2007 NBA Season Preview - Orlando Magic

A Look at the Upcoming 07-08 Season

Orlando Magic
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 40-42 (.488); 3^rd in Southeast Division
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): Lost in Eastern Conference Quarterfinals (4-0 to Detroit)
Coach (Record): Stan Van Gundy, 1^st season, 4^th overall
Key Additions:

SF Rashard Lewis (FA: Seattle); C Adonal Foyle (Golden State)
Key Losses: PF/C Darko Milicic (FA; Memphis); SF Grant Hill (FA; Phoenix)

The Orlando Magic had a breakthrough of sorts on the court last season. A fast start allowed them enough of a cushion to slide into the playoffs. They were handed a reminder of how far they still had to go when the Detroit Pistons swept them in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, but there were some promising signs of improvement. The team took this offseason as an opportunity to improve their team and try to solidify their status as a postseason qualifier. Rashard Lewis was the big fish in free agency, and the Magic paid, maybe a little more than he's worth, to lure him from Seattle. As good of a guy as Grant Hill is and how touching of a story that he has been coming back from severe injuries, Lewis is definitely an upgrade at the position. He's younger, faster, a better natural athlete, and should give the team another weapon. Don't forget that they still possess Dwight Howard on the inside. Speaking of which, remember those people who said that Orlando should have taken Emeka Okafor over Dwight Howard? Does not look like that was such a good idea in retrospect, huh?

Where does the team go from here? You would hope that they can continue to build on the growth that they displayed last season, but that is just not set in stone. They could be better, but there are a few things to watch out for. They are still in the middle of that transition, and the teams at the top are well aware of them now. Don't let the sweep by Detroit fool you, the Magic were close in all of those games with the exception of game 3 of the series. They have a lot to build on, as well as the addition of Lewis to buoy the team forward. Can they continue to rise?