1999–2000 Orlando Magic Season

During the off-season, the Magic hired retired NBA point guard, and former Turner Sports broadcast analyst Doc Rivers as head coach. The team made plenty of off-season acquisitions, as they acquired Tariq Abdul-Wahad from the Sacramento Kings, acquired Chris Gatling from the Milwaukee Bucks, acquired Ben Wallace from the Washington Wizards, acquired second-year forward Pat Garrity from the Phoenix Suns, acquired Anthony Parker from the Philadelphia 76ers, and acquired top draft pick Corey Maggette out of Duke University from the Seattle SuperSonics; Maggette was drafted by the SuperSonics with the thirteenth overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft. The team also signed free agents John Amaechi, Monty Williams and undrafted rookie guard Chucky Atkins.

The Magic got off to a 15–11 start, but then struggled losing 13 of their next 14 games, holding a 24–26 record at the All-Star break. At midseason, the team traded Abdul-Wahad and Gatling to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ron Mercer, Chauncey Billups and former Magic forward Johnny Taylor. However, Billups never played for the Magic due to a shoulder injury he sustained in Denver, while second-year forward Matt Harpring only played just four games due to an ankle injury. The Magic played around .500 as the season progressed, posting a 7-game winning streak between March and April, and finishing fourth in the Atlantic Division with a 41–41 record. However, the team failed to qualify for the playoffs by finishing ninth in the Eastern Conference, and just one game behind the 8th-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.

Darrell Armstrong led the team with 16.2 points, 6.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game, while Amaechi contributed 10.5 points per game, and Atkins provided the team with 9.5 points and 3.7 assists per game off the bench, and was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In addition, Williams averaged 8.7 points per game, while Maggette contributed 8.4 points per game off the bench, and Garrity provided with 8.2 points per game also off the bench. 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.

Despite the team missing the playoffs, Rivers was named Coach of the Year, finishing in first place with 60 out of a possible 121 votes, 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 season. This season was also characterized by the slogan "Heart and Hustle", as the team was known for its hard-working style.

Following the season, Wallace and Atkins were both traded to the Detroit Pistons, while Billups signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Mercer signed with the Chicago Bulls, Maggette was dealt along with Derek Strong to the Los Angeles Clippers, Harpring was sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Parker and Taylor were both released to free agency.

1999–2000 Orlando Magic roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From C 13 Amaechi, John 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1970–11–26 Penn State G 10 Armstrong, Darrell 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 1968–06–22 Fayetteville State G 31 Atkins, Chucky 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 160 lb (73 kg) 1974–08–14 South Florida G 2 Billups, Chauncey   (IN) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 202 lb (92 kg) 1976–09–25 Colorado C 51 Doleac, Michael 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 262 lb (119 kg) 1977–06–15 Utah F 8 Garrity, Pat 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1976–08–23 Notre Dame F 15 Harpring, Matt   6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 231 lb (105 kg) 1976–05–31 Georgia Tech G 24 Johnson, Anthony 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1974–10–02 College of Charleston G/F 50 Maggette, Corey 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 218 lb (99 kg) 1979–11–12 Duke G/F 5 Mercer, Ron 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1976–05–18 Kentucky F 45 Outlaw, Bo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1971–04–13 Houston F 33 Strong, Derek 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1968–02–09 Xavier F 23 Taylor, Johnny 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1974–06–04 Chattanooga F/C 4 Wallace, Ben 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 240 lb (109 kg) 1974–09–10 Virginia Union F 3 Williams, Monty 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1971–10–08 Notre Dame	Head coach Doc Rivers Assistant coach(es) Johnny Davis Eric Musselman Tom Sterner Dave Wohl Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (IN) Inactive   Injured Roster Last transaction: February 24, 2000

Roster Notes

• Point guard Chauncey Billups was acquired from the Denver Nuggets at midseason, but did not play for the Magic due to a shoulder injury.

Season standings

z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

• Doc Rivers – Coach of the Year
• John Gabriel – Executive of the Year
• Chucky Atkins – All-Rookie 2nd Team