Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks: Did the competition catch up in free agency?

By Joshua Buckhalter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Delon Wright #55 of the Detroit Pistons blocks a shot by Cam Reddish #22 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena on December 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Delon Wright #55 of the Detroit Pistons blocks a shot by Cam Reddish #22 of the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at State Farm Arena on December 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Hawks: Grading the competition No. 1: The Magic are mostly counting on health to be better

While the Orlando Magic weren’t a playoff team last season, they are just one year removed from a postseason berth. Much of that team is gone, though. Aaron Gordon, Nikola Vucevic, and Evan Fournier were all traded at last year’s deadline. D.J. Augustin and Al-Farouq Aminu were also moved before and during last season, respectively.

Otto Porter is gone too but was he ever really “there” after appearing in just three games?

In the draft, they added Jalen Suggs out of Gonzaga with the fifth-overall pick and took Franz Wagner — brother of 2020 free agent signee Mortiz Wagner — with the eighth pick.

They added Robin Lopez and Sindarius Thornwell (on a two-way contract back in May) in free agency. That’s it so far. It’s not like we expected them to be contenders next season. They did bring up the rear in our pre-free agency power rankings. But it’s still underwhelming.

Will the return of Jonathan Isaac and the possibility of improved health for guards Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz be enough to push them past the other teams in the East? That’s probably not even the goal Their only vets are Terrence Ross, James Ennis, Michael Carter-Williams, and Gary Harris.

Ross and Ennis have also been involved in trade talks.

The bottom of the conference is fungible so there is always a chance the Magic figure a way into the play-in tournament. Once there, anything can happen.

For now, they can’t get any other grade than a ‘C-’ for their offseason.