For the Orlando Magic, Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Philadelphia 76ers will act as a beginning as much as it will an ending.
While the Magic want to avoid finishing the season on a seven-game losing streak, they’re also keenly looking to the future — and doing so with optimism.
The short-term view includes an offseason where the team can regroup, refocus and rebuild amid its roster makeover and put behind it the injury-filled, COVID-challenged, forgettable season that was the 2020-21 campaign.
The long-term view includes loftier goals with a team built around young players with what the team hopes are promising and productive careers.