dissipate into the forms of Indiana Pacers’ Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis, Los Angeles Clippers’ Tobias Harris, Portland Trailblazers’ Moe Harkless, New Orleans Pelicans’ Elfrid Payton, and many more. The Magic cannot seem to hold onto their young players long enough to see their potential realized.

For this reason, Aaron Gordon’s 2018-19 performance is beyond critical. After inking a four year, $76 million deal in as quiet a market as we’ve ever seen (See Julius Randle’s two year, $18 million contract with Player Option), the time has come for the fruits of labor to realize itself into tangible improvement.

Offseason Upgrades?

Weltman chose to forego utilizing the critically invaluable Mid-Level Exception for reasons unknown, money that could have been used on a market flush with affordably priced point guards in Seth Curry, Yogi Ferrell, Shabazz Napier, and Isaiah Thomas. Besides, the Magic utilized their two second-round picks (35/41) on long-armed wings instead of packaging the picks and moving up to select one of the four point guards from 31-34. Instead, Weltman and Hammond unloaded Biyombo, and not one, but two second round picks for the unusable Timofey Mozgov, and Bull’s former point guard, Jerian Grant. A 97% percentile playmaker and 71% defender, Grant carries a grade of C- or worse in every other category including perimeter shooting, where he shot just 32% in 2017-18.

The Magic’s offseason has been questionable. But fate would smile upon the most magical city on Earth in the form of Texas Longhorn big man, Mo Bamba. The 7’10 wingspan more perfectly fit the Weltman/Hammond specifications of length more than any player outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Magic missed on the prized deep shooter, Trae Young, but now boast the most promising big man rotation outside of New Orleans.

Alongside Aaron Gordon freakish athleticism and Bamba’s unusual length, comes the perfect blend of both in summer league standout, Jonathan Isaac. After missing 55 games in his rookie season with recurring ankle maladies, Isaac aims to burst on the 2018-19 scene with some added tools in his arsenal including a pick-and-pop game, a rapidly improving handle. Which of the three will be the Magic’s most valuable player in three years is anyone’s guess, but the three provide dreams of a steel curtain defense the likes of which Orlando hasn’t seen.

So, where does everyone else fit? The Magic suffered an unusual amount of injuries to their eight rotation players in 2017-18, none seeing more than 57 games outside of DJ Augustin and Jonathan Simmons. But the full unit is intact with the return of a healthy Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and three-point ace and swingman, Terrence Ross. The Magic’s defensive stopper Wes Iwundu’s diligent work could translate into an offensive leap, Magic’s acquisition Jarrell Martin could further bolster an already deep frontcourt alongside Khem Birch, and long-armed draft selections Melvin Frazier Jr. and Justin Jackson could form a wall along the perimeter.

Lost in all of this is newly hired Head Coach Steve Clifford, the same man who took a 21 win team to 43 in his inaugural year. Clifford is a man of fundamentals, strict regimen, and a no excuses mentality this Magic squad definitively lacked in the 2017-18 season. Clifford’s crews perennially finish at or near the top ten in defense, they produce the most actions of any team on offense, they minimize turnovers and don’t beat themselves.

These qualities sound like music to the ears of Magic fans who are looking forward to the positive development its several young promising prospects.

So, what is a realistic expectation for the 2018-19 Orlando Magic? Growth is what fans will expect, and improved win total in a depleted Eastern Conference, improved and fundamental workmen like nightly regimen, and a team who will fight recklessly and consistently no matter the adversary.

Season Outlook: 34 wins