Editing Orlando Magic (section)

====2006–2010: Return to the NBA Finals====
[[File:Stan Van Gundy sideline (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Head coach [[Stan Van Gundy]]]]
With the 11th overall pick in the [[2006 NBA draft]], the Magic took former Duke star [[JJ Redick]]. Even with the fan support to get him playing time he averaged just over 11 minutes a game. After beginning the season strong with a 13–4 record, the Orlando Magic began to suffer in the standings as the result of multiple losses, due in large part to the injuries of Tony Battie, Keyon Dooling, and Grant Hill. The Magic were also hampered with the sporadic play of many of their young stars, who on multiple occasions showed their propensity for streaky shooting and the team's lack of a solid scoring two-guard. Despite the team's poor play, Dwight Howard continued to develop and blossom in his third year in the league, culminating in his first selection to the Eastern Conference All-Star team. The final few weeks of the season saw the Magic build momentum and confidence with an impressive late push towards the Playoffs. On April 15, 2007, with an 88–86 victory over the [[Boston Celtics]], the Magic secured its first berth in the NBA playoffs since 2003 by locking up the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. This marked the first time that the team had made the playoffs while posting a losing record. Nevertheless, their Playoff run ended on April 28, 2007, after they were swept in the first round by first seeded [[Detroit Pistons]] whose experience, veteran leadership and ability to consistently make the clutch basket proved far too much for the undermanned and overwhelmed Magic to overcome. It was announced on May 23, 2007, that [[Brian Hill (basketball coach)|Brian Hill]] had been fired as head coach of the Magic.

On June 1, 2007, the Magic signed [[Billy Donovan]] to be their head coach for five years. The next day, Donovan wished to be released from the contract and the Magic agreed several days later. On June 6, 2007, the Magic signed a 4-year contract with [[Stan Van Gundy]]. In the [[free agent]] market, the Magic signed [[Rashard Lewis]] of the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] to a six-year league-maximum contract believed to be worth over $110 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2932827|title=Sonics, Magic complete sign-and-trade for Rashard Lewis|date=July 11, 2007|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=March 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302122707/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2932827|url-status=live}}</ref> At the NBA China Games, the Magic swept the three games in China, twice against the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] and once against the Chinese national team in games held in Shanghai and in [[Macau]].

On November 15, 2007, Bob Vander Weide, the son-in-law of Richard DeVos, officially took over as owner of the team, although ownership is still split evenly amongst Richard DeVos' other children as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-mnotes1507nov15,0,15219.story|title=Magic's Vander Weide officially takes over reins from owner Rich DeVos|work=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=November 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117103604/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-mnotes1507nov15,0,15219.story|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Magic started the [[2007–08 NBA season]] with an impressive 16–4 record in their first 20 games, which included wins over the [[Boston Celtics]] and [[Cleveland Cavaliers]]. Through the next few months, the Magic were not so successful, splitting their next 36 games with 18 wins and 18 losses. At the start of March, the Magic seemed to pick up speed again, finishing the month with 10 wins, the first time since November that they won 10 or more in a month. The Magic clinched the [[Southeast Division (NBA)|Southeast Division]] title when the [[Washington Wizards]] were routed at [[Utah Jazz|Utah]] 129–87 on March 31, 2008. It was the Magic's third division title, but only their first since 1995–96 season, as well as their first since the Southeast Division was formed. They also earned their 50th win of the season against the [[Chicago Bulls]] on April 13, which had not happened since the 1995–96 season. The Magic finished the regular season 52–30, their best season since 1995–96. With the third seed in the Eastern Conference, they were matched up in their first-round playoff series against the [[Toronto Raptors]]. The Magic had home-court advantage for the first time since the 1998–99 season.

On April 28, 2008, at [[Amway Arena]], the Magic eliminated the Raptors with a 4–1 series victory in the first round. It was the first playoff series victory for the Magic in 12 years after 6 straight first-round exits. The run of success did not last long as they fell 4–1 to the experienced [[Detroit Pistons]] in the second round. With the Magic already down in the series, controversy erupted after the Pistons' Game 2 victory. At the conclusion of the third quarter, [[Chauncey Billups]] of the Pistons made a three-point shot giving the Pistons a three-point lead. However, the clock had stopped just as the play began. NBA rules prohibit officials from using instant replay or any timing device to determine how much time has elapsed when a clock malfunctions, nor is a replay allowed to be viewed from the time of the malfunction to when the play ends, when the game clock has not expired. Because of the rule, the officials then estimated that the play took 4.6 seconds, and because there were 5.1 seconds remaining when play began, the field goal was allowed to be counted. The NBA later admitted that the play actually took 5.7 seconds and the basket in question should not have counted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3384577|title=After review, NBA says Billups' 3-pointer should not have counted|date=May 6, 2008|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=August 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120807234053/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs2008/news/story?id=3384577|url-status=live}}</ref> The Pistons went on to win Game 2. The Magic were able to win Game 3, with the Pistons' Chauncey Billups out for most of the game with an injury but were unable to take advantage of his absence and defeat the Pistons in Games 4 and 5, which ended the Magic's playoff run in 2008. Another highlight of the season was [[Hedo Türkoğlu|Hedo Turkoglu]] winning Most Improved Player.

