Dwight Howard era in Orlando is over and the Magic are ready to move on....
The summer of 2012 marked the end of Dwight Howard’s tenure with the Orlando Magic thus thrusting the franchise into a new era of rebuilding and uncertainty.
Almost two months since Howard’s departure to the Los Angeles Lakers, Magic will be heading into training camp on Tuesday. And even though many critics don’t have high hopes for the team, the Magic themselves are anxious to embrace
the new beginning and sow the seeds of something special;
"I think we can be better than people think because they don't know, nobody knows what's gonna happen," point guard Jameer Nelson said. "So for people to count us out automatically, that's just people writing things. It's up to
us to go out there and work hard, make ourselves better and establish an identity.”
"Every year you put the uniform on for the first day, it's gonna be a challenge."
Do the Magic have the means of putting up a rather competitive season?
It certainly does not appear to be the case as they only have seven players returning from last season and are heading into the new campaign with an entirely new system, let alone the roster. Under a young and dynamic general manager
in Rob Hennigan, Orlando hired Jacques Vaughn during the summer and he will be entering into his first ever coaching stint at this level. He has not only got to produce results with an young, inexperienced and unacquainted lineup, but has also got to develop
the players simultaneously.
The Magic players however are determined to put up their best and are in no way willing to accept that they will be push overs next season;
"When you throw in the term `rebuilding,' it implies almost that you're willing to lose. I don't think there's a guy in the locker room or the coaching staff or in management who's willing to lose.” Arron Afflalo (one of the major
additions made during the summer – part of the four team trade) said.
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