NBA Free Agents 2014: Lebron James To Orlando? The ‘Other’ Florida City Is A Sleeper Destination For Superstars! Can They Do A ‘T-Mac’ Again?

The Orlando Magic is infamous for losing free agents-and not just free agents. They were probably the biggest fish in the NBA Free Agent pool. Will  they turn the tables and catch one this summer?

The free agents that caused a stir when they left Orlando were the best big men in the NBA at that point: Shaquille O' Neal and Dwight Howard. Those were big blows to the franchise, but they have learned their lesson.

Magic GM Rob Hennigan decided to trade Dwight Howard and garnered a whole set of assets which is now the foundation of the team.

They acquired Arron Afflalo, Nicolas Vucevic and Al Harrington among others who are now solid contributors. Another interesting fact about that historic trade, from SB Nation:

"Consider, too, that everyone else involved in the trade lost their primary acquisition. Howard spurned the Lakers when he departed for the Houston Rockets in this offseason's biggest splash, while Andrew Bynum's injured knee forced the 76ers to abandon their plans to build around him. Denver didn't fare as poorly this year, as Iguodala had a productive season and helped lead them to their highest win total in franchise history, but AI took less money to sign with the Golden State Warriors, the very team that ousted the Nuggets from the playoffs last season, once George Karl and Masai Ujiri departed."

Orlando was not always whipping boys of free agency. They managed a coup of sorts when they took Tracy McGrady from the Toronto Raptors and Grant Hill from the Detroit Pistons. Injuries to Hill in particular took away the promise of that era, but Orlando CAN lure a free agent.

How about now?

Zach Lowe from Grantland says: "Orlando is a good market with a great basketball facility. Players enjoy it there, and Florida famously has no state income tax. Executives and agents view it as a strong enough draw to attract a second star-level player, provided the Magic somehow land a first star - sort of how Houston used the lure of James Harden to bait Howard.

But landing that first star is going to be an enormous challenge if Rob Hennigan, the team's sharp young GM, can't find one in the draft. Boston, Phoenix, and perhaps a few other asset-rich teams can compete for the Kevin Love types on the trade market. The Lakers are in position to chase anyone in free agency. New York is New York. Miami looms as a wild card going forward."

If it's true that one of the reasons Lebron won't leave Miami is the weather, then Orlando won't have that issue. If Lebron is worried about Dwyane Wade's age, the Magic is littered with spring chickens.

But Lebron might be an unrealistic target. Another T-Mac, a player who is ready to take the next step from the shadows is a likely target.

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nBa free agents 2014
LeBron James
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