The Orlando Magic are a hard team to figure entering this season.
It has been five years of difficulty in rebuilding and the team remade its front office. But the team that returns is largely the same group that won 29 games last year — and finished 8-16 after the All-Star Break.
Despite this, there is considerable optimism about the team this coming season. Many saw what the Magic did after trading Serge Ibaka and the All-Star Break as a good sign for the future. The starting lineup played well, at least, and the Magic worked this summer to improve their bench.