LeBron James in Miami? Orlando Magic May Face New Challenges

If rumors hold true, LeBron James will become a member of a team with the potential to become one of the most storied in NBA history.

By amassing such a collection of talent—an NBA Finals MVP and a back-to-back league MVP included—the Heat will challenge the entire league next season.

For the Magic, the challenge will be bigger for them than any other team in the NBA.

If you’re unfamiliar, Orlando and Miami have a brewing rivalry. For its part, Orlando just now has begun to develop the visceral edge needed by two cities in a rivalry.

Miami came ready-made for the situation mostly due to the passion and fearsome competitive drive of Pat Riley. The rest of the city may only care about the Heat when they play in the Finals, but Riley cares about winning 24/7.

Misery loves company, so the fact that the Boston Celtics must find a way to win provides some solace. Still, the Magic will need to find a gameplan to also defeat the Celtics.

Even if Stan Van Gundy can navigate his team through those preliminary battles, the Lakers would probably be the team between Orlando and the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Message boards and radio talk shows have seen an increase in anti-Otis Smith comments.

Fans feel like Smith failed to make enough effort to land a big name free agent. More often than not, the name Vince Carter gets interjected in the conversation. To a lesser extent, the big contract of Rashard Lewis also makes cameo appearances in some complaint lists.

How quickly Magic fans forget the early playoff exits, the Steve Francis saga, and the back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals.

Sorry to inform Magic fans, but winning an NBA championship will not be easy. You can shuffle names and superstars, but in the end players have to win the games.

Same goes for Heat fans. The super trio guarantees little more than a one or two seed in the playoffs. Miami lacks a bench, and with LeBron on the payroll would lack even more cap space to sign backups. (That doesn’t mean they won’t come into the playoffs as the favorites.)

The fact remains that the Los Angeles Lakers still look like the team to beat.

All is not lost for the Orlando Magic. They can still win an NBA Championship. The Magic could still make a big free agency move. The Magic could still get better, which is a good probability.

What will the Magic do if LeBron does relocate to Miami?

Smith will continue to make moves, signing as many low-cost quality backups as possible. Stockpiling talent will prove to be important come trade time.

Riley will no longer be free to spend as he wishes. Soon he will play by the same sign-and-trade only dealing constraints as Orlando.

Look for the Magic to potentially make one big deal once LeBron announces his choice. Remember that Carmelo Anthony wants out of Denver, and Chris Paul wants to win.

Watching the Miami super trio take over the league will not make either player more willing to wait to get better.

In the end, as I’ve consistently preached and will continue to do so, Dwight Howard will be a superstar soon.

Yes, doubts exist, but I predict this season he will begin to quiet some of the criticism.

If not, Howard may begin making plans for his own free agent summit.