The Magic are a team that can be built around the defensive strengths of its backcourt, and the team’s overall depth at the guard spots may be its biggest advantage next season.

The Orlando Magic are fortunate enough to have two premier talents at guard in first team All-Rookie selections of the past two years Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. Both have shown enough in their brief NBA careers to paint the path of a backcourt that could be one of the best young tandems in the Eastern Conference far sooner than last year’s 25-win season would ever indicate.

But it is the depth that may prove most essential this season. The Magic’s second unit guards are what could be the most notable improvement from last year’s team.

While journeyman Willie Green certainly had his moments of providing strong veteran leadership, the Magic made major upgrades in adding both Shabazz Napier and C.J. Watson to steady the ship behind the young Elfrid Payton.