Tim Legler explains why he is worried about Orlando Magic: "Their offense has not clicked"

The Orlando Magic were supposed to be one of the teams to watch in the Eastern Conference this season after adding Desmond Bane to a roster that has won back-to-back Southeast Division titles.

However, seven games into the 2025-26 NBA campaign, the Magic are 3-4. Although it’s still too early in the season, ESPN’s Tim Legler says he has already started to worry about the team.

“It has not looked good early,” said Legler. “And one of the things that surprised me was, this was a team that you’re going to think they’re going to be a Top 5 defense you think on paper, and they added Desmond Bane. So with all that toughness and all that defense, physicality, now you finally have shooting. But yet, they’re not making threes. They’re offense has not just clicked. It’s early. They got to take time to get it together, but I certainly expected Orlando to be better out of the block.”

Bane has struggled with Magic

Although the Magic regressed from 47 wins in 2024 to 41 last season, they finished the regular campaign as the No. 2-ranked defense in the league, behind the eventual champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, their most glaring weakness was 3-point shooting — they ranked last in 3-point makes (8.2 per game) and 3-point shooting percentage (26.3).

Management addressed this issue by acquiring Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in a trade that involved giving up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and one first-round pick swap.

Bane entered this season as a career 40.8 3-point shooter. He averaged 2.4 3-pointers per game last season at a 39.2 percent clip. But instead of doing the same this season, his numbers have dropped — he is making just 1.1 3-pointers at a paltry 25.8 percent shooting accuracy.

The Magic have improved to 17th in 3-point percentage this season, and they rank fourth from the bottom in 3-point makes. However, they are still 22nd in offensive rating, which isn’t where they were expected to be with Bane on the team.

The Magic offense is out of synch

Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes listed the Magic as one of the biggest disappointments in Week 1 of the 2025-26 season. According to Hughes, Orlando traded a half dozen first-round assets for Bane’s 3-point shooting and also got Tyus Jones to have better ball movement. But that has not been the case.

“The sample is small, so it may not be time to panic just yet. Bane won’t keep shooting under 30.0 percent for the season. That said, the volume numbers are jarring. One would have hoped to see the Magic come out firing, setting a tone and emphasizing three-point volume after last year’s failure to take or make enough triples. Instead, Orlando is as gun-shy as ever and struggling on offense as a result,” Hughes wrote.

Week 3 has already started, and the Magic have won their last two games against the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards. Still, their offensive numbers, particularly 3-point shooting, remain in the bottom half of the league rankings.

As Legler said, there’s still more than enough time for a change. But so far, Orlando has not lived up to the expectations.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 3, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Tim Legler explains why he is worried about Orlando Magic: “Their offense has not clicked”

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