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Another NBA offseason review is in the books, and once again, the Orlando Magic score highly.
David Aldridge, NBA.com’s veteran reporter, graded the offseasons of each of the league’s 30 teams, and ranks Orlando as the 11th-best. And for a club which has been mired in sub-mediocrity for five seasons now, finishing just outside the top third in any list counts as an accomplishment.
“Orlando got a lot done,” says Aldridge, who in particular singles out the free-agent addition of Jonathon Simmons, given the “good work” he put in with the San Antonio Spurs a year ago. He’s also high on the additions of solid veterans Shelvin Mack, Arron Afflalo, and Marreese Speights, though he notes Speights’ spotty defensive track record runs counter to what coach Frank Vogel likes to see in his players.
All told, says Aldridge, the Magic’s new front-office duo of Jeff Weltman and John Hammond “have gotten off to a good start.” And sometime in October, when the 2017/18 season tips off, we’ll get an even clearer idea of how their vision for the Magic’s future bears out.