The Orlando Magic played one of their best games of the season against Raptors on Sunday, downing them by 114-113. That optimism was nullified by an atrocious performance which saw them lose by 30 points to Celtic on Friday.
That loss had first-year coach Frank Vogel flashing some uncharacteristic rage, especially the team's wobbly defense, which is 22nd in NBA efficiency list.
Talking about bad defenses, stats doesn't read that well too for the Magic - they have allowed 100 plus points in 20 games already this season that too despite having some of the better defensive players around. Vogel said that some of the players are not living up to their tags of being good defenders. He said they are not playing like a good defensive unit and he is failing to tie them up to play like a unit.
Even with a nice win against Raptors, Orlando is currently 19-30, just 4-12 since pulling within three games of 500 on the day after Christmas. This was particularly frustrating for Vogel as he expected an upgrade in performances with the arrival of free-agent center Bismack Biyombo and veteran forward Serge Ibaka, who was acquired in a trade with the Thunder for Victor Olidapo and lottery pick Domantas Sabonis.
But, now some of the league sources say that Magic have picked up their efforts and are keen to move Ibaka ahead of next month's trade deadline, with a plan to get some payback from the player who does not figure with Orlando for long now. Ibaka will be a free agent this summer. There is no chance for a possible Biyombo trade, after Magic paid $70 million for four years this offseason.
27-year old Ibaka has been productive with 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 48.6 percent shooting from the field, but hasn't had the impact defensively as expected by the Magics. Lately, the team will have to shift third-year forward Aaron Gordon from small forward to power forward, Ibaka's current position.
Ibaka will himself be likely to search out a team more ready to contend in the summer, the Magic can't afford to hand him a big contract, not with Gordon still needing to develop as a power forward.
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