Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic were a team that hobbled into the season missing arguably their second-best player in Jonathan Isaac. When starting point guard Markelle Fultz went down, the team’s postseason hopes were put on life support.
After missing Cole Anthony for a month with a broken rib, the nail was hammered into the coffin, and Magic’s two-year postseason streak was put to rest…barring a miraculous late-season run.
Steve Clifford was brought into Orlando three years ago, and the team broke into the playoffs after missing every second season since Dwight Howard took his talents to Tinseltown. He should not be in danger of losing his job.
That said, if the Magic decide a rebuild is their preference, Clifford would be better off finding a better situation. With Stevens still in his 40’s, he has the time to take on a rebuilding project–much like he did in taking the Boston Celtics job.
Orlando would likely be willing to show him the money. Stevens, a noted point guard whisperer, could maximize Fultz’s game while also potentially taking Isaac’s game to the next level, much like he did with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Washington Wizards
It feels like there could be big changes on the horizon for the Washington Wizards, who are sitting in the #13 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture right now. Bradley Beal’s discontent has been obvious, and it feels like the NBA’s next superteam will be one that makes a move on his deal.
Elsewhere, the team has added high-upside rookies like Deni Avdija and Rui Hachimura in the past two NBA Drafts while also mistakenly dealing for Russell Westbrook’s albatross contract.
The high-priced veterans (Beal, Westbrook, Davis Bertans) will likely be shopped, and the youth will rise to the forefront.
Like the Magic, Washington has talent on the wing that could benefit from the Boston Celtics head coach migrating south. Perhaps it’s time for a regime change in the nation’s capital.