One veteran, one youngster; one steady, one explosive.
Grant Hill's mature, all-around game paired with Tracy McGrady's elite talent instantly formed a forward duo that stunned the entire league.
Orlando's local media erupted in celebration, publishing banner headlines overnight and lavishing praise on the new duo.
Local sports commentators declared that the Magic's newly formed Hill-McGrady pairing was the new era's "Jordan and Pippen."
A veteran superstar paired with a gifted young star, strong on both ends of the court and brimming with potential—they were more than capable of reshaping the Eastern Conference.
Along with bringing in two major stars, the Magic also made fine adjustments to their roster, strengthening their rotation with precision.
The team sent forward Matt Harpring to the Cavaliers in exchange for capable center Andrew DeClercq, shoring up a weakness in their frontcourt rotation.
Once all these moves were finalized, the Magic vaulted from the middle of the Eastern Conference standings to become a new title contender.
Fans across the United States were in an uproar, and sports forums and livestreams went wild.
Eastern Conference fans marveled that the Knicks' monopoly on the conference had finally been challenged.
Many fans said that the two-star lineup had an incredibly high ceiling and, given time, could absolutely threaten the Knicks' Dynasty.
Fans in the Western Conference watched closely, saying that the Eastern Conference had been thrown into chaos and that the new season's Eastern Conference playoffs would be full of surprises.
Morale within the Magic soared to unprecedented heights. Everyone believed the team had entered another championship window in franchise history.
While the Magic continued to strengthen their roster, the Eastern Conference's traditional powerhouse, the Miami Heat, wasted no time launching an aggressive upgrade plan of their own.
They completed a major trade with the Charlotte Hornets