A New Regime: Orlando Magic

A New Day is upon Orlando Magic fans as ownership has hired Rob Hennigan as their new GM.  Rob is only 30 years old, making him the youngest GM in the NBA.  He forgoes his duties from Oklahoma City Thunder as Player Personnel and Operations Manager under GM Sam Presti. He started off as a Interim of the San Antonio Spurs in 2004 and was named Director of Basketball Operations in 2007.  His resume is quite impressive at his age, as Alex Martins pointed out in the Press Conference this past Thursday.  Listening to him speak, he’s saying all the right words and must have impressed the DeVos family enough to beat out Dennis Lindsey and Jeff Bower.  His statement ”Simply put, our goal is to build an elite basketball operation both on the court and off the court,’’ Hennigan said. ``If we can stay strategic and stay systematic the end goal is to be sustainable. We want to create something that has some longevity and continuity to it,” was heard loud and clear by Magic fans.  Here’s the path that is ahead of him.

1. The Draft:

The Magic possess the 19th and 49th picks of the NBA draft and this is Hennigan’s calling card, recent picks that he consulted with the Thunder choosing Ibaka, Westbrook(2008), Harden(2009), Aldrich(2010), and R. Jackson(2011) in past drafts. Mock drafts have Magic all over the place, going from Moe Harkless, Andrew Nicholson, Kendall Marshall, Jared Sullinger, Tony Wroten, Marquis Teague, and Quincy Miller to name a few. This was a weakness with the previous Basketball Operations staff, and there is plenty of talent available. Hennigan pointed out this is a vital way to build a team in his press conference.

2. Free Agency:

Jameer Nelson has a opt-out clause in his contract, and received an extension on his decision. As of right now, our remaining point guards are Chris Duhon and Ish Smith, so we must sign Nelson back or look to replace this position in the draft. The free agents, which include Lou Williams, Andre Miller and Steve Nash are available. The Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson is a restricted free agent and would be able to leave the team unless the price is right and Hennigan and staff are willing to match the offers that comes his way.


3. Dwight Howard: 


Browsing over some forums, Hennigan’s regime will be forever known as the person who kept Dwight Howard or traded Howard and started his own path. Either way, Magic fans label his episode “The Indecision” that includes the young star wavering back and forth with continuing his career in Orlando. Listening to the press conference, Martins is trying to avoid another episode, and will get a answer out of him if he wants to leave or not, and will turn to Hennigan to find the best package available if the superstar wants to leave Orlando, or sell him on his vision for the team, and make Howard realize that in 2013, Orlando will have cap room to get him some help.

Alex Martins is putting a lot of work on Hennigan’s plate, and he seems like a solid hire. This will take some time, and there will a lot of activity come draft night for all franchises.  Magic Nation shall see what the 30 year old has in stored for the Magic franchise, buckle up.

Read More

Orlando's Off-Season Outlook

At the beginning of the NBA season, 30 teams take the hardwood court to become the 16 teams who qualify for the playoffs and half of those teams eventually fall off to leave eight. Then the four remaining compete in the conference finals for the opportunity to be the best team in their respective conference. And then it happens,  two teams are left fighting for the most prized possession in the game, The Larry O’Brien Trophy.  Every year, 29 teams fail, leave to recoup, some trying to still reach the playoffs while certain elite teams that go at it again to go for the prize.

After one of the most devastating seasons in their 22 years of existence, the Magic have a pivotal off season on the horizon. Alex Martins will discuss Dwight Howard’s future with him to see if he willing to commit long term to the franchise or not, therefore he will know to proceed with moving the franchise player. GM Otis Smith is unsure if he wants to return for next season, seemed the mess he made is too big for him to clean and he knows the storm is coming, in other words, he’s aware his job is in jeopardy. The Most Improved Player Ryan Anderson is a restricted free agent, Orlando wants to see his value on the market and will determine if they will match his contract or not. After the no-show in the playoffs, his value took a hit, the upside, the kid is 23 years old, and did pretty well with a whole starting season under his belt. Jameer Nelson is going to opt out, there is two stories that is being thrown Jameer’s way, he is planning to sign a low contract more years with Orlando, or his camp believes he’s worth 10 million or so, and believes this could be his shot at a payday. JJ Redick have a player option, and he seems likely to opt in, Earl Clark, Daniel Orton, and DeAndre Liggins are also up. There may be a slight possibility that Fran Vazquez, the 11th pick on the 2005 draft shows up to camp in 2012.

