
Via NBA.com
Key Players: Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vučević, Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier
Nikola Vučević is entering his seventh year in the league. Evan Fournier is entering his sixth season. Both Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton are entering their fourth year in the NBA. Safe to say, this is a make-or-break season for the Orlando Magic. Every basketball fan called the failure of the Serge Ibaka era, but no one knew it would fail before All-Star break; the Magic traded Ibaka to Toronto for Terrence Ross and a 2017 first-round pick. Failures like the Ibaka trade led Orlando to clean house in the front office. However, new general manager John Hammond decided to do the opposite in terms of the team's core. Orlando's biggest offseason addition came in the form of 6'10" Florida State product Jonathan Isaac. The Magic managed to snag two key role players in bargain free agency deals, signing Jonathon Simmons to a 3-year $18 million deal and Marreese Speights to a 1-year $2.1 million deal.
Best Case Scenario

Via CBSsports.com
The Orlando Magic's best case scenario is finding the true face of the franchise. Since Dwight Howard's 2012 departure, Orlando's franchise face has changed from Vucevic to Oladipo to Ibaka and is currently filled by Aaron Gordon. Gordon averaged just 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and an unimpressive 29% three-point conversion rate in what was supposed to be his breakout campaign; in Gordon's defense, his development was clearly hindered by the addition of Serge Ibaka forcing him to play out of position. Gordon is the prototypical stretch-4, and after three long seasons he's finally expected to play the position that fits him best.
Elfrid Payton is the Orlando Magic franchise leader in Russell Westbrooks(formerly knows as triple-doubles). Elfrid Payton averaged 13.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 8.4 assists, and only 2.5 turnovers a game, post All-Star break. Elfrid Payton is playing for his Magic life this season. The main issue surrounding Payton is consistency; entering his fourth year, Payton has been benched for the likes of D.J. Augustin, Brandon Jennings and C.J. Watson. If Payton can consistently perform at his post All-Star break level he could be seeing a huge contract as the Magic's franchise point guard.
Worst Case Scenario

Via Orlando Magic Daily
The Orlando Magic have been playing their worst case scenario on repeat. They lose enough games to draft in the lottery, but they win enough games for fans to think that with that added lottery player a playoff berth will happen the next season. Only it's never happened. Expectations are deafeningly low for a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2012. The Magic have been stuck in basketball purgatory for the last half-decade, and all it takes to pull them out is one player living up to their potential. Lottery picks Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon, and Mario Hezonja have yet to live up to their draft expectations, but have either flashed potential or had the excuse of limited playing time. Hezonja, Payton, and Gordon should all have ample opportunities to prove they belong this season. If they all continue to teeter with their talent expect Orlando to shift their rebuild focus from them to Jonathan Isaac.
Prediction: 36-46; purgatory continues, start the Isaac Era.