The Orlando Magic have been rebuilding for what feels like forever. Really, it’s been since 2012-13. That isn’t too long. At the same time, they’re almost four years into their post-Dwight Howard rebuild and aren’t that much closer to returning to championship contention. That’s annoying for the fanbase for obvious reasons, but it’s comparably frustrating for the bettors in us. Many fear picking against them, both before and during the season, because the Magic are overdue for some success. Is that unnecessarily superstitious? Perhaps. [+]

But it’s a factor to consider when making bets, big-picture futures or single-game wagers, that bring you across the Magic.

At the moment, here are the most pertinent facts about this team: They’re young, they have a pretty good defense and they’re an opportunity betting play. Don’t make them the primary apple of your gambling eye. It’ll come back to haunt you sooner rather than later.

Orlando Magic Next Game

Looking at the Magic’s next opponent is a good way to discover those opporutnistic plays we just referenced. It’s here where your decision-making process kicks into high gear. [+]

See who’s on tap next, figure out how this opponent stacks up against the Magic and if a clear victor emerges from your comparision, you’ll know to hit the sportsbook.

My Team's Next MatchOrlando Magic

Orlando Magic Regular Season Schedule

Since the Magic are an opportunstic play, making this regular-seaosn schedule a part of your daily betting regimen is a non-neogitable must. There are other advantages, too. [+]

You can also determine their lottery and playoff odds, but you’ll mostly want to single out the games you consider to have easily determined outcomes. Mark those in red, keep track of the necessary storylines leading up to tip off, and you shouldn’t have a problem submitting a wager in which you feel totally confident. 

Results / FixturesOrlando Magic

Orlando Magic Standings

For the time being, the Magic’s place in the standings is most useful to determine their lottery odds. If it looks like they’re free falling toward the bottom. [+]

It would be a good time to lay down a prop bet on them landing the No. 1 pick. Whenever they become relevant, these standings are a tool that aides in keeping track of their playoff odds and postseason outlook. Run through potential first-round matchups, measure the strength of their opponets, etc. It will be your one-stop shop for making semi-informed bets on the go—though, as usual, extensively researching opponents outside this widget is strongly encouraged as well.

StandingsOrlando Magic

A Blowup is Coming in Orlando

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The Magic are getting antsy. We saw it ahead of the NBA's trade deadline, when they flipped Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons for Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings. That move was only the beginning.

More trades are coming. The Magic are going to have a top pick in this year's draft, leaving them with a ton of assets that they will try parlaying into a superstar. Dealing Harris also opened up additional cap space. Expect them to be major free-agency players, as they seek to add a headlining name.

Likewise, don't expect anyone to be off limits in trade talks. Victor Oladipo, Nikola Vucevic, Elfrid Payton and even Mario Hezonja should each be fair game. Gordon is probably the only untouchable player they have. 

Given the theorized instability surrounding their future, don't place any big-picture bets on this team until at least midway through 2016-17. This is said a lot about every team, but it's especially true of the Magic. They are going to be so active over the next year that their win projections could prove too generous or too conservative. And no matter what moves they make, regardless of how good, this team is too far away from championsip contention to consider any of the other fancy futures.

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