Magic seek better results with roster
A disappointing season for the Orlando Magic in previous years was followed by drastic changes to the roster during the offseason.
They're taking a different approach this season. Instead of adding an impact player or trading a disappointing star, the Magic chose to follow up their fifth straight non-playoff season by not making a significant change to their roster.
Even second-year coach Frank Vogel isn't quite sure what to expect.
“We will have to take a big jump if we want to consider ourselves competing for a playoff spot,” Vogel said when asked how well this season's team is constructed for success. “We weren't close last year and we didn't make a bunch of changes, so the improvement has to come from within. It has to come from player development. That's the task that has been put in front of me and that's what I'm embracing.”
The team is banking on continuity to help turnaround its fortunes. For the first time since the 2014-15 season, the Magic have a second year coach. That means the second year of Vogel's defensive system and the continuation of the smallball offensive scheme Vogel gave into midway through last season.
And while there isn't a superstar on the roster, Orlando returns the starting five of Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic that wrapped up last season's 29-53 finish. The most significant additions are No. 6 overall pick Jonathan Isaac, who entered the draft after a one-anddone year at FSU, and Jonathon Simmons, a perimeter defense specialist who joined the club as a free agent from San Antonio.
New president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has defended the decision to virtually stand still and not make wholesale change to the roster. Weltman is in listen, learn and evaluate mode now.
“We come in without a history with some of the organization and the players and we have to give ourselves the time to understand what it is that we have,” Weltman said. “But what our hope is is to put everybody in the best possible situation to succeed while we are making those evaluations.”