23. Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are starting to look like one of the NBA teams that will be mired in mediocrity for years to come. This summer, they re-signed Nikola Vucevic, their All-Star center, to a 4-year, $100 million contract. Was this a good move? Probably. I’m not sure what else the Magic could’ve done to remain relevant. But is Vucevic the kind of guy that’s going to lead you to a championship or even a deep playoff run? Probably not.
Last season, the Magic finished as the seventh seed in a weak Eastern Conference. This was a win for them. Getting playoff experience for guys like Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac is a big deal. But for some reason, it felt like the Magic overachieved last season. Their team really isn’t that good.
The Magic won 42 games last season. I’m guessing they’ll win fewer than that next season. 36 to 40 feels like the right range. Is that enough to make the playoffs again? Maybe. But with teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls knocking on the door, 36 to 40 wins might not be good enough.