Orlando Magic: 'Oklahoma City East'?
NBA teams can pick a variety of ways to operate their rebuild. There's not typically a right or wrong way, as long as young talent is being developed the right now.
A pair of rebuilding teams that are seemingly turning the corner as franchises are the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder, both in different conferences.
When it comes to having a deep roster of young talent, the two teams are similar. Both teams can potentially make playoff pushes with their young talent running the show this season, and that's where the two franchises compare.
"At what point do we start calling the Orlando Magic 'Oklahoma City East'? The Magic don't have a current All-NBA talent like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Nor do they have the same cachet of draft picks. But their rotation is similarly brimming with still-developing-but-ready-now players, at least two of whom might have All-NBA nods in their future," Bleacher Report writes.
Thunder general manager Sam Presti has rebuilt the team in such a unique way that has allowed the team to build a stockpile of draft picks while also accumulating enough young talent that there is social media discourse about the squad having too much talent.
While the Magic hasn't operated with a key player throughout their rebuild, Paolo Banchero is quickly becoming that player, as he can break through as a first-time All-Star in coming years. Also, the team doesn't have the same level of draft picks as the Thunder.
As the Magic test out different rotations with their young talent, it has developmental players at each stage, similar to the Thunder.
The main difference between the two squads is the Thunder's larger margin of error. Mistakes can be covered using the team's draft picks, as they can dispose of plenty while holding onto its war chest of picks. The Magic doesn't quite have that flexibility.
Patience will also be the name of the game for both teams. They've each got plenty of talent on the upward trend and, over time, will prove that if they sit tight, the wins will begin to pile up.
You can follow Kade Kimble on Twitter @KadeKimble.
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