NBA projected win totals for all 30 teams
By Bryce Olin
25. Orlando Magic- 28.5 wins
2013-14 Record: 23-59
It’s no question the Magic upgraded their roster this offseason. Trading Arron Afflalo for Evan Fournier was a questionable decision, but it does open up room for the Magic’s young backcourt of Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo to get more playing time.
The Magic picked up Ben Gordon, Willie Green, and Channing Frye to add some shooters to a team that only shot 45 percent from the field last season (21st in the league) and 35 percent from three (23rd in the league). Gordon, Green, and Frye are all veteran players who can provide some leadership, as well, but I fail to see how it’s all going to fit together.
Why you should take the Over:
The addition of Frye could pay huge dividends by opening up the floor and creating driving lanes for Payton, Oladipo, Tobias Harris, and others. The Magic were also a pretty good defensive team last season and should only get better as their young players develop. Making threes and playing good defense will be the biggest reason why the Magic will improve this season.
Why you should take the Under:
As we see year after year, fit and chemistry is incredibly important. On paper, the addition of Frye looks great, but how much of his production and open threes were due to the Suns’ great guard penetration from Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic? If the Magic’s guards fail to force a defensive rotation, Frye might end up being a very easy cover for opposing defenses because he’s not a great offensive rebounder and he isn’t going to take defenders off the dribble.
I can’t imagine Frye being a downgrade for the Magic, but it’s pretty clear Frye is a system player, especially at this point of his career.
Take the under on the Magic. The potential is there, but they are relying on too many young players and that backcourt scary in the “10-plus turnovers per game” kind of way.