2006-2007 Finish: 31-51

What went well

There is room for only one Magic Kingdom in Orlando and the Magic didn't play there this season. While tourists flocked to Disney World in droves, attendance to the Magic home games slipped to a league minimum. Sure, Tracy McGrady played some great basketball, but what else is there to report?

The Magic were once a powerhouse in the league, winning their division in the 2003-2004 season. Since then they have hovered between eighth seed and late lotto. But this season their GM in absentia let the team slip into a tailspin that spiraled into the worst season in Orlando in years.

The season began with free agents Fred Jones and Jamal Sampson signing contracts elsewhere. Good riddance. Neither did much in their new homes. The Magic then brought in a new motley crew of free agents to fill out the bench (see below). The team's biggest move this offseason was throwing a lot of money at Amare Stoudemire, only to have the Nets reel him back in. They made one trade, sending a second-rounder (which they should have kept) for veteran Dikembe Mutombo.

Then the season began and GM Bron23 vanished. Sure the press in Orlando wrote the most and best recaps around the league but a new report proves that GM Bron23 showed up for only eight of his 20 human games. How can a team win if their GM doesn't stick around? It is true that GM Bron23 flirted with the idea of quitting, but after McGrady showed up at his mansion to talk some sense into him, he came back. McGrady also told us that GM Bron23 also swore to be more active next season.

What didn't

This team played terrible basketball. When rookie Cedric Simmons is one of your top performers you know something is wrong. When you pay Troy Hudson $5 million to come in after five weeks, you know something is wrong. This is a team without a pulse and some major changes will be the only thing that will revive it.

Star

- Tracy McGrady, GF-

Rebounding from a season of back problems, McGrady rebounded to play in 74 games and score 31.9 points. He hit 53% of shots and pulled down 6.2 boards. He was voted an All-Star for the third time in three years. McGrady IS the heart and soul of the Magic. He remains in an elite category of players and when his back is good, so is he.

Goat

- The Bench–

The Magic have the worst bench in the Eastern Conference, if not the NLL. Linton Johnson, Dale Davis, DerMarr Johnson, Allan Ray, Hudson, Dwayne Jones and Jalen Rose averaged only 5.3 points. None of these guys could really start anywhere (Rose aside). This is the true definition of lack of depth.

Looking to the future

The Magic took a gamble and scored big with Yi Jianlian in the draft. Many in Orlando feared the big Chinese national wanted to play in a more diverse city like New York or Los Angeles, but it seems all contract issues have been ironed out.

The good news is that the horror show of last season cannot continue with the same cast. Only McGrady, the serviceable Antonio McDyess, Simmons and the enigmatic JR Smith remain under contract. What should the Magic do? Let them all go. If Mutombo and Chucky Atkins want to came back for cheap, sign them. But the others? Start again. The team will have about $25 million to spend on free agents. GM Bron23 needs to remember he has a team to populate and shouldn't blow it all on a big player unless that player is a top tier (and not declining) guy. Build around T-Mac. Get some strong role players and maybe one more up-and-coming-star. Things can't get much worse.