The Orlando Magic have reloaded and could take a major leap in the East this season.
The Magic burst onto the scene in the 2023-2024 season, clinching their first playoff berth since the bubble-shortened season.
They were expected to take an even bigger jump in 2024-25, but the team stumbled and fell to the No. 7 seed. They were then eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics in 5 games.
The Magic enter this season with a great opportunity to bounce back. With teams like the Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks expected to take a step back, the Magic could wind up as a top-3 seed.
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesFranz Wagner
Franz Wagner could have his best season yet with the Magic.
He is going into his fifth year and he has gotten better every season he’s been in the league. He’s gone from averaging 15.2 points to 24.2 points over four seasons.
He did miss some time with a torn oblique last year, but the 24-year-old still put up nice numbers and kept the Magic afloat with all of their injuries.
Wagner’s three-point shooting is the only part of his game that seems to have regressed. After making over 36 percent of threes in the 2022-2023 season, he shot under 30 percent from downtown in the next two seasons.
If Wagner can improve his three-point shooting, he could become a first-time All-Star this year.
Paolo Banchero
Paolo Banchero has superstar potential.
He is an incredible talent that has helped turn one of the worst teams in the league to a potential contender.
The Magic signed Banchero this past summer to a maximum rookie contract extension that could reach up to $287 million so the expectations will be high moving forward.
Last season, he averaged a career-high 25.9 points and 7.5 rebounds along with 4.8 assists. However, he only suited up for 46 games as he dealt with an oblique injury early into the season.
After the All-Star break, Banchero really turned it up a notch averaging 29.0 points per game on 47.3 percent shooting from the field and 33.3 percent from three.
He has averaged over 20.0 points per game in his first three seasons in the league and is poised to have another big year.
If Banchero remains healthy, he seems like a lock to make the All-Star team again.
Desmond Bane
The Magic will have a new weapon in their arsenal this season.
The team went all in, trading Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four first-round draft picks to the Grizzlies for Desmond Bane.
Although the price was steep, the Magic believe Bane is a critical piece in getting them to that next level.
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images
Bane is instantly going to help boost the Magic’s poor three-point shooting. The Magic were the worst three-point shooting team last season, making just 31.8 percent of their shots from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, Bane is a career 41 percent three-point shooter.
He’s also a solid passer, ball handler and defender who is going to create a scary defensive tandem with Jalen Suggs in Orlando’s backcourt.
Bane could very well be the reason why the Magic take the East by storm this season.