Most NBA cores dissolve eventually and over time, but the Orlando Magic's cracked in a matter of weeks.
2015-16's version carried a 19-13 mark into the new year, good enough for fifth in the Eastern Conference. But the Magic sandwiched losing streaks of four and eight games around an uninspiring win over the lowly Brooklyn Nets, crash-landing with a 113-94 road loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 29.
"We're playing soft right now," then-Magic guard Victor Oladipo said, per Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. "We're not playing together, and it's not working. And if we don't figure it out, it's going to be too late."
It was already too late. The damage was done, and the dismantling followed shortly thereafter.
Tobias Harris and Channing Frye were sent packing at the trade deadline. Scott Skiles resigned as head coach less than one year after accepting the job, and former Indiana Pacers skipper Frank Vogel took over. Oladipo, Orlando's highest pick since Dwight Howard, was himself traded on draft night for seven-year veteran Serge Ibaka.
The activity carried over into the offseason with Orlan ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NBA
Article written by Zach Buckley
Orlando Magic Complete 2016-17 Preview
September 21st, 2016 by Zach Buckley Leave a reply »
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