The Orlando Magic Dynasty that Never Existed

Shaquille O’Neal and Chris Webber should have played together with the Orlando Magic.

It would have been the perfect combination.  O’Neal dominating the low post dunking on everyone and Webber in the high post passing and shooting jumpers.

But of course, Webber was traded on draft night 1993 from the Magic to Golden State for Anfernee “Penny" Hardaway and O’Neal bolted town to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in 1996. 

The two talented big men could have formed one of the greatest tandems the NBA has ever witnessed, and possibly led the Magic to multiple championships.

Let’s take a look to see what may have happened if The Diesel and C-Webb would have paired in Orlando.

Webber has a brilliant rookie season for the Magic as he averages 18.2 points and 8.8 rebounds per game winning Rookie of the Year honors.

That year, the Magic finish with a record of 52-30 and reach the postseason for the first time in team history, but are eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in four games.     

In the offseason, the Magic, in desperate need of a point guard acquire Mark Jackson in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

The Magic advance to the 1995 Finals where they lose to a veteran Houston Rockets team.  Hakeem Olajuwon dominates O’Neal as the Rockets win the championship in five games.

During the 1995-96 season, Webber goes down with an injury and only manages to play in 17 games.  But the team still makes the playoffs and are eliminated by the New York Knicks in the first round.

In the summer of 1996, O’Neal becomes a free agent and strongly considers signing with the Lakers.   Instead, he decides to remain with Orlando and inks a seven-year, $115 million deal.

The next two seasons, the Magic lose to the Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals.  Michael Jordan and co. are just too much for the young Magic to handle.

To get over their postseason woes, the Magic fire head coach Brian Hill and replace him with former Seattle Supersonics coach George Karl before the 1998-99 season.  Karl becomes an ideal fit for his new team as he guides the Magic to a league best 65-17 record and wins the Coach of the Year Award.  

With Jordan retired and the Bulls broken up, the Magic win their first championship in 1999 over the San Antonio Spurs.  

In 1999-00, Orlando finishes with a 69-13 record and O’Neal is named Most Valuable Player.  The team wins its second consecutive championship as they defeat the Portland Trailblazers.

The next season, the Magic win yet another title over the Spurs becoming just the third team in NBA history to three-peat.

In the 2001 offseason, the team decides to rebuild after Webber signs with his hometown Detroit Pistons.

And that’s what could have happened if the Magic had somehow kept O’Neal and Webber.