SDH's 2013/2014 NBA Worst to First Previews and Predictions: 26. Orlando Magic

+Orlando Magic  Overall Win/Loss Record :  20-62  fifth place Southeast Division	Last Season’s Rank 26	Projected 2012/2013 Finish 26
Last season’s Team Statistics and League Rank Points Scored: 94.1 (24th) Points Allowed: 101.1 (24th) Team FG%: .448 (17th) Opponent’s FG%: .463 (22nd) Team FT%: .755 (15th) Team Three Point FG%: .329 (29th) Rebounds per game: 42.7 (12th) Opponents rebounds per game: 42.8 (21st) Turnovers per game: 14.0 (15th) Opponents turnovers per game: 12.1 (30th)	Returning Individual Statistical Leaders Scoring (ppg): +Arron Afflalo  (16.5) Rebounds per game: +Nikola Vucevic (11.9) Minutes per game: Arron Afflalo (36.0) Assists per game: +Jameer Nelson  (7.4) Field Goal Percentage: Andrew Nicholson (.527) Free Throw Percentage:  Jameer Nelson (.870)        Three Point FG Percentage: Jameer Nelson (.341) Steals per game: Jameer Nelson (1.3) Blocked Shots per game: Nikola Vucevic (1.0)
Projected Starters Based on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: C. Nikola Vucevic PF. Glen Davis SF. Tobias Harris SG. Arron Afflalo PF. Jameer Nelson	Second Unit Roster Order Ranked on Talent, Tenure, and Potential Impact: F. Andrew Nicholson G/F. +Victor Oladipo  G. E'Twaun Moore F. Maurice Harkless F. Jason Maxiel
Analysis: Despite finishing 2013 with the league's worst regular season record at just 20 wins, the Orlando Magic came out on top from the Mega trade that had them bid farewell to their star of the last eight years, +Dwight Howard.  While all the rest of the teams involved in that trade came up empty handed, Orlando became the overall victor as it not only acquired two rather surprisingly talented players in Aaron Afflalo, Nikola Vucevic, and Mo Harkless, but also three first round picks to boot.  The +Los Angeles Lakers, +Denver Nuggets and +Philadelphia 76ers  were forced to watch the players whom they had given so much falter for much of late season and leave once the season had ended. Both the biggest names in the deal, Dwight Howard and +Andrew Bynum failed miserably to their expectations as Howard played less then spectacular and what was once a team looking to head to the Finals once again ended up scrambling for the last playoff berth only to embarrassingly lose in the first round to the +San Antonio Spurs.  In Philly's case it was even worse as their big catch was lost for the entire season and whose overall health was so sketchy that the Sixers chose to cut their loses and let Bynum go as a free agent leaving them with nothing to show for their part in the trade. The only true winner other than the Magic could be the Denver Nuggets as they finished the season with a franchise record 57 wins which was credited to their addition from the Howard mega deal, +Andre Iguodala.  Unfortunately, that storybook season ended up all for not as both Igoudala and the heavily favored Nuggets shockingly fell in the first round of the playoffs, despite earning the third overall seed in the Western Conference, to a lowly sixth seed and underdog +Golden State Warriors.  To add insult to injury, one the season ended, Iggy would choose not to pick up his option on the final year of his contract choosing instead to leave as an unrestricted free agent and sign with the same team that embarrassed the Nuggets last season.   Nonetheless, the team that probably got screwed over the worst had to be the Lakers because they had already planned for Howard to be the center piece of a championship contender for not only this season, but for years to come.  Once Howard ditched them for Houston, that basically sent Los Angeles into complete free fall as all their plans for the present and future came crashing around them thus making it even the hardest to recover to. The only team that did not get the shaft was the same team that many in the media harshly criticized for accepting what they considered to be pennies to the dollar trading away an All Star for a second tier shooting guard, a backup center, a low first round pick, and three low future picks.  Although Arron Afflalo may at best be considered a solid second or third option on a good NBA team, he still had a phenomenal year posting career highs in scoring in the 60 games that he played for the Magic.  Nikola Vucevic, a player who many did not expect much from, shocked the world as he had an amazing sophmore season, as he finished averaging a double double in points and rebounds thus making him one of the top up and coming young big men in the league.  If he continues to progress the way he has, Vucevic might end up becoming an All Star himself sooner or later thus filling in any empty void that Dwight Howard has left behind.  Rookie swingman, Mo Harkless proved to be quite the valuable asset as well despite being selected rather low in last years draft by the Sixers at 14th as he posted a rather solid rookie campaign starting 59 of 79 games for the Magic while averaging 8 points, 4 rebounds and one steal in 26 minutes per game. And the gifts just kept on coming for Orlando at season's end when they were awarded the second overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft in which they used to pick Victor Oladipo from +Indiana University.  Oladipo led the Hoosiers to the top of  the +NCAA's  Big Ten Conference and to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2013 NCAA Championship Tournament.  He would then leave Indiana earning a selected as a 2013 Consensus First Team All American, 2013 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and Sporting News Player of the Year.  Many have even gone as far compare his style of play with his efficient shooting, explosive athleticism and defensive prowess to that of the NBA Champion +Miami HEAT's +Dwyane Wade thus giving the Magic a potentiel All Star and future franchise palyer.  Add him with the already talented core of young players such as Vucecevic, Harkless, and rookie Andrew Nicholson who had an impressive first season to say the least, Orlando might just have the deepest and probably move valuable treasure trove of young talent in the NBA right now. It is just too bad that all these blessings bestowed upon Orlando will not show up immediately in the win column because of the sheer lack of experience on that team.  With a conference that is dominated by the Miami Heat, +New York Knicks, +Indiana Pacers, +Chicago Bulls, and +Brooklyn Nets along with up and coming teams such as the +Toronto Raptors, +Washington Wizards, +Cleveland Cavaliers and +Detroit Pistons, this young Orlando team will certainly be taking its lumps this upcoming season and may just win the same 20 wins as they did last season. Nonetheless, that should not discourage Orlando fans because their team will be flooded with first round picks making it stronger with each passing season and capable to return into playoff contention sooner than anyone has projected.  The Magic are certainly in FAR better shape now not only as a team, but also better than the theree teams that were supposed to take the league by storm before they got shafted at season's end.  So keep your heads up Magic fans, because as soon as they mature, your young team will be so good that you will forget about . . .  what's his name again?  (see, even I don't remember who I was talking about.)