Bring back 1 for Magic player in their prime.

[Bergmaniac]

The Orlando version of Shaq would absolutely dominate the league, that was before he put on weight, he wouldn't be a great defender against guards or anything like that, but he'd be good enough to hold his own on D, while on offense he would absolutely kill 95% of the current centres.

[JBSouthpaw]

Shaq arived in 2000 weighting 325 pounds, standing at 7'2, having ability to turn both shoulders.
That year he averaged:
30 ppg
14 rpg
3 bpg
but also 3,8 apg.

His eFG was almost 10% above league's average. His true shooting percentage was also near 10% above league's average.

He led league in: points per game, points scored total. second in rebounds per game, was top 15 in whole league in TS%, lead league in PER, led league in win share, led league in fouls drawn ( well, for obvious reasons lol), led league in value over replacment data, led league in BOX plus minus, was 3rd in blocks per game, led league in offensive , was 6th in defensive rating.

That year in playoffs he averaged 31 ppg,15 rpg.

In nba finals he averaged 38 ppg, 16 rpg .
That year he won MVP, finals MVP and set one of most dominating finals performances in nba history.

That was prime Shaq.


Tracy Mcgrady won 13 playoff games in his entire career as starter. 19 playoff wins total (6 as bench warmer on Spurs & Atlanta).
Shaq won 18 games for Orlando before rookie contract expired.129 total.

Shaq's peak is one of most dominating performances nba has ever seen.
He is one of only 10 players in entire nba history that won championship, finals mvp and regualr season MVP in single season. Others are Kareem, Bird, Lebron, Duncan , Moses Malone, Hakeem, Reed and MJ & Magic.


This really isn't debate. Grant Hill's peak is 25 ppg on 42-40 roster and first round sweep. (ofc he got hurt and only played 2 )
What's really Tracy's peak? Houston won 55 games with him struggling. And, much like Hill, as usual, couldn't last for playoffs. His entire prime was boiled down to 2 playoff series where him and Ming were healthy, and in both cases they lost in first rounds. To Utah Jazz and Dallas.
Tracy was one of most gifted players ever , but a lot of times teams he was on, had no actual gain from it. Look at his 2002-03 season with us.
He had 21 game where he took at least 28 shots. In 19 out of 21 games he shot below 50% FG. Matter of fact in 4 out of 21 he didn't even shot 40% FG overall. And Magic were 11-10 in games where he shot over 28 or more shots.
For comparison sake, Magic were 13-8 in games where he shot below 21 shot.

Yep, Shaq was a monster & better player.
but it isn't about arguing players, it's players with this roster.
Put Shaq in, take out WCJ, big improvement. 15 pts per game, only 3 rebs a game better, does he help the teammates MAKE their shots?
Put in TMac, take out Suggs, Bigger improvement.
My opinion to this what if question.

[PigsEatHam]

Shaq is undoubtedly the correct answer to this question.

But just for the sake of throwing out more names: Ben Wallace, Patrick Ewing, Chauncey Billups, and Shawn Kemp were all also Magic players (some only in the most technical senses) who would be great to have in their primes.

[drsd]

Today's defense against our team would be a zone. Let our "shooters" shoot, deny Shaq. If he get's it foul him.

O'Neal would be fouled a lot. Really a lot. In today's NBA.

He could easily average 15 FTs per game, and multiple 20 fta games would be probable in a season. At a 50% clip, that's 8 ppg for him right there. But those 10 fouls come from somewhere. Opponent teams would be forced in the bonus all game long, and opponent teams would have a Center fouled out ever game.

Another thought line: any team with prime-O'Neal would have their guards shoot open shots all game long; indeed this is why Bryant and Wade thrived playing with O'Neal.


..

[drsd]

Shaq is undoubtedly the correct answer to this question.

But just for the sake of throwing out more names: Ben Wallace, Patrick Ewing, Chauncey Billups, and Shawn Kemp were all also Magic players (some only in the most technical senses) who would be great to have in their primes.

