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Magic Collapse Forces Major Offseason Questions
The Orlando Magic season came to a tragic (yes, I used that word on purpose) end in the Motor City after the Magic fell to the Detroit Pistons in Game 7. It felt inevitable after the team took a 3-1 lead in the series and was beating the top seeded Pistons by 22 at half time in Game 6 at home, only to blow that lead in historical fashion. As a fan, it pains me to review it, but here we go. The Magic missed an NBA playoff record 23 shots in a row and scored a modern era low of 19 points in the second half of the game. To put that number in perspective, the Magic scored 60 points in the first half. The futility cost Head Coach Jamahl Mosley his job. “I don’t want to overreact to the second half of Game 6 the same way I don’t want to overreact to the first half of Game 6 when we were up 22 points” said Jeff Weltman, President of Basketball Operations. Still, the Magic now have to find a new coach to get them to the next level. “While this was a difficult decision, we feel it’s time for a new voice and fresh perspective. We wish Jamahl and his family nothing but the best.”
Mosley walks out the door with a losing overall record, and 3 first round playoff exits, but kept the class he showed in all of my interactions with him, sending the following statement to WKMG:
“It has been an incredible five-plus years, and this organization and city will always mean so much to me and my family. In my heart, I truly hope that during our time here we were able to impact the players, staff, and the Magic organization in a meaningful and lasting way. I want to sincerely thank the DeVos family for the extraordinary opportunity to serve as head coach of the Orlando Magic. To our fans, there is nothing but love in my heart. The joy I had coaching this team, in this city, for the people who live here is something I will never forget. All I ever wanted was to make you proud to be Magic fans, and my journey here will certainly stay with me forever.”
Where do the Magic go now? There is clearly talent on this roster, Paolo Banchero made an all-star team, Franz Wagner came close, and Anthony Black made a clear jump in performance in year two. Jeff Weltman has a difficult equation to solve. “Short of acquiring a star player, I do believe that the greatest impact that you can have on a team is to bring in a new coach”. The organization starts there, but what about making a huge change? What about breaking up the core of the team by trading either Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner? It did not sound like Weltman is ready to show his hand. “It’s our job to step back and look at the big picture of what works and what doesn’t work and to not throw the baby out with the bath water.” Yet, the Magic collapsed like I’ve not seen another NBA team do. Weltman sounded steadfast in meeting with the media after canning Mosely. “I don’t want to tear this thing down and dismantle it because of the way it ended and certainly because of one half.”
Can we throw some blame on how the team failed so spectacularly when they were ahead three games to one? Weltman has his answer. “I think what happened is we were up 3 to 1 against the number one seed in the East that won 60 games, and Franz got hurt.” The problems run deeper though than one injury. Jalen Suggs signed a $150 million dollar contract extension that kicked in this season. For the series against Detroit, he shot 29 percent, and just 24 percent from three point range, and averaged three turnovers a game.
Game 4: 1-13 FG, 7 points
Game 6: 1-10 FG
Game 7: 2-9 FG
This just isn’t good enough to even be a role player, much less a key starting cog on a team with championship aspirations that makes $30 million a year. While teams may call to see about Suggs’s availability this off-season, the team will not get a great haul for a player who missed 25 games then performed like that in the playoffs. Weltman is leaving his options open, but it did not seem like he was willing to take a huge gamble at his post-season media availability. “We have to see what major moves are in front of us. We have to see what smaller nibbles we can take.”
Two things are certain for next season. “We’re not going to lead the league in three point shooting. That’s not going to happen” Weltman told us. Another hint on the future. “We know that we are going to be a tax team next year”. The team will have to pay the NBA’s luxury tax next season when Paolo Banchero’s max salary extension kicks in. This will limit the way the team can improve. Weltman described it as trying to “round out the roster”. Don’t be surprised when Jonathan Issac and possibly Mo Wagner do not return. The team also does not have a first round draft pick, sent to Memphis in the Desmond Bane trade. The team will have to be creative to improve, and the heat is on from fans.
