The Orlando Magic had quite a bit of talent come through their roster in the 1990’s which included drafting Chris Webber, whom they traded to the Golden State Warriors for Penny Hardaway. Webber nor Hardaway were the biggest names to play in the city of Disney though as Shaquille O’Neal was by far the biggest presence to grace Orlando.
Of course, the big man eventually left in free agent to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, a decision that Shaq says he sometimes regrets.
“Do I regret it? I never fully answer it. I regret it sometimes. Is this where I started and should have stayed? I actually wish they made it a law that whoever drafts you, you gotta stay there your whole career.” …
Shaquille O’Neal went on to say that he believes he could have helped the Orlando Magic achieve what he and Kobe Bryant enjoyed with the Lakers, which were multiple NBA championships.
Granted, Shaq pretty much thinks he can do anything in the world and who’s to say what would have happened during his tenure with Orlando, though you do have to think the Magic might have at least one banner hanging from the roof of their arena had Shaq decided to stick around.
Ironically enough, after Shaq left the Magic, the NBA changed their free agent rules so players like O’Neal wouldn’t be able to leave without consent from their current squad thanks to the introduction of ‘restricted free agency’.
A little too late for the Magic, however.
