With arguably the new best player in the NBA staying put in a small market city Milwaukee Wisconsin (YES WISCONSIN). And with this same, new best player in basketball, declaring his desire to win there, it of course gets me thinking as a Magic fan.
We should be doing this. Orlando is better than Milwaukee. Are we cursed?
For everything that ran through my head and my heart two major revelations came out, and I hope the Orlando Magic organization adopt these two fundamental principles in the years to come.
Let's be honest with ourselves, Magic fans are apathetic at best. We have excitement but little hope. We are committed, but not impassioned. We love our team, but we're no longer IN LOVE with our team. And that's got to change! Here is how we can be positioned for that change...
#1 - For a team in Orlando's position we HAVE to hit on the draft!
The idea that Orlando will be able to piece together a trade package that would bring a legit superstar to our city is currently outlandish. If NBA superstars were gorgeous supermodels, then we're the dorky fat guy playing video games in the basement. And unfortunately this isn't a movie, so we won't get the girl. So... we've got to draft. And we've got to change our draft strategy.
As Kravitz has said NUMEROUS times. We have to draft WHOEVER IS THE BEST GUY ON THE BOARD!!! Period. It doesn't matter how much it doesn't makes sense. We've got to hit it in the draft.
We can no longer focus on what we need, or what position makes us a more complete team. Without a superstar, we are an 8th seed or 6th seed at BEST and we can no longer be happy with a "shot" at the playoffs.
EVERYTHING ABOUT ORLANDO IS A CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER CITY... except in sports. The Magic have got to adopt the same image as The City Beautiful. Draft the hottest guy possible. Trade whatever you need to move up in the draft and GET THE BEST PLAYER POSSIBLE. And why does Orlando need to do this? That brings me to the second thing...
#2 - It's time we treat stars LIKE THEY ARE STARS!!!
Build around them. Get pieces that complement them. Make it ALL about them!!
The league has changed and the Magic seem to be slow coming to terms with that change. And let me say I personally HATE the way the league has changed. But we have to operate with what "is" not what used to be. And the truth of this league is... great NBA teams are built around stars.
Now good teams can be built around a great collection of guys who play well together. Good teams can be built on synergy and core values. Good teams can be built on heart and hustle.
But GREAT teams, are built by finding a star and then rotating all the other planets around the star!!
It doesn't take away from the importance of the other planets. But the STAR is what gives those planets life, heat, and the ability to grow.
Put their face all over the city. Make them the ambassador to everything. Free tickets to everything for them, their families, and all their ugly friends. Make them the center of the solar system and watch them elevate everyone and everything around them.
Without a legit star, the Magic are simply a group of planets rotating in the dark, hoping to be seen. It's time we STOP being a middle of the pack team. We need to rise to the standard of what our city really is. WORLD CLASS!!
It's time the Orlando Magic start acting MAGICAL!