Orlando Magic: 3 reasons front office are losing the fans

Orlando Magic</a> have had a horrendous season, and fans are now asking serious questions of the front office.</p> <p>When you break up with somebody, it can go one of two ways. The first is that there is an element of “rose-tinted glasses” whereby you look back fondly on the time together, likely ignoring many of the signs that the relationship was doomed to fail in the first place while doing so.</p> <h2>It’s time to ask some tough questions of the Orlando Magic front office</h2> <p>For the Orlando Magic, this encapsulates the mood around one-time franchise cornerstone Dwight Howard well. Once he left in 2012, and with the subsequent mess that followed, it was easy to look back on a run to the NBA Finals and guaranteed success each year, while ignoring how he held the franchise to ransom for roughly 18 months before the end eventually came.</p> <p>The second way, however, is what the Magic were experiencing up until recently with their front office. Previous General Manager Rob Hennigan was the man who oversaw the transitional period away from Howard, and he did so horrendously.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="NBA Draft: New player at top of 2020 NBA Redraft" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/nba-draft-2020-lottery-redraft/" data-call-to-action="Related Story"> <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/nba-draft-2020-lottery-redraft/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> NBA Draft: New player at top of 2020 NBA Redraft </a> </div> </div> <p>Lowlights including trading away Victor Oladipo (and the draft rights to Domantas Sabonis) for Serge Ibaka, drafting Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja with top 10 picks, trading for Brandon Jennings, letting Tobias Harris go, and signing center Bismack Biyombo to a four year, $72 million deal while Nikola Vucevic was ascending to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/04/orlando-magic-nikola-vucevic-star-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the player he is now</a>.</p> <p>When he left and the current front office took over, because of how badly the previous relationship had gone, they were given a pass for basically everything. It’s easy to be thankful when you know how bad things can get, and that is something that should not be forgotten as we trudge our way through this season with the Magic as well.</p> <p>But as the franchise shows no clear direction once more, while wasting Vucevic’s best season as a professional to date, the spotlight is firmly on GM John Hammond and President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. Here are three reasons fans are growing tired of the people in charge.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> They've Gone Quiet </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_423149" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-423149" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F980763800.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/980763800.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/980763800-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Orlando Magic (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3. The Orlando Magic front office has gone quiet</h2> <p>It can be hard to find anybody talking about the Magic at the best of times, and certainly, when their front office speaks, it is not making the national news cycle. It is also fair to say that the front office is meant to stay out of the limelight, work hard behind the scenes and put a competitive product on the court.</p> <p>To that end, the Magic’s top brass had been doing well over the last number of years. They would pop up on radio shows and blogs every so often, say all of the right things (while generally remaining cautious and tight-lipped about the bigger picture), and then be on their way again. This was all fine, especially as the organization had amassed back-to-back postseason appearances.</p> <p>Things have taken a strange turn recently though. Despite a surprisingly solid and entertaining start to the campaign, injuries to key guys meant the wheels came off the cart quickly. It quickly became a lost season in which a high draft pick in the upcoming class was the consolation prize and one which fans could talk themselves into. Then this happened.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Tune in to <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://twitter.com/969thegame?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@969thegame tomorrow morning (Tuesday, Feb. 16) at 8:15 A.M., as <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://twitter.com/OrlandoMagic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@OrlandoMagic General Manager John Hammond joins <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://twitter.com/BianchiWrites?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>@BianchiWrites on ‘Open Mike.’</p> <p>You can catch ‘The Magic Word’ every Tuesday at 8:15 A.M. on 96.9 The Game.<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/MagicTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#MagicTogether</a></p> <p>— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://twitter.com/Magic_PR/status/1361427886801100801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>February 15, 2021</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>Ducking an interview when it has been released by the PR arm of the Magic is, weird. Clearly, Hammond knew that some tough questions were likely to come his way, so he decided to just sidestep the interview completely. Not a great sign of leadership, at a particularly critical juncture in the Magic’s season and future.</p> <p>Both Hammond and Weltman have good reputations in the league. It was Weltman who oversaw the Milwaukee Bucks drafting a guy by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo when he was in charge there. They are also both articulate individuals who come across well, so what exactly are they hiding by having Hammond not go on radio?</p> <p>By going silent now, at a time when the opposite is needed, all of a sudden other issues that have lingered for a long time, or may not even be the fault of the front office, are pinned on them. What is the story with Mohamed Bamba? What is the plan beyond this season? The list continues to grow.