[[File:J. J. Redick.jpg|thumb|right|[[JJ Redick]] in 2008]]
The first half of the [[2008–09 Orlando Magic season|2008–09 season]] went very well for the Magic. After 41 games, the Magic were 33–8, leading the Southeast Division, as well as having one of the top four records in the league. At the start of February, [[Jameer Nelson]], their all-star starting point guard, went down with a shoulder injury. He was expected to miss the remainder of the season. After trading for [[Rafer Alston]], the Magic finished the regular season with a 59–23 record, it was the most games the team had won in a season since the 1995–96 season in which they had 60 wins. In the playoffs, the Magic beat the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] in the first round of the [[2009 NBA playoffs|playoffs]] and then the defending champions, the [[Boston Celtics]], in the Eastern Conference semifinals, behind assistant coach [[Patrick Ewing]]'s guarantee that they would win Game 7 of that series.<ref name="Magic Moment: Orlando beats Boston to advance"/> In their first conference finals since 1996, the Magic beat the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]], which were led by the season's MVP, [[LeBron James]]. After dropping the first two games in the [[2009 NBA Finals|Finals]] against the [[Los Angeles Lakers]], the Magic finally won their first-ever game in the Finals in Game 3. Despite Nelson's return to the team for the Finals, the Lakers won the series and the championship by beating the Magic in five games.
[[File:Hedo Turkoglu point guard 11-27-08.jpg|left|thumb|2007-08 Most Improved Player [[Hedo Türkoğlu|Hedo Turkoglu]] in 2008]]
In the 2009 off-season, Orlando traded [[Rafer Alston]], [[Tony Battie]], and [[Courtney Lee]] to the [[New Jersey Nets]] in exchange for eight-time [[List of NBA All-Stars|All-Star]] [[Vince Carter]] and [[Ryan Anderson (basketball, born 1988)|Ryan Anderson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4287197|title=New Jersey Nets ship Vince Carter to Orlando Magic for Rafer Alston, rookie Courtney Lee|date=June 25, 2009|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=October 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025005420/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4287197|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Hedo Türkoğlu]], as part of a [[sign-and-trade]], was sent to the [[Toronto Raptors]]. They then made several free agent signings. On July 10, former [[Dallas Mavericks]] power forward [[Brandon Bass]] was given a 4-year deal.<ref>{{cite news|title=Magic Sign Free Agent Brandon Bass|url=http://www.nba.com/magic/news/basstomagic_071009.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=OrlandoMagic.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090714233155/http://www.nba.com/magic/news/basstomagic_071009.html|archive-date=July 14, 2009|access-date=February 28, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> On July 21, the Magic signed former [[Phoenix Suns]] forward [[Matt Barnes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4342767|title=Orlando Magic agree to two-year contract with free-agent forward Matt Barnes|date=July 21, 2009|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=November 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110085159/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4342767|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 19, they signed former [[Miami Heat]] point guard [[Jason Williams (basketball, born 1975)|Jason Williams]], who decided to come back after a year in retirement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Magic Sign Free Agent Jason Williams|url=http://www.nba.com/magic/news/sign_williams_081909.html|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=OrlandoMagic.com|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=December 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201093552/http://www.nba.com/magic/news/sign_williams_081909.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On September 28, 2009, Orlando extended the contract of head coach [[Stan Van Gundy]] by exercising his option for the 2010–11 season. They did the same for general manager [[Otis Smith (basketball)|Otis Smith]], which would keep him in that position through the 2011–12 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-magic-van-gundy-smith-extensions-092809,0,6107768.story|title=Van Gundy, Smith reap the rewards of success|work=tribunedigital-orlandosentinel|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=October 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001105004/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orl-magic-van-gundy-smith-extensions-092809,0,6107768.story|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Magic were without [[Rashard Lewis]] for the first 10 games of the [[2009–10 Orlando Magic season|2009–10 season]]. Lewis tested positive for an elevated testosterone level that was caused by an over-the-counter supplement containing a substance banned by the league.<ref name="Lewis suspended 10 games by NBA"/> To make matters worse, Vince Carter suffered a left ankle injury in just the second game of the season. Carter's injury turned out to be not too serious, but caused him to miss the next five games. Another setback came in mid-November, when [[Jameer Nelson]] injured his left knee, which required arthroscopic surgery to repair. Nelson would be out for five weeks. Despite all of this, the Magic had a 23–8 record at the end of December.

Orlando lost seven of their first ten games in January but recovered well enough to post a winning record for the month by winning six of their next seven. Following the All-Star break, the Magic went on a roll, winning 23 of their 28 remaining games, clinching their fourth consecutive playoff berth and winning their third consecutive division championship in the process. The Magic finished the regular season with a 59–23 record, matching their record from the 2008–09 season, and finishing with not only the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, but the second-best record in the entire league. The team became one of the only teams in NBA history to beat all of the other 29 teams at least once during the regular season. The Magic swept the [[Charlotte Bobcats]] and the [[Atlanta Hawks]] in the first two rounds of the [[2010 NBA playoffs|playoffs]], respectively. They then faced the [[Boston Celtics]] in the conference finals. After losing the first three games of the series, Orlando managed to win the next two games, but lost on the road in Game 6, ending their season.