Historic Rosters part 1

     Over the next fourteen weeks, I will be breaking down a team in each post and will be looking at the best players by position in that franchise's history until we get through the NBA. In order to be eligible, the players will have to be retired, so for example, when I get to the Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James will not be on the roster. Which also means some current teams may not be in the rankings, most notably the Oklahoma City Thunder.
      The first team I will look at is the Orlando Magic.
     The best point-guard for the Orlando Magic was Penny Hardaway. Today most people compare Lebron James to Magic Johnson. However, the closest a player has come to the Magic Johnson is Hardaway. Hardaway was a 6-7, point guard, who  in his prime was averaging 22 points per game and 7 assists. Hardaway has not always been adverse to controversy, as during the 1997 season, he led a players coup that forced out then head coach Brian Hill. Hardaway was traded after the 1999 season and was never the same due to bad knees and an ailing back. However, Hardaway was the most dynamic play maker the Magic have ever had
      Shooting-guard is probably the Orlando Magic's biggest strength outside of the Center position thanks to Tracy McGrady and Nick Anderson. Despite McGrady's accomplishments in Orlando, Nick Anderson will go down as the best shooting-guard in franchise history. Anderson was the Orlando Magic's franchise leader in point scored, until Howard broke it in January. Nick possessed one of the smoothest strokes in the NBA, could attack the rim and was the Magic's best perimeter defender. His best scoring seasons were before the Penny-Shaq years, but once Penny and Shaq joined the Magic, he became  an extremely solid third option. He also has the most iconic image in Magic franchise history as during the Magic's run to the finals in the 1994-95 season they faced the Michael Jordan led Chicago Bulls. To seal the last game of the series, Anderson stole the ball from Jordan for a dunk the other way.

      The small-forward position has been a weakness for the Magic for some time. However, the best small-forward was Dennis Scott. The Magic teams in the 90s were built similarly to the current Dwight Howard led Magic team and Scott filled the J.J. Redick role for the Magic. Scott was a straight-up three-point shooter and a solid defensive played. His three point shooting helped take the pressure off of Shaq in the post. Scott's best year were also before Shaq and Penny's arrival as he averaged around 20 points per game then became more of a supporting option during the Shaq era.
    The best power-forward in franchise history was Horace Grant. By the time Grant joined the Magic in 1994, he had helped the Bulls win 3 NBA titles and brought a much need championship presence to the Magic. Grant was an unbelievable defensive player and took up much of the load in the post since Shaq was never a good defensive player.  Grant's defensive performance did not come from block shots, but simply good solid defensive and an excellent low base, which made Grant hard to move. The Magic could count on Grant to get a double-double most nights and could be counted on to provide 15 points from the elbow and 10 rebounds every night. His elbow jumper just outside the paint was his go to offensive move.  
      The Center position was the Gators position of strength throughout its history. The best Center in Magic franchise history was Shaquille O'neal. Shaq was simply a beast with speed and was a nightmare to defend due to his 300-pound frame and his quick feet. However, Shaq was not a great defensive center, although in some seasons he averaged close to 3 blocks per game. He struggled with on-ball defense, but made up for his defense by averaging around 10 rebounds per game and around 30 points per game in his prime. Shaq's most obvious weakness is his free-throw shooting as many opposing coaches would simply foul Shaq in the closing minutes knowing he would most likely miss the free-throws. Shaq will still go down as the best player in franchise history, until Dwight Howard retires.

     The best Magic team was the 1994-95 team that got swept by the Houston Rockets in the finals. The Magic dominated the Eastern Conference with a 57-25 record. During the playoffs,  the Magic swept the Boston Celtics in the last games ever played in the Boston Garden. Then they defeated the Bulls in six games, which is the only time that any team was able to beat the Bulls with Jordan after he one his first title in 1992. The Magic then played a grueling 7 game series against the Reggie Miller led Indiana Pacers. Then the Magic got swept by the Rockets, after going to the Finals for the first time in NBA history.