Fansided

10 most dysfunctional NBA franchises

By John Buhler

Mar 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a call with the referee during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Sleep Train Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a call with the referee during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Sleep Train Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) reacts to a call on the court during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) reacts to a call on the court during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports /

. East. Southeast. Orlando Magic. 10. player. 38

In their 27-year history as an NBA franchise, the Orlando Magic have been historically one of the stronger expansion era NBA franchises. Orlando had made the Eastern Conference Playoffs 14 times and twice made it to the NBA Finals (1995, 2009).

However, the last four years have been some dark times for NBA basketball in Central Florida. In the 2011-12 NBA season, All-Star center Dwight Howard grew unhappy playing in a small market like Orlando and for a demanding head coach in Stan Van Gundy.

Howard left for the Los Angeles Lakers via a trade, but has never achieved the success he had in Orlando. A couple of years later, Van Gundy has found a great new gig with the Detroit Pistons in a dual role as head coach and team president. However, the Magic have been a bottom feeder in the East since Howard and Van Gundy departed.

In the last four seasons, Orlando has struggled to find the key player to build its team around and the right head coach to lead them. The Magic may very well have found that coach in former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel in May, but personnel issues remain.

General manager Rob Hennigan has mostly gone with raw athletes in NBA Drafts since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder to become general manager in 2012. While players like Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon, and Mario Hezonja offer a ton of intrigue as young, potentially dynamic playmakers, they haven’t had the proper coaching to put them in advantageous situations to fully tap into their massive raw potential.

Orlando should be a defense-first team, especially with Vogel as their new head coach, but the Magic front office continues to trade away solid scoring options like Channing Frye and Tobias Harris. Their best shooter currently on the roster in starting center Nikola Vucevic could very well be next on the trading block.

While the organization has definitely had its fair share of good fortune, especially with ping-pong balls and accelerated player development, it seems that the Magic have toiled in obscurity the last four years trying to find a team identity after Howard and Van Gundy left.

The Magic may have found the answer in Vogel, one has to wonder if the poor coaching of the last four years has placed a finite ceiling on what this current Magic corps can going forward. Vogel is the right person for the job, but is he working with the best people in the Orlando organization?

2016-17 is a massively important season for the Magic organization’s credibility. It’s not terribly dysfunctional, but the last half decade has not been smooth sailing either in Central Florida.

Next: 9. Philadelphia 76ers

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