The State Of This Season’s Lottery Teams And Where They Need to Improve

Apr 1, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives during the second quarter as Houston Rockets shooting guard Carlos Delfino (10) defends at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Orlando Magic

For a team that has the second-worst record in the NBA, the Magic are actually in quite good position going into next season.

Most thought Orlando didn’t receive enough in the Dwight Howard trade, but the young pieces they received in return have actually played surprisingly well. Their young big men Andrew Nicholson and Nikola Vucevic look like they have the potential to be important pieces on a good team. Tobias Harris, who they received in return for J.J. Redick, has been a revelation. After getting almost no minutes in Milwaukee, Harris has put up 16 points and 8 rebounds on 45% shooting in just under 35 minutes a night. Maurice Harkless has even turned into a player over the last few months.

I’m not sure why the Magic re-signed Jameer Nelson. With the direction they’re headed, Nelson does nothing but hurt them financially. Their back court is still lacking. E’Twaun Moore isn’t terrible, but probably shouldn’t play many minutes on a successful team. Arron Afflalo has faded into the distant memory of most NBA fans. He’s had a solid year as the Magic’s number one option, and is a solid starter, but he’s not a number one scorer on a good team.

This team going forward really needs a franchise-changing star. They have a lot of pieces who can contribute to a team, but not one that you can build a franchise around. Whether the star comes in the 2014 draft that many have predicted will be one of the best of the last 10 years, or in free agency, they’ll need one if they want to become a team worthy of making the playoffs. Either that, or they need these young players to develop into a team like the Nuggets.