(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
With the 2008-2009 NBA season finishing last weekend for the Orlando Magic, it is now time for the franchise to start looking ahead to next season.
Orlando has developed into an NBA threat over the last few seasons, but the Magic still have work to do as a franchise if they want to win an NBA title.
To think that three years ago, this team was not even in the playoffs, and now they are coming off a season where they made the NBA Finals, shows the progress this organization has made.
Orlando has had to make a lot of right decisions to get to this point. With a legitimate shot at the NBA title next season, Orlando needs to do the same this off-season if they want to turn that shot into reality.
The Magic will not have an easy road this off-season though; they currently do not have a draft pick in next week's NBA Draft.
They don't have a lot of money available for free agency, either, with most of their salary locked into Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson, and Rashard Lewis.
Even with the off-season challenges that face this Magic franchise, Orlando knows making the right decisions could get them the NBA championship next season.
So what does Orlando need to do this off-season to give them their best opportunity of winning a championship? They have five things that they need to accomplish to give themselves a better chance at winning the championship next season.
5. Dwight Howard needs to develop an offensive game.
There is no secret that Dwight Howard is the franchise for the Orlando Magic. The 23-year-old phenom is a beast on the defensive end of the court.
For the second straight year he led the NBA in rebounds, and for the first time in his career he led the NBA in blocked shots en route to his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.
However, all of his success on the defensive side has not yet transitioned into an offensive game.
Howard relies too much on dunks, and the occasional hook shot, for most of his points.
Howard needs to work on expanding his offensive game, he could try to develop the small jump shot that Tim Duncan has, or he needs to be more physical in the post.
The lob from Turkoglu, or pulling down offensive boards for dunks, is not enough for Dwight to dominate the offensive game.
Howard has a great mentor in Patrick Ewing, who can help him develop into a better offensive player. For Orlando to have a real chance, they need Dwight to become an all-around player.
4. The Magic players have to become smarter, and they must hit their free-throws.
It's no secret that Orlando, at times, can be the dumbest team in the NBA. It's one reason why they are so hard to read as a team.
The Magic have lots of talent, but they currently lack the basketball IQ to win a championship.
This team can be turnover-happy way too much, and it was a major downfall for them in the NBA Finals.
To win an NBA championship, you have to be somewhat lucky, especially with injuries, but you can't continue to make bad decisions on the court and expect to keep coming out on top.
Turning the ball over is one of Orlando's weakest links.
Another thing: this franchise needs its players to become better free-throw shooters.
Everyone who follows the Magic knows about Dwight Howard's struggles from the line, but when it mattered most, he was not the only one missing the freebies.
Missed free-throws cost Orlando Game 2 and Game 4 of the NBA Finals, and ultimately may have cost them a championship.
Championship caliber teams don't miss free-throws, especially in clutch moments. This is one area they need to focus on the most as a team.
Most importantly, this off-season's success will come down to the front office, and they have the three biggest tasks to complete for the franchise this off-season.
3. Orlando needs to re-sign Marcin Gortat
Marcin Gortat is a restricted free-agent this off-season, and will not be an easy asset to keep in Orlando.
Gortat has proved to other NBA franchises this past season that he could be a starting center in the NBA.
Other NBA organizations will be looking to offer Gortat more money than Orlando can match in hopes of getting the "Polish Hammer" this off-season, but the Magic need him for when Dwight is on the bench.
Gortat is the depth that Orlando needs at center, and Tony Battie is better at the power forward position, and would be a step back, if he becomes Howard's back-up.
Keeping Gortat is not going to be easy, but it is something Orlando needs to do.
2. Orlando must trade Rafer Alston.
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