Via NBA.com
Key Players: Aaron Gordon, Mo Bamba, Evan Fournier, Nikola Vucevic, Jonathan Isaac
The term 'basketball purgatory' has been used a few times throughout this year's '31in30' series, but in order to accurately describe the Orlando Magic, the phrase has to be detailed in greater depth.
First let's brack seperate and define the words 'basketball' and 'purgatory'.
Basketball- a game played between two teams of five players in which goals are scored by throwing a ball through a netted hoop fixed above each end of the court.​
Ex.) A website whose content is fifty-percent dedicated to basketball shouldn't have to define the sport, making this example and the definition that precedes it nothing more than article filler.
Purgatory-a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven; a trapped feeling accompanied by mental anguish or suffering.
Ex.) Since trading Dwight Howard seven years ago, the Orlando Magic have been trapped in basketball purgatory, losing 335 of their last 492 games and continuously failing to capitalize on their failures as draft pick after draft pick fizzles out.
Other Teams in Basketball Purgatory
- Detro- SoundSports doesn't have the financial luxury to give content away by doing frivolous actions like putting an article inside an article. Find out other basketball purgatory teams at a later time. Back to the Orlando Magic:
Aside from re-signing Aaron Gordon to a four-year, $80 million extension and using the sixth overall pick to select Mo Bamba by Sheck Wes, the Magic did the most of nothing a team could possibly do. Following two well below average years under head coach Frank Vogel, Orlando replaced him with the epitome of average coaching -- Steve Clifford. Jerian Grant headlines the Magic's free-agent signings, so that pretty much tells you all you need to know in that category.
Other free agent additions included Timofey Mozgov, Jarell Martin, and Isaiah Briscoe. Tulane forward Melvin Frazier and Maryland forward Justin Jackson take the title of the Magic's second-round picks.
Orlando's Best Case Scenario
Via NBA.com
Magic's 2017-2018 '31in30' Best Case Scenario:
"The Orlando Magic's best case scenario is finding the true face of the franchise."
The same is true for this year's assessment of the team; however, this year there seems to be a clear front-runner to be the franchise's face. Aaron Gordon has statistically improved every season of his career, but last year seemed to finally be the jump many predicted. After averaging career-highs in points (17.6), rebounds (7.9), assists (2.3), and three-point percentage (33.6%), the 23-year-old is in the driver's seat of Orlando's future.
The question now arises: who's going to be in the car with Aaron Gordon?
Evan Fournier is one of the NBA's most underrated two-guards offensively. The 6'7 sharpshooter averaged an impressive 17.8 points a night on only 14 attempts. At just 25-years-old, Fournier has earned at least a middle seat in the Magic's future.
Jonathan Isaac taking up the seat to the left of Fournier would be great for Orlando. Although the 6'10 wing has star potential, his lack of aggression on the offensive end serves him best as a third or fourth option. In his rookie season, Isaac averaged a disheartening 5.4 points and 5.4 attempts a game, while posting a well below league average (15.0) per of 9.8. Isaac doesn't have to lead the Magic to relevancy; instead, the second-year forward just has to show he can be a consistent third option.
The second option and a spot in the front seat next to Gordon is a position reserved for sixth overall pick Mo Bamba. Bamba and his 7'10 wingspan has drawn comparisons of Rudy Gobert with a shot, to, well yeah mostly just Rudy Gobert. The comparison is far from outlandish as the rookie spiked 3.7 shots a night in his lone year at the University of Texas. His defense gives him an All-Defensive team floor, while his offensive potential gives the seven-footer an All-NBA ceiling.
The Magic have the young talent to drive out of basketball purgatory; it's just a matter of that young talent actually producing.
Orlando's Worst Case Scenario
Via Orlando Magic Daily
Orlando has been living every team's worst-case scenario for nearly the last decade.
Losing hurts; however, when you lose as much as the Orlando Magic, the league has a natural system to assure winning comes in the future. Look no further than the Philadelphia 76ers. The NBA's consolation prize for losing is a high draft pick, but for Orlando the draft has just been insult to injury.
There's lottery picks that didn't pan out, such as Mario Hezonja and Elfrid Payton. Then there are laspes in judgements illustrated by trading Dario Saric and giving up too soon on Victor Oladipo.
The worst thing that can happen for Orlando this season is the cycle of failed prospects repeating with either or both Jonathan Isaac or Mo Bamba.
Record Prediction: 34-48; Purgatory is unexcapable.