1999–2000 Orlando Magic season

The 1999–2000 Orlando Magic season was the 11th season for the Orlando Magic in the National Basketball Association.^[1] During the off-season, the team hired retired NBA point guard, and former Turner Sports broadcast analyst Doc Rivers as their new head coach.^[2][3][4]

The Magic changed their roster by making plenty of off-season acquisitions. The team acquired Tariq Abdul-Wahad from the Sacramento Kings,^[5][6][7] acquired Chris Gatling from the Milwaukee Bucks,^[8][9][10] acquired Ben Wallace from the Washington Wizards,^[11][12][13] acquired second-year forward Pat Garrity from the Phoenix Suns,^[14][15] acquired Anthony Parker from the Philadelphia 76ers,^[16][17] and acquired rookie shooting guard, and first-round draft pick Corey Maggette out of Duke University from the Seattle SuperSonics;^[18][19][20] Maggette was drafted by the SuperSonics as the 13th overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft.^[21][22][23] The team also signed free agents, second-year center John Amaechi, Monty Williams, and undrafted rookie point guard Chucky Atkins.^[24][25][26]

Under Rivers, and with the addition of Gatling, Abdul-Wahad, Amaechi, Maggette and Wallace, the Magic got off to a 15–11 start to the regular season. However, the team struggled losing 13 of their next 14 games, including an eight-game losing streak in January, and later on held a 24–26 record at the All-Star break.^[27] At mid-season, the team traded Abdul-Wahad, and Gatling to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ron Mercer, Chauncey Billups and former Magic forward Johnny Taylor;^[28][29][30] however, Billups never played for the Magic due to a shoulder injury he sustained with the Nuggets,^[31][32][33] while second-year forward Matt Harpring only played just four games due to an ankle injury.^[34][35] The Magic played around .500 in winning percentage as the season progressed, posting a seven-game winning streak between March and April, and finishing in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a 41–41 record;^[36] however, the team failed to qualify for the NBA playoffs by finishing in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, and just one game behind the 8th–seeded Milwaukee Bucks.

Darrell Armstrong averaged 16.2 points, 6.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and led the Magic with 137 three-point field goals, while Mercer averaged 15.2 points and 1.4 steals per game in 31 games after the trade, and Amaechi contributed 10.5 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. In addition, off the bench, Atkins provided the team with 9.5 points and 3.7 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, while Williams averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, Maggette contributed 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and Garrity provided with 8.2 points per game. On the defensive side, Bo Outlaw averaged 6.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, while Wallace provided with 4.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game, and second-year center Michael Doleac contributed 7.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.^[37]

Despite the Magic missing the playoffs, Rivers was named the NBA Coach of the Year, finishing in first place with 60 out of a possible 121 votes from the media, while Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers finished in second place with 53 votes; Jackson led the Lakers to a league-best 67–15 record during the regular season.^[38][39][40] Armstrong finished tied in 13th place in Most Valuable Player voting,^[41] while Amaechi finished tied in sixth place in Most Improved Player voting,^[41] and Outlaw finished tied in eighth place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.^[41] This season was also characterized by the slogan "Heart and Hustle", as the team was known for its hard-working style.

The Magic finished 26th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 576,409 at the TD Waterhouse Centre during the regular season, which was the fourth-lowest in the league.^[37][42] Following the season, Wallace and Atkins were both traded to the Detroit Pistons,^[43][44][45] while Billups signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves,^[46][47][48] and Mercer signed with the Chicago Bulls.^[49][50][51] Meanwhile, Maggette was traded along with Derek Strong to the Los Angeles Clippers,^[52][53] Harpring was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers,^[54][55] and Parker and Taylor were both released to free agency.