A season that was supposed to see the Orlando Magic take a leap into the top tier of Eastern Conference contenders is starting to slip away, with the relationship between Paolo Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley coming into the spotlight.
On the latest episode of The Hoop Collective Podcast (starts at 32:35 mark), ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said “a lot of talk around the league” is that Banchero and Mosley “might not be seeing eye to eye.”
There have been rumblings throughout the season that something is off between the two.
NBA insider Grant Afseth reported in November that there was a disconnect between Banchero and Mosley, citing “strained communication and noticeable tension during games and timeouts” that had “raised concerns” within the Magic organization.
Coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, the Magic took a huge swing in the offseason by acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies for a package of four first-round picks and a pick swap.
The idea was that Bane’s shooting prowess would help improve an Orlando offense that finished 27th in rating and last in three-point percentage during the 2024-25 season, while maintaining the strong defensive foundation that had been established under Mosley.
Instead, the Magic have marginally improved on offense and significantly declined on defense so far this season. They rank 20th on offense and 15th on defense.
Banchero, who signed a five-year rookie max extension in the offseason, has not taken the leap forward that was expected after he won Rookie of the Year and made the All-Star team in his first two seasons. The 23-year-old is averaging 21.6 points on a career-low 29.1 percent three-point shooting.
The Magic’s best five-man lineup this season with at least 100 minutes played is the one with all five of their projected starters (Banchero, Bane, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs).
That group has a plus-18 net rating, but it’s only in 117 minutes because injuries have prevented them from being on the court at the same time. It seems unlikely that will change soon as Wagner continues to deal with the lingering effects of a high ankle sprain that has kept him out for the last three games and 19 of the last 21 games dating back to Dec. 9.
Meanwhile, the Magic (23-22) have tied their season-high with four straight losses and currently sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with four games remaining prior to the Feb. 5 trade deadline.