NLL Insider - Team by Team: Orlando Magic

by darko, updated on Sunday, September 22 2013, 11:56 am EST

2012/2013 Record: 42 - 40

Season Highlights: The Orlando Magic had a decent season. They ended the season over .500 with a record of 42 - 40. But with that, they missed the playoffs just by four games difference. Deron Williams led the team for most of the season before he was shipped out of town, but overall the magic had a good season.

Season Lowlights: The biggest lowlight of the season was seeing Laddas try to run from this team to the Oklahoma City Thunder, only to then be denied by the league of this move. Now Laddas is in a tough situation where he has to go back to the team he tried to ditch. He has to face the media, fans, and Magic players and try to save face. How do you go back to a team, where they know you tried to run from, and go to a worse team? Are the Magic that bad? Not only that, but he has to find a good deal for Brandon Jennings who is demanding a sign and trade deal. Laddas has a lot of things going on right now.

Best Trade: The Orlando Magic send Deron Williams, Garrett Temple, and 15 GM points to the Phoenix Suns in exhange for Brandon Jennings, Shawn Marion, and Ekpe Udoh.

This deal did create some problems, like having to sign and trade Jennings, who was the focus of the deal. But Laddas traded Shawn Marion later to the Knicks for DeAndre Jordan, then moved Jordan to the Thunder for Jason Terry and Anderson Varejao. So in the end Laddas traded Deron Williams, Garrett Temple, and 15 GM points for Brandon Jennings, Jason Terry, Anderson Varejao, and Ekpe Udoh which turns out to be a nice haul. Now we have to see how much he can get for Jennings in the offseason.

Worst Trade: Orlando didnt really make any bad deals.

Other Notable Trades: The Oklahoma City Thunder send Mike Miller and Zach Randolph to the Orlando Magic for Grant Hill and Pau Gasol.Later the Magic traded Randolph to the Grizzlies with Marco Belinelli and Anthony Tolliver in exchange for Thaddeus Young, Gerald Henderson, and Beno Udrih.

Best FA Signing: Grant Hill - Hill was signed by the Magic but was traded before even playing any games for the Magic. This was a good signing though, Hill had a solid year, and for the Magic he was a valuable piece to add in a deal to acquire Zach Randolph and Mike Miller.

Worst FA Signing: Jared Jeffries - The Magic really didnt have any bad free agent signings, but Jeffries just wasnt worth his price. He has been in the league a long time, but at the end of his career was never anything more than a healthy body on the end of the bench. Jeffies has now retired and took a position as a scout for the Denver Nuggets.

Star: Brandon Jennings - The star of the team is the player they are going to have to move, Brandon Jennings. In his 37 games he played in Orlando, Jennings put up 23 points, 3 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. But since the Magic will be looking to move him, count on Greg Monroe to take over as the teams star.

Surprise: Greg Monroe - In his third season Monroe finally broke out averaging 14.6 points per game. His previous season he only averaged 9.3 points per game. As his game got more offensive, he also chipped in 8.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks. Monroe is finally starting to his NBA counterpart.

Goat: Ekpe Udoh - Udoh is 26 years old, making 4.4 million dollars and only managed to average 3 points, 2.5 boards, and 0.3 blocks a game in nearly 14 minutes of play. Come on big man you have to step up your game more than that!

Draft Report Card: C - The Magic only had one pic, and that was Ognjen Kuzmic with the 50th pick. He is a big man who has opted out of his contract in spain just to be in the Magics training camp. It is uncertain if he will stick with the team or not.

Looking To The Future: The Magic have one thing on their mind right now and thats trading Brandon Jennings. Once they get past that, they can move forward. But the Magic have a bright future with the mix of youth and veteran players. Monroe, Young, and Henderson are young guys who will keep developing into better talent. While players like Terry, Varejao, Diaw, and Miller will help win games with their veteran leadership.

Upcoming Free Agents:

Gerald Henderson - He is a restricted free agent so he wont be going anywhere. He could be one of the top scorers for the Magic next season.

Beno Udrih - Looks like he will be gone, he is a talented player, but at this stage of his career he is lucky to be a backup PG.

Louis Amundson - A white big man who can fill a roster, pretty much sums it up. Most likely wont be back.

JJ Redick - The magic wish they could get him back, but its likely he will bolt to another team in hopes of going to the playoffs.

Mike James - Is he still around?

Brandon Jennings - Sign and trade player, the Magic are shopping him already and will take the best deal. Jennings days in a Magic uniform are in the past.

Jason Maxiell - Maxiell is a solid big man but wont be coming back to the Magic.

DaJuan Summers - Probably wont be back, probably no one cares.

NLL Insider - Team by Team: Orlando Magic

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