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Orlando Magic rumors: Magic not after a superstar

By Andrew Melnick

Jan 24, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic small forward Tobias Harris (12) and shooting guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic small forward Tobias Harris (12) and shooting guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic won 114-105. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic have won just 43 games since trading center Dwight Howard.

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They have instead chosen to draft and develop younger players while ridding themselves of a lot of their veterans, like guards Jameer Nelson and Arron Afflalo. They’ve had an especially busy offseason this year. The Magic dealt guard Afflalo to the Denver Nuggets for swingman Evan Fournier and the rights to the 56th-overall pick, guard Roy Devyn Marble. They selected former Arizona Wildcats’ forward Aaron Gordon with the fourth-overall selection and traded the rights to the 12th-overall selection, Croatian forward Dario Saric and a future pick to the Philadelphia 76ers for the rights to the 10th-overall pick, former Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns’ point guard Elfrid Payton. They claimed guard Willie Green off of waivers from the Los Angeles Clippers and signed veteran guard Ben Gordon and Phoenix Suns’ big man Channing Frye.

Of course, they still don’t have a superstar.

Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders does not believe the Magic are going to try to trade for or sign a star and will instead be attempting to grow one.

"RaySteve, which super star do you think the Orlando Magic have a realistic shot of signing in the next couple of years assuming our core continues to develop nicely?Steve KylerNone.They are going to have to grow their next big star or trade for him. I doubt a top tier guy chooses Orlando, unless a lot of things change."

Although the Magic have lost plenty of stars in the past (Shaquille O’Neal, Anfernee “Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady and Dwight Howard), they have also convinced stars to join them before (McGrady, Grant Hill and Rashard Lewis (Lewis was not a star but he was the best player left on the market when the Magic signed him)). However, Kyler is right when he says they would prefer to grow their star than sign or trade for one. They’ve made that clear.

Be sure to check FanSided’s official NBA page to keep up to date on the latest news and rumors from around the league all summer long.

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