NBA post-free agency power rankings

27. Orlando Magic

I desperately want to rank the Magic higher than this, but every team above them has a better coaching and management infrastructure, a balanced winning team, or a superstar. Orlando has none of the above.

But it seems that for the first time in years, there is a vision for what future Magic teams will look like. John Hammond, captured from Milwaukee, went about the draft as he always has, targeting versatile players with long arms to swarm opposing offenses. He and the Orlando front office re-signed Aaron Gordon for far less than his maximum salary, and avoided any free agent signings that would hurt their future flexibility.

Looking at the roster, it makes sense why the length-loving Hammond was attracted to his new job. Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Jonathon Simmons, Terrence Ross and now Mohamed Bamba could form the core of a revolutionary jumbo-sized roster. They will compete at a higher level this year, and there is promise for the future.

In addition to Bamba, Orlando drafted Melvin Frazier, who fell out of the first-round after a promising junior season at Tulane. He’s a freak athlete who could become a special defender in time. He joins Wesley Iwundu to form what could become Orlando’s defensive backcourt of the future.

Point guard will be a problem, and Orlando will likely need to address the spot sometime before the season begins. They traded for Jerian Grant and signed former Kentucky standout Isaiah Briscoe to a minimum contract, but D.J. Augustin starting games has never worked out for an NBA team.

They’re still going to be tankers by next spring, but there is a light at the end of a dark tunnel for Magic fans.