The Orlando Magic entered 2016 with a 19-13 record, looking every bit like the playoff team they hoped to be. They then proceeded to lose 15 of their next 17 games and Orlando's once promising season ended up with another finish outside of the playoffs and in the Lottery.

Before trading Tobias Harris near the Trade Deadline, the Magic faced a crowded roster both on the wing and at power forward. Players like Harris, Victor Oladipo, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja and Channing Frye all needed minutes. Scott Skiles made decisions early on that Gordon and Hezonja were not going to play big minutes as he tried to accommodate everyone. Early lineups generally included Harris, Oladipo and Fournier joining Nik Vucevic and Elfrid Payton in the starting lineup, with Gordon and Hezonja playing a few minutes each half off the bench. Skiles then tweaked the lineup adding Frye to the starting five and brought Oladipo off the bench. When Harris was traded, it opened up a spot in the opening lineup for Gordon. But for most of the year, there just weren’t enough minutes to go around.

Outside of the stretch where Frye started and Oladipo came off the bench, the Magic struggled to space the floor. Harris struggled with his jumper before his trade to the Pistons. Oladipo was streaky all year long, while Payton and Gordon both struggled from distance. Only Fournier was a consistent threat from deep all season and he was far better in the first half of the season than the second. The lack of shooting played a major part in Orlando being a below average offensive team all season.

By trading Harris, who the team had just signed to a four-year, $64 million dollar contract in the 2015 offseason, and following it up by trading Frye, the Magic took a short-term step back in hopes of a long-term leap forward. While a nice player, Harris is never going to be a top option on a championship team. In addition, he was blocking minutes at both PF and SF that could be better used on promising, younger and cheaper options. Frye was in a similar position at the PF/C spots. Dealing both players was a signal that Orlando preferred the additional cap space and extra minutes for Gordon, Fournier, DeWayne Dedmon and Hezonja.

Looking forward to this summer, Orlando has at least four of five positions in the starting lineup filled. Vucevic and Gordon will hold down the two big positions, with Oladipo and Payton in the backcourt. The widely held assumption around the league is that the Magic will match any offer Fournier gets and they’ll plug him into the SF position. Fournier has developed from a questionable prospect with Denver to a legitimate NBA starting wing. He’s a good scorer from all over the court while also being a solid defensive player. Assuming Fournier returns, Hezonja will come off the bench to backup both wing positions. As the top backup option for those spots, Hezonja should be able to play plenty of minutes and continue the encouraging development he showed at the end of last season. 

The Magic have also made it known they would like to have both Dedmon and Jason Smith back. Both players are ideal backup options who can spot start when necessary. Orlando won’t go to great lengths to re-sign either player, but if the years and money are reasonable, you can expect to see both of them back with the Magic. Ersan Ilyasova, the backup PF who was acquired in the Harris trade, is firmly on the roster bubble. He’s on a partially guaranteed contract and the Magic can save $8 million dollars if they waive him by July 1st. The opportunity to add that much cap space is likely too good for Orlando to pass up, and they can always bring Ilyasova, a Skiles favorite, back later if the opportunity is still there. Andrew Nicholson seems likely to move on, as his Qualifying Offer likely out paces any production he would offer.

The final free agent, Brandon Jennings, is in a bit of an odd situation. Several teams could use a starting PG this summer, so Jennings may have opportunity to land a lead role elsewhere. However, Jennings is comfortable with Skiles and he’s a veteran leader at this point for a developing roster. If Jennings was to return to Orlando, he could even start while Payton is allowed to come off the bench and lead the second unit. Ultimately, the chance to start will likely win out and Jennings will probably move on.

Despite the presence of Gordon at PF and Vucevic at C, the Magic are expected to be active in pursuing Al Horford in free agency. The team extended Horford’s teammate Paul Millsap a maximum offer last summer and will likely do the same for Horford this offseason. If the Magic were to land Horford, they could shift Gordon to SF, or it opens up trade possibilities for Vucevic. Joakim Noah, Horford’s frontcourt partner at the University of Florida, has been mentioned as an option as well. He’s the kind of veteran defensive presence that Skiles would love to have. Pitching Horford and Noah on a package deal could put the Magic over the top. One big man option you can probably cross off the list is Dwight Howard. Given the way Howard left Orlando and the fact that he is older and less healthy, it seems highly unlikely the Magic will seek a reunion with him.

An often mentioned target is Chandler Parsons, another Florida product who would give the Magic some much needed shooting at the forward positions. Kent Bazemore, who has broken out with Atlanta, has also been seen by some as a nice fit for the Magic. And should Jennings not return, the Magic will be in the market for a veteran backup PG. Players like Jeremy Lin, Jerryd Bayless, or Ramon Sessions would all be nice fits behind Payton as they would give the Magic a different look from from Payton and could also log heavy minutes if necessary. 

Orlando is positioned to make major strides this offseason towards becoming a playoff team. Despite the disappointing second half, the Magic still improved by 10 wins from the prior season, winning 35 games compared to 25. They also improved to become a middle of the pack defensive team, a Skiles' trademark. With the potential to add two maximum salary players to an exciting young core, it is easy to see Orlando getting in the postseason next year.

Four straight losing seasons are causing the fan base to ask questions if Rob Hennigan is the guy to lead the Magic. The team’s most recent NBA Finals appearance was eight seasons ago and with the Orlando City Soccer Club gaining more and more of a foothold in town, the Magic have to show real progress to remain relevant. Orlando is a transplant city and many residents brought their pro basketball allegiances with them from elsewhere. The community will support the team if given a reason to do so and this summer could go a long way towards giving the Magic top billing in The City Beautiful once again.

Offseason Details 

Guaranteed Contracts (7): Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja, Shabazz Napier, Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, Nikola Vucevic, C.J. Watson

Partial/Non-Guaranteed Contracts (2): Ersan Ilyasova, Devyn Marble

Potential Free Agents (5): DeWayne Dedmon (RFA), Evan Fournier (RFA), Brandon Jennings (UFA), Andrew Nicholson (RFA), Jason Smith (UFA)

“Dead” Money on Cap (0): None

First Round Draft Picks (as of 4/17/16): # 11. The Magic also have rights to Fran Vazquez.

Maximum Cap Space: $53,354,805

Projected Cap Space: $27,392,205