ORLANDO, Fla. -- For their silver anniversary season, the Orlando Magic will be putting a team on the floor that could give people gray hairs.
One of those is not Jacque Vaughn, and not just because he went to the shaved-head looks years ago.
To say Vaughn's first season as an NBA head coach was a challenging one would be an understatement. Helping oversee a franchise which was largely starting from scratch after six consecutive trips to the playoffs required a willingness to work with players barely out of college -- in some cases, after playing only a year at that level -- and an ability to project what the Magic might become further down the road.
With center Nikola Vucevic and forward Maurice Harkless no longer quite so green, and with the arrival of a talented and charismatic rookie in guard Victor Oladipo, it's tempting to think the Magic could go from 62 losses to making some noise in the Eastern Conference. While Vaughn is by no means pessimistic, his view is certainly more realistic.
"We'll be patient but resilient at the same time," he said. "There will be no wavering. That's the message we'll stay with, and that's the message our guys will continue to live by every single day."
Other than Oladipo and free-agent signee Jason Maxiell, the core of the team is pretty much unchanged from six months ago. Should the Magic again be well below the .500 mark near the season's halfway point, there will undoubtedly be speculation that they'll attempt to unload at least one high-priced veteran before the trade deadline with their eyes set on the 2014 crop of free agents.
But guard Ronnie Price, whose signing over the summer barely registered a blip on the national radar, likes what he has seen thus far. He described the Magic's 23-and-under group of players as "mature beyond their ages" and compared the team chemistry to what he witnessed as a member of the Utah Jazz when they had Carlos Boozer and a young Deron Williams.
"We can't focus on outside opinion because it can distract you," Price said. "I think our expectations are very cut and dried. The expectations that we have in this locker room are to go out and compete extremely hard every night and with a sense of urgency.
"I think we have enough talent in this room to have an opportunity to win every night."
Vucevic, Harkless and guard Arron Afflalo are assured as fixtures in the starting lineup as long as they remain healthy. It's at power forward and point guard where things aren't as settled.
Tobias Harris averaged almost 18 points and nine rebounds after the Magic acquired him in a trade that sent J.J. Redick to Milwaukee. But at the end of the preseason Vaughn made it sound as though Harris' sprained left ankle could turn either Maxiell or second-year pro Andrew Nicholson into a possible starter instead. And should Glen Davis get the OK to return to normal day-to-day activities following two surgeries on his left foot, the logjam at the position could really get interesting.
Perhaps the greatest area of interest will be in seeing how Vaughn allocates playing time between Oladipo and Jameer Nelson, who begins his 10th season with the Magic. The veteran doesn't appear to have any hesitation when it comes to sharing with the rookie the ins and outs of life in the NBA.
"I just try to talk to him every day about something that involves the game," Nelson said. "It's going to be new to him. He's a great kid, and for him to come to me every day says a lot about him."
Oladipo made four starts during the preseason as Vaughn tinkered with numerous lineup combinations. Much of his offense is expected to be the result of the pressure he can generate on defense, although the Magic remain highly susceptible to teams that can score in transition.
"Obviously he's athletic and young and energetic," Afflalo said. "But he has a great motor, great lateral quickness on the defensive end of the court, so he can help us there now. And he's got the ability to get in the paint."
For now, it's not as critical for Oladipo to start games as much as it is to finish them. If he can make a difference in the fourth quarter on a consistent basis, he would more than justify predictions that he ought to be the leading candidate for Rookie of the Year.
"That's all nice," he said. "It's a blessing for people to think that. But that's people's opinions. At the end of the day, as fast as they're for you, they can be against you just as fast. It's cool and all, but I just want to help my team win. Winning solves everything."
Winning still might not come at the pace in which Magic fans had grown accustomed to during Shaquille O'Neal's four years in Orlando during the 1990s or Dwight Howard's stay. But brighter days might not be far around the corner if Oladipo's gritty work ethic and sunny disposition carry any sort of clout.
"I love it. It's a great city," he said. "It's hard not to be in a good mood when you wake up and the sun is always shining. I've never been in a place like this before."
Last season: 20-62, fifth place in Southeast Division.
Coach: Jacque Vaughn (second year, 20-62).
Top returnees: C Nikola Vucevic, G Jameer Nelson.
Key additions: G Victor Oladipo, F/C Jason Maxiell.
X-Factor: What will this team look like come Feb. 20? That's the NBA's trade deadline. General manager Rob Hennigan could send Nelson (and his two years, $16.6 million remaining on his contract), guard Arron Afflalo (three years, $22.5 million) or forward Glen Davis (two years, $13 million) packing like he did J.J. Redick this past February in a deal that netted the Magic a potential budding star in forward Tobias Harris. The fan base has been largely patient, but if the team appears headed for another season of 60 or more losses in an attempt to improve its place in the draft lottery, the Amway Center could again become a cold and lonely place in March and April. "We understand that we live in a world of instant gratification," Hennigan said. "Our goal is to try to build as quickly as we can, to try to get to be as competitive as we can as quickly as we can. But we don't want to do that in a way that's going to sacrifice our long-term sustainability."
Strengths: Afflalo, Harris, Nelson and Vucevic have proven to be capable of putting up 30 points. Over the final six weeks of last season, the Magic topped the 100-point mark six times and were held to fewer than 84 points just once, so scoring should not be an issue, especially considering the Magic were a far more efficient team in assists to turnovers than their record would suggest. Some deficiencies in other areas can be partially overcome through youthful exuberance, most notably that of Oladipo. His infectious enthusiasm alone might help the Magic, who had the NBA's worst record in games decided by three points or less (2-9, .182), get more 50/50 balls and change those close losses into more wins.
Weaknesses: Defense, defense, defense. The Magic were last in turnovers forced per game (12.4) and in the bottom five in blocked shots. Vucevic bulked up in the offseason in an attempt to become more of an interior presence, but if he gets into foul trouble (and Davis' foot problems keep him sidelined), opposing teams would be foolish not to take advantage. On offense, the Magic need to demonstrate more of an ability to get to the free-throw line and keep people honest from 3-point range. If Nelson gets dealt away, who becomes their top long-distance threat? Both Oladipo and second-year forward Andrew Nicholson have made strides in that area, but to expect them to morph into what Ryan Anderson or Rashard Lewis were a few short years ago is asking too much.
Outlook: The Magic aren't going to bring up the rear of the Eastern Conference, much less the entire league, for a second year in a row. All indications are the Philadelphia 76ers have already locked up that dishonor for 2013-14. Besides, there's enough good young talent assembled that is only bound to improve as the players become more familiar with one another. But even in a conference where the sixth, seventh and eighth playoff spots seem up for grabs, the Magic could be a season or two away from starting a new streak of postseason appearances.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.
