After many seasons in ignominy, the young Orlando Magic squad are ready to take a big leap from pretenders to contenders.
 Next season, the Magic will field one of the best starting line-ups in the league composed of superstar Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter, Jr. in the frontcourt and Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane in the backcourt. Importantly, they will have a decent bench with Tyus Jones, Jonathan Isaac and Mo Wagner.
 Orlando pulled one of its biggest moves in recent memory when it acquired Memphis Grizzlies standout Desmond Bane for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four unprotected first round picks and a first-round pick swap last June.
 The Magic were the worst three-point shooting team in the NBA (31.8%) making only 11.2 three-point shots per game during the previous season and needed to improve their spacing. To put things in context, the No. 1 three-point shooting team in terms of makes (1,457 three-pointers) were the Boston Celtics burying them at a 36.8% clip.
 Bane is a proven two-way player with elite shooting ability who fits well with the Magic’s young core of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. He is expected to relieve Banchero and Wagner from scoring heavily while providing elite outside shooting.  In 69 games last season, Bane averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists while shooting 39.32 from deep. In his five seasons with Memphis, Bane shot the ball at a 41% clip from three.
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 Another off-season acquisition point guard Tyus Jones who is known as an elite table-setter, boasting one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios in NBA history. Last season, he had his best 3-point shooting season, connecting on 41.4% of his five three-points in a single game.
 Despite all the help, the Magic’s destiny is tied to the fortunes of Banchero. While Banchero had the best season of his career in 2024-25, posting career-high numbers in scoring and rebounds, he was plagued by injuries and was only available for 46 games. Banchero also needs to work on his efficiency since he is only making 45.2% of his two-point and three-point attempts. The arrival of Bane should give him more open looks.
 Fellow superstar Franz Wagner also needs to improve his three-point shooting as he posted a 29.5% shooting last season.
 Still, the Magic have the secret sauce in winning championships since even if their shots aren’t falling, they can always fall back on their stingy defense. Orlando is one of the best defensive teams in the league allowing 109.1 points per game last season.
 With the season-long injuries of Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers) and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), the Eastern Conference is wide open with only New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks as true contenders. The Magic have a golden opportunity to waylay the rest of the conference and enter their first NBA Finals since 2009 and finally win their first franchise championship. This is no longer just an illusion but a strong possibility.
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