Magic optimistic following 1st year without Howard

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- It's hard to find much silver-lining in the Magic's first season without Dwight Howard.

Orlando posted a league-worst 20-62 record and is back in the NBA draft lottery for the first time since 2006 with the best opportunity to land the top pick.

Combined with a cache of young talent, future draft picks and increasing salary cap space going, it has given the Magic's front office a lot to be optimistic about.

General manager Rob Hennigan says he's not satisfied in the first season of the rebuilding process, but thinks they have begun setting a foundation that will start to pay off moving forward.

That includes the likely departure of a handful of veterans, like Hedo Turkoglu and Al Harrington, who don't seem to fit into those long-term plans.