Orlando Magic: 3 young point guards that the Magic could bring in this summer

Since the departure of Dwight Howard back in 2012, the Orlando Magic have been among the worst performing teams in the NBA. The franchise has failed to make full use of a number of high draft picks, while free agents haven't considered Orlando as a destination.

Nevertheless, the Magic performed way above expectations during the 18/19 season, reaching the playoffs for the first time in half a decade. Thanks to a young core that includes Mo Bamba, Markelle Fultz, Aaron Gordon, and Jonathan Isaac, the future suddenly looks bright for the franchise -- yet the team is in desperate need of a new point guard.

D.J. Augustin has been the Magic's starting PG over the past 12 months, and the 31-year-old's limitations were evident during Orlando's 4-1 first round series defeat to the Raptors. The veteran remains suited to a bench role, and here we will look at three much younger point guards that the Magic should target during free agency.

#3 Emmanuel Mudiay

Over the course of the 18/19 season, Emmanuel Mudiay averaged 14.8 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game. The 23-year-old's improvement was rapid, and his performances were one of the lone bright sparks as the Knicks endured another miserable season.

Mudiay will enter restricted free agency this summer, and with the Knicks hoping to land Kyrie Irving, it appears unlikely that they will match any offers. This means that Mudiay will be up for grabs, and at 23, he would be a perfect candidate to grow alongside Fultz, Bamba, and Isaac.

With so many point guards hitting the market, Orlando shouldn't have too much competition, and Mudiay's arrival is a very real possibility.

#2 Terry Rozier

Terry Rozier was the star of the Boston Celtics' run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018, however, just a year later, he was largely unused as the Celtics were crushed by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Rozier spent long periods on the sidelines as Kyrie Irving took the reigns of Boston's attack, and when on the court, the 25-year-old struggled to discover his normal shooting rhythm.

Rozier demonstrated his ability to lead an offense during the 2018 playoffs when he averaged 16.5 points per contest, and there is no doubting that he still has untapped potential.

His departure also looks an inevitability as Rozier has continually stated his frustration with his situation in Boston, and following Wednesday's playoff exit, he once again hinted at his desire to leave. Ultimately, Rozier looks to be a great fit for Orlando, and he could still live up to his All-Star potential.

#1 D'Angelo Russell

Philadelphia 76ers v s Brooklyn Nets - Game Four

D'Angelo Russell's capacity to succeed in the NBA has been questioned since he entered the league back in 2015, although Russell managed to dispel any doubts over his ability during an excellent 18/19 season. The 23-year-old posted career highs in points (21.1), assists (7.0), and rebounds (3.9), and his performances led to a first All-Star call-up.

However, Russell's future in Brooklyn remains in doubt, with reports suggesting that the Nets would be willing to waive the young guard in order to bring in Kyrie Irving. Russell himself is also reportedly not convinced on a long-term stay in Brooklyn, and an exit this summer is a possibility.

The Magic would face intense competition to secure Russell's signing, although the addition of an All-Star point guard would confirm Orlando as one of the most exciting teams in the Eastern Conference.