After making a flurry of major moves during the 2016 offseason, including trading for Serge Ibaka and signing Evan Fournier and Bismack Biyombo to lucrative long-term deals, the Magic were one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams. Orlando flipped Ibaka before the deadline for a lesser return, and ultimately finished with a 29-53 record, leading to GM Rob Hennigan‘s ouster.
A new management group, led by former Raptors executive Jeff Weltman, is in place, and Weltman and company took a more patient, cautious approach to the 2017 offseason. Orlando was active on the offseason market, but the team’s investments were modest — Jonathon Simmons and Shelvin Mack got $6MM per year, while Arron Afflalo and Marreese Speights signed for the minimum.
The Magic didn’t lose many major pieces, with Jeff Green, C.J. Watson, and Jodie Meeks moving on over the summer, but none of their upgrades are expect to have a major impact on the 2017/18 standings. Simmons, Mack, and rookie Jonathan Isaac are nice pieces, but they likely won’t make the Magic a playoff team this season.
As such, it’s no surprise that oddsmakers are lukewarm on the Magic’s outlook for 2017/18. Offshore betting site Bovada projects Orlando to improve, but only by a few games — the over/under for the Magic is set at 33.5 wins.
What do you think? Will the Magic, without the pressure of making the postseason, bounce back from a disastrous 2016/17 campaign and surprise some people this season? Or is the team poised to win 33 games or less, heading for another top-10 pick in the 2018 draft? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!
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Previous over/under voting results:
Western Conference:
- Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
- Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
- San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
- Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
- Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
- Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
- Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
- New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
- Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
- Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)
- Los Angeles Lakers: Over 33.5 (50.4%)
Eastern Conference:
- Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
- Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
- Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
- Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
- Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
- Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
- Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
- Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)
I’m a magic fan, but come on. They’ll finish at the bottom of the eastern conference.
No mid of the pack.
Magic has Gordon and Ross to put up highlight dunks once in a while and give fans something to look for in losing seasons.
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