So far the post Dwight Howard era hasn’t been kind to the Orlando Magic. Last year the Orlando Magic went 25-57 and 15-37 versus their conference. This past year marks their third straight year having fewer than 30 wins. After drafting Mario Hezonja in the NBA draft the clubhouse hopes that they found the final piece to the puzzle. Elfrid Payton drafted in the 2014 draft and Victor Oladipo in the 2013 draft both ended up on the NBA All-Rookie Team. The team looks to continue that trend on June, 25, 2015 when they pick 5th overall.
I believe that the team will make the playoffs next season and I will tell you why. To begin I believe they will make the playoffs because they recently hired the former Orlando Magic point guard Scott Skiles as their head coach. Also they have added Adrian Griffin former Chicago Bulls Assistant Coach to their staff. Next I believe they have waited long enough to make another run and have the pieces to make such a run. Nikola Vucevic who averages 19.3 PPG and 10.9 RPG and Victor Oladipo who averaged 20.7 PPG in the last two months leads the team. They are joined by returning point guard Elfrid Payton who many say was snubbed of Rookie of The Year, A veteran Channing Frye who can spread the floor with his ability to make the three point shot, and possibly an emerging star Tobias Harris (Enters Free Agency). The team has the right mix of youth and experience to make a serious run plus it plays in the Southeast division which only had one team represent it in the playoffs.
The 2015-2016 season should be interesting for Magic fans and should be a good one for basketball fans as I project them to be 48-34 and around a 4 or 5 seed in the playoffs. I will also go out further to say that their center Nikola Vucevic will have an All-Star season averaging 20.0 PPG and 15.0 RPG. You should also expect to see them battle with the best the NBA has to offer including the recently crowned NBA champions the Golden State Warriors. To end this article I believe that the Orlando Magic will have a surprising year and make a run in the playoffs.