Seven player contracts are up, and the General Manager and Head Coach Stan Van Gundy’s futures are in limbo and it's likely the head coach is the first domino to fall. The Rumor that was going around a few weeks ago Donnie Walsh could be contacted about a Management position, likely the GM position.  At this point in time,  Orlando claims the 19th and 49th picks in June's NBA Draft. The Magic's largest challenge will be during the free agency period due to having virtually no cap, but David Aldridge recommend that Orlando pick up Tracy McGrady at the veteran minimum contract. I don’t expect any other team to be busy as Orlando would be this year, this Franchise could have a different team make up coming to training camp next year. It will be interesting, but the Magic Nation is screaming for change.

Read More

2011 Orlando Magic Season Preview

The Orlando Magic enter their 22nd NBA Season, later than usual due to the NBA Lockout with a storm hanging over the Franchise.......Hurricane Dwight and yes, it’s a category 5!  That metaphor  describes the Impact that this individual has on not only the Franchise, but the city of Orlando and his future will have a major impact on the franchise, the cities, and the even the business and the buzz around the city.  GM Otis Smith and newly appointed CEO Alex Martins have stated they are doing everything to keep Howard around even after he requested a trade on December 11 however, the young center would like to see a different culture around the team. Do understand that Howard is a automatic 50 win season walking because of his impact on the game, the 3 time defensive player of the year still led the Magic squad to a top 5 defensive team in the league, but the perimeter defense remains well below par and it says a lot when Howard led the team in steals with 1.37 per game and when the Magic ended the season to a disappointing series loss to the Hawks, it was due to guard play being far superior than Orlando’s.

There is agony across Magic nation due to Howard’s request and his situation clouds the rest of the transactions that the franchise has made, Orlando did trade for Glen Davis and Von Wafer, Davis is hoping to keep Howard around and instill that vocal leadership in the locker room that the Magic have been lacking. Davis coming from the Boston Celtics, preaches defensive tenacity and togetherness on the court and came from a culture that have multiple voices in the locker room.  Davis, already showing flashes of leadership by assigning the three rookies Justin Harper, DeAndre Liggins, and Daniel Orton a homework assignment, go home and look up the word family and be ready to present to the team and what does it mean? “We are trying to change the culture around the franchise,” Davis said. Wafer already impressed the coaching staff, referring to his quick step, and has given a different element that Orlando have been missing, someone to get to the paint and break defenses down, Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu were the only ones that could really get in the to paint, not that its being declared that Wafer is the piece that Orlando has been missing. Orlando is still missing two elements, a dominant post player and a playmaker with slashing ability and it’s very well documented that when you guard Howard one on one and stay home on the shooters, Orlando tends to struggle.  The Orlando Magic are aware that they need a player or two that could showcase those abilities on a consistent basis but I now leave you with 3 of the biggest questions that the Orlando Magic will have for this current season.

Ryan Anderson

1. Who is the Breakout Player for the Magic this Season?

Ryan Anderson is going to get this here, in a contract year, and every year his stats increase, averaging 10.6 ppg 5.5 rpg on .39% 3pt with playing 22.3 minutes a game, he seems to be ready for a bigger role. With him and Glen Davis splitting the four and Orlando still  not having a true backup center for Howard, it will be a three man rotation of these players.

Jameer Nelson

2. Who is the X-Factor to help Dwight?

This is between Turkoglu or Nelson, but my pick would have to be Nelson, the main reason is, this is a guy who can score in bunches, if he stays aggressive, and look for his shot.  At his position, he is asked to do much more, he is not your playmaking point guard that many are looking for to supplement Dwight, but this is someone who could easily take the scoring load off the prime time Center, both Turkoglu and Nelson and known for being wildly inconsistent, but when they are on, this Magic team could play with anybody in the Nation, if this team could get the Jameer of 2009(50% FG, 45% from 3pt), Orlando can easily do some damage often against the NBA.


3.  Will Dwight be traded this season? 


This is the burning question that no one have a clear cut answer to. It really depends on how the Magic comes out the gate, so, keep an eye on the productivity of the team as the season progresses. My thoughts on the situation, is Otis will take a chance on keeping him here, and let Howard make that decision as a free agent if he wants to stay or go.

Read More