AOL.com's Preseason NBA Power Rankings: 27. Orlando Magic

Things are bound to get better for the Orlando Magic. Just not this year.

In the weeks leading up to the new NBA season, AOL Sports is bringing you our power rankings each and every weekday. Yesterday, we broke down our No. 28 placement for the rebuilding Minnesota Timberwolves. Today, the Orlando Magic get the nod at No. 27.

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In the three years since the Dwight Howard trade, the magic have had no trouble accruing talented pieces. Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton have the potential to grow into one of the league's best defensive backcourts. Tobias Harris -- who re-signed long-term this summer -- is a great two-way threat. Nikola Vucevic is already one of the best centers the league has to offer.

But getting all these talented assets to form a cohesive unit has been an issue. Jacque Vaughn couldn't do it in his tenure as head coach, so the team brought on Scott Skiles to do the job. Time will tell if he's the man for it.

A primary issue over recent seasons has been the team's lack of shooting. They brought in Channing Frye as a stretch big to help space the floor, and recently drafted Mario Hezonja to help infuse to long-range shooting into the offense -- Hezonja shot the lights out from overseas this past season instead of accepting John Calipari's offer to play for the Kentucky Wildcats.

The team is clearly on the right track, but in Year 1 of the Skiles regime, expect more growing pains as the young players once again try to form an identity. It'll be a long year, but hopefully one that is a major step long-term.

More from AOL.com:
AOL.com's Preseason NBA Power Rankings: 28. Minnesota Timberwolves
AOL.com's Preseason NBA Power Rankings: 29. Portland Trail Blazers
AOL.com's Preseason NBA Power Rankings: 30. Philadelphia 76ers