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Reluctance To Trade </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_423152" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-423152" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1132828442.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1132828442.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1132828442-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Orlando Magic (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>2. The Orlando Magic’s reluctance to trade</h2> <p>It has long been a sore point for Magic fans, the apparent reluctance of the front office to take part in any major shake-up of the roster, and it only grows louder now. Before it was possible to see where the front office was coming from. Those aforementioned playoff appearances were proof that continuity around their core guys was working.</p> <p>The counter-argument was always that, no matter how well this group played together, there was a clear ceiling to how far they could go. The most optimistic of people would say that was the second round of the playoffs. But with Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz out for the long-term with injury, as well as <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/basketball/news/magics-al-farouq-aminu-questionable-wednesday/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">whatever is going on</a> with Al-Farouq Aminu and half the roster, surely the time to make some moves is now?</p> <p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://www.espn.com/nba/team/injuries/_/name/orl" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> This</a> makes for some really grim reading, and it isn’t going to get much better anytime soon. Obviously, Vucevic is the best thing about the Magic, and if he were gone then they would take a significant step back. But his value has never been higher, so why not see what is available on the market?</p> <p>Even beyond Vucevic, Aaron Gordon has been mentioned in trade rumors for basically an entire Presidential term, and he’s still on the team. Evan Fournier is an unrestricted free agent this summer. As an expiring deal, could the Magic get something back from a contender who sees him as a rental and the final piece in a title push?</p> <p>Fournier has shown how important he is to the franchise when fitting this season, he can create in ways that nobody else on the roster can. But if they bring him back, alongside Gordon and Vucevic for now, what exactly are the front office doing here? The front office did well in snagging Fultz for basically nothing from the Philadelphia 76ers.</p> <p>Fans love the player and it gave Hammond, Weltman and the rest of the decision-makers in Orlando some time with the fans. That time has now run out, as they have done nothing else with it. No moves around the edges, just continuing on a path that gets harder to feel positive about by the day.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Bizarre Injuries </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_423153" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img class="size-full wp-image-423153" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2129,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1300043261.jpeg" alt="Orlando Magic" width="3200" height="2129" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1300043261.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1300043261-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Orlando Magic (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>1. The Orlando Magic have endured bizarre injuries</h2> <p>It’s not just the sheer amount of injuries, although that is relevant at this point. Bad luck happens to all organizations over time, but the recent revelation that rookie Cole Anthony was initially misdiagnosed and has a fractured rib (the top one at that, which is strange), is baffling and scary if you’re a player.</p> <p>It also raises questions about Isaac coming back from a very bad knee sprain sustained on New Year’s Day of 2020, to play a couple of games in the bubble in Florida, before tearing his ACL. The same injury that struck Fultz down and ruined this season. Two ACLs, plus a year-long plus knee injury for Aminu, is ridiculously worrying.</p> <p>If you’re unlucky enough to be a supporter of Arsenal Football Club (as this writer is), as well as the Magic, then you will be all too aware of just how much a poor medical staff <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://www.joe.ie/sport/pic-this-infographic-showing-arsenals-history-of-injures-over-10-years-is-incredible-468366" target="_blank" rel="noopener">can set you back</a>. Right now the Magic are enduring the same, and while the front office doesn’t tend to the players on a daily basis, they do decide who works on their stars in the first place.</p> <p>This is why they have to take responsibility for the myriad of injuries that have ruined the year. The one which Cole Anthony suffered and likely continued to play with, the worst of all. This is strange considering these are the same people who managed to fix whatever was ailing Markelle Fultz, as before injury his play was basically the best thing about the Magic.</p> <p>But this lack of confidence with the medical staff hurts everybody. If they told you your surgically repaired knee was ready to go again, as will one day be the case with Isaac and Fultz, do you believe them? Would you look for a second opinion? The Magic will always get the odd veteran to come to Florida to play as well, as they did with Aminu.</p> <p>Will they trust their bodies around these guys? If you asked Aminu the answer would likely be telling. Somebody like Gordon has had niggling injuries for years now. Fournier too. Given everything that has happened this year, how confident are they walking into the treatment room? On top of all of this, why is the front office suddenly going quiet as this is happening?</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="NBA Power Rankings Week 8: The Suns are rising" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/14/nba-power-rankings-week-8-phoenix-suns-rising/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/17/orlando-magic-3-reasons-losing-fans/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/02/14/nba-power-rankings-week-8-phoenix-suns-rising/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> NBA Power Rankings Week 8: The Suns are rising </a> </div> </div><!—pageview_candidate—>">