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Washington Wizards Southeast Division Preview: Wizards vs. Orlando Magic

By Ben Mehic

Jan 9, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) shoots during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Amway Center. The Washington Wizards won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) shoots during the second half against the Washington Wizards at Amway Center. The Washington Wizards won 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Wizards NBA Southeast Division Preview 2016: Orlando Magic added two defensive studs this summer in Ibaka and Biyombo.

We’ve all had less than desirable jobs. When I was in high school, I used to wash dishes for a restaurant in a hotel. It was soul numbing, so I quit in less than a month.

We can all safely say, though, that being in the NBA would be pretty dope. Being a ball boy, even, would be great for a young basketball fiend. But coaching? I couldn’t think of a better job for someone who grew up playing hoops.

Scott Skiles is an NBA lifer. He played in the league for 11 years and immediately began coaching afterwards.

In fact, Skiles served as a head coach in Greece in 1996 after his head coach – the one he was supposed to play for in Greece – got fired. Once that gig was over, he joined the Phoenix Suns as an assistant. He’s been in the coaching circle ever since.

Skiles loves basketball. I don’t know how he would live without it.

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But the Orlando Magic were such a disaster, partially because of Skiles, that he decided to quit his dream job.

Just a season into his coaching career in Orlando, Skiles decided that the fit just wasn’t right. He took off his silly apron, plus the slip resistant shoes and called it a day.

The Magic hired Frank Vogel, who was surprisingly let go by the Indiana Pacers after they were bounced out of the NBA Playoffs this past season.

Orlando is a mess and they’re trying to fix their reputation. Hiring Vogel, a proven winner, was the right move. What followed after the hire is still questionable.

Key additions:

Key losses:

On paper, the Magic look more talented this season than they did in 2015-16.

Serge Ibaka will mesh well with both Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo. When engaged, Ibaka is one of the best rim protecting bigs in the NBA, so pairing him next to Vucevic, who’s struggled defensively, should hide some of their problems on that end.

Having him share the court next to Biyombo could be straight up terrifying.

Biyombo emerged as a legit shot blocking and rebounding force during the NBA Playoffs.

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He single handedly helped the Toronto Raptors win a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Now, put him next to Ibaka – who’s equally scary defensively – and teams might not score 80 points.

Losing Victor Oladipo will hurt the Magic’s offense and they will struggle to score when the offense becomes stagnant, but if things work out between Ibaka/Biyombo/Vucevic, the Magic could end up finishing as a top-5 defense.

D.J. Augustin should fill the scoring void that was created by Jennings’ departure.

The Jeff Green and C.J. Wilcox signings will give Vogel some more versatility to work with offensively. Both can play multiple positions and space the floor – albeit inconsistently.

That’s the thing: how good will the Magic be offensively? Even though getting key stops is the most important part of the game, you have to be able to put the ball through the hoop. Elfrid Payton won’t help in that aspect and Evan Fournier will be asked to become the go-to scorer.

How the Washington Wizards match up

I’m a lot higher on the Magic than most.

Vogel is one of the best coaches in the NBA and the Magic have a ton of talent that’s went unnoticed. I’m worried that Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja won’t get a chance to play, but if they got better this summer, Vogel won’t have a choice but to give them run.

The pieces, at least individually, are intriguing. The question is, how will they fit together? The front office has confidence that the frontcourt will be elite, and that’s fine, but the backcourt is super iffy.

Payton is unproven, Fournier isn’t built to be a first option and teams that are reliant on Green for production always become disappointing.

Washington will have a tough time matching up with the Magic’s bigs, like most teams in the league.

Marcin Gortat, in particular, has never performed well against athletic bigs. Markieff Morris will hold his own, but Gortat will inevitably struggle.

Perhaps that’s where Ian Mahinmi will help the most.

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The backcourt will have a sizeable advantage against the Magic’s guards.

John Wall is a perennial All-Star while Payton is still raw. Bradley Beal is just flat out more talented than any two-guard the Magic will put on the floor.

In terms of cohesion, the Washington Wizards will operate more like a familiar group than the Magic. Orlando doesn’t have one player that the opposing teams should be deathly afraid of.

The gameplan is going to be simple: get up the court before Ibaka and Biyombo get settled and keep them in the half court once they get possession. The Magic will try to run, too, but they do lack firepower.

Orlando is still young, but they should be a lot more competitive than they were last year.

Skiles did them a favor by quitting. Vogel is in the second tier of coaches in the NBA. There weren’t a lot of those available this off-season. Rob Hennigan somehow managed to secure one.

Next: Southeast Preview: Wizards vs. Hawks

Even with the moves they’ve made, the Magic won’t be competing for the Southeast Division crown this upcoming season. If they sneak into the playoffs or compete for a spot late in the season, they should consider it a successful year. Their young players need something to play for and Vogel will make sure that the games in March matter.

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