[cedric76]

Anyone not picking shaq is out of his mind, stay of nba2k

[davey_wavy]

Anyone not picking shaq is out of his mind, stay of nba2k

I understand Shaq being the instant thought/answer. The reason I picked Penny is because we need an elite Guard to build around Paulo & Franz. I didn’t pick Shaq not because he wasn’t our greatest, but because it wouldn’t fix anything other than push WCJ to the bench. Our guard play would still be terrible (probably couldn’t even get the ball down to Shaq with our luck). I thought Tmac, but was hesitant about his ego (I love tmac). I thought Grant, but I don’t want Franz or Paolo going to the bench. So that’s why, at least to me, Penny made the most sense. The problem is who plays at the 2? I don’t trust Suggs, I don’t know what Markelle looks like at the 2, and Cole doesn’t make sense. I can’t put Penny at the 2 because then it literally makes ZERO sense.

[ORLMagicGirl15]

I would bring back Orlando Magic version of Dwight Howard.

[nicnac215]

Tmac easily. He is exactly what our team needs. He would be our pg and let Suggs play off ball next to him.

[nicnac215]

Tmac easily. He is exactly what our team needs. He would be our pg and let Suggs play off ball next to him.

[PrimeThyme]

Can you just imagine a prime Penny in todays NBA. The modern NBA is literally built for a big skilled guard like him.

Just from a box office standpoint that would be my choice.

[richi_v25]

As far as wins go it's Shaq all day, no one would even come close to stopping him with our modern soft fouls. I personally would want T-mac as he was my favorite player to ever lace up but honorably mentions in their prime go to G.hill, Ewing, Steve Francis, Vince Carter, Dwight, Penny, Kemp, Arenas, and Dominique. I'd even take someone like skiles, JJ Reddick, Rashad, Dennis, Jason Richardson, Jameer or Skip to my Lue as they'd instantly make us a playoff team.

[Rainwater]

I am adding Penny Hardaway. Tracy was too inefficient and overhyped. His teams were mediocre becouse he didnt play the right way. We start 6'7 rich mans Lamelo Ball and we win championship

His teams were mediocre because he didn't play the right way?!?!?! Lol. His teams were mediocre because the best non-injured player he played with while with the magic was freaking Mike Miller, lol. Without Shaq, Penny accomplished just about as much if not less than what T-Mac accomplished and that is not to down Penny. T-Mac was one of the most unluckiest stars to ever play the game.

[jonbob17]

Shaq would absolutely dominate. Not sure if anyone not named Embiid could guard him. He was also a very good inside out passer, as well as passing to cutters. Now his game wouldn't exactly translate, but he's not going to be forced shooting 3's. There really aren't that many actual centers that can shoot 3s as it is. He would be fouled incessantly, which would hurt his efficiency....but would also cripple the other teams available players. If Shaq was still in the league, teams would probably roster a guy who could potentially guard him or foul him. How he defended the pick and roll would be only issue I could see, and i think he would be fine.

Grant Hill...umm a healthy Grant Hill, would be the exact type of player every team looks for these days a point forward. He'd be great and probably be in MVP races. No doubt he would have been able to shoot 3s given the demands of today's game.

TMac is the ideal wing for today's league. He's kind of a slightly smaller more explosive version of KD. He'd probably be a high volume 3 point shooter as well, might average mid 30s in peak years. He'd be in MVP talks as well, perennial top 10 in league. He was a career 52% TS. That would probably be closer to 60% the way they teach players these days to focus on 3s and at rim.

Penny would be great perfect lead guard, but his shot would need to develop to fully unlock his game, which i have no doubt he would work relentlessly at.

Hedo would be amazing, doing exactly what he did.
Rashard Lewis possibly the pioneer of the stretch 4. Who knows how many 3s he would make these days.
Dennis Scott, yes, please.
Dwight Howard, is probably strong enough to dominate in any era.

TBH, I might put the Magic all time starting 5 up against any all-time in the modern game.
Penny
TMac
Grant Hill
Hedo/Lewis
Shaq

I guess most teams have all-timers. Just seem like several of ours were kind of ahead of their time. Surely somebody that plays video games can attest to the all-time Magic team.