Editing Orlando Magic (section)

===2000–2004: The Tracy McGrady era===
The following off-season, Gabriel, with millions of cleared salary cap space, attempted to lure three of the NBA's most prized free agents: [[Tim Duncan]], [[Grant Hill (basketball)|Grant Hill]], and [[Tracy McGrady]]. While Duncan opted to remain with the [[San Antonio Spurs]], the Magic acquired Hill,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/hill_trade_000803.html |title=Magic Obtain All-Star Hill |website=NBA.com |date=August 3, 2000 |access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref> a perennial All-Star, and McGrady.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/it-s-official-mcgrady-is-headed-to-orlando-1.197055 |title=It's official: McGrady is headed to Orlando |website=CBC |date=July 15, 2000 |access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref> With McGrady and Hill together, the Magic were expected to be a force in the East. However, Hill was limited to 4 games because of an ankle injury. McGrady blossomed into a star during the season, becoming one of the NBA's top scorers. With the addition of [[Mike Miller (basketball, born 1980)|Mike Miller]] from the draft, the Magic compiled a 43–39 record, which included a nine-game winning streak, and once again made the playoffs. McGrady made the All-Star Team and All-NBA Second Team. Miller won the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Miller wins rookie of the year |url=https://www.nba.com/news/rookie_010510.html |publisher=NBA |access-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-date=April 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422212745/https://www.nba.com/news/rookie_010510.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the playoffs, they faced the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. The Bucks won the series 3–1.

In [[2001–02 NBA season|2001–02]], McGrady led the Magic to a winning record of 44–38. Hill was still severely limited by his ankle injury, and did not play for the vast majority of the season. McGrady, combined with Armstrong, Miller, and 3-point sharpshooter [[Pat Garrity]], formed the core of the team. McGrady made the All-NBA for the first time and made his second consecutive All-Star Team. However, the Magic were defeated 3–1 in the first round of the playoffs by the [[Charlotte Hornets]] led by [[Baron Davis]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.philly.com/2002-05-01/sports/25347639_1_hornets-tracy-mcgrady-memphis-grizzlies|title=Hornets make Magic disappear|date=May 1, 2002|work=[[Philadelphia Daily News]]|access-date=December 26, 2013|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073504/http://articles.philly.com/2002-05-01/sports/25347639_1_hornets-tracy-mcgrady-memphis-grizzlies|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In [[2002–03 NBA season|2002–03]], with the acquisitions of [[Gordan Giricek]] and [[Drew Gooden]] from the [[Memphis Grizzlies]] in exchange for [[Mike Miller (basketball, born 1980)|Mike Miller]], McGrady once again led the Magic to a 42–40 record. McGrady led the league in scoring with 32.1 points per game, made his second All-NBA First Team, and Third All-Star Team. Despite still not having Hill due to injury, the Magic entered the playoffs for the third straight year. However, after taking a 3–1 lead in the best-of-seven first-round series, the Magic fell to the [[Detroit Pistons]] 4–3 in the now infamous heartbreaker. McGrady was quoted as saying, "It feels good to get in the second round" after still needing one more win to advance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uproxx.com/dimemag/2013/04/we-reminisce-when-tracy-mcgrady-almost-made-the-second-round-of-the-nba-playoffs-10-years-ago/|title=We Reminisce: When Tracy McGrady Almost Made The Second Round Of The NBA Playoffs 10 Years Ago|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=September 29, 2015|archive-date=October 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001045141/http://uproxx.com/dimemag/2013/04/we-reminisce-when-tracy-mcgrady-almost-made-the-second-round-of-the-nba-playoffs-10-years-ago/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Magic's 15th season in [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04]] proved to be one of its toughest ever. Even with the acquisition of veteran free agents [[Tyronn Lue]] and [[Juwan Howard]], the Magic struggled early. After winning its first game, the Magic lost 19 consecutive games, setting a franchise record. They never recovered, and finished an NBA worst 21–61. Despite this, McGrady led the league in scoring with 28.0 points per game, made the All-NBA Second Team and his fourth consecutive All-Star Team. In the middle of the 19-game losing streak, coach Doc Rivers was fired, and assistant [[Johnny Davis (basketball, born 1955)|Johnny Davis]] was promoted to head coach.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2003/11/18/magic-fire-coach-doc-rivers/|title=Magic Fire Coach Doc Rivers|first=Brian|last=Schmitz|date=November 18, 2003|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|access-date=December 26, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000515/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2003-11-18/news/0311180063_1_doc-rivers-orlando-magic-coach-johnny-davis|url-status=live}}</ref> General manager Gabriel was replaced by [[John Weisbrod]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=1757640|title=Gabriel blamed for Grant Hill fiasco|date=March 12, 2004|work=[[ESPN.com]]|access-date=December 26, 2013|archive-date=December 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000516/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1757640|url-status=live}}</ref>