Last season validated the project being undertaken at the Orlando Magic, as they clinched a fifth-place berth in the Eastern Conference and their first playoff appearance in four seasons. Though they fell short to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a win-or-go-home Game 7 in the first round, the played-out series gave a preview of what the future could hold.
In an Eastern Conference currently inferior in team overall to its Western rivals, the Magic’s stratagem, centred around two inevitable All-Stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, stands out as the long-term project with the most promise, and another year—if their leaders are able to sustain the momentum—will strengthen such a claim.
Stability Key to Progression
After a year that could have enticed roster disruption in the form of floor and/or ceiling-raising trades, the current 2024-25 Magic squad remains very much the same—maintaining stability from which a team leaning on youthful maturity can gain strength—with ten of their 12 most used guys returning, as Joe Ingles and Markelle Fultz were let go to free agency.
Franz Wagner’s five-year, $224 million rookie contract extension, agreed back in July, also adds to the decision-makers continued belief in the current crop in Orlando. All-Defensive Second Team Jalen Suggs is also in line for a rookie-scale contract extension, which is being worked on from both sides.
Banchero told The Washington Post that he wants the team to find a table-setter to ease the creation burden on him; though there's no trade-in process to satisfy such demands, there's a real feeling that Suggs—known more for his rattling defence —can fill such a role as a play initiator than maker at the point.
Jamahl Mosley, who signed a four-year contract extension earlier in the year, remains a crucial cog in the franchise’s revival.
Franz and Paolo Duo Act
As mentioned, much of what the Magic can do in the short-to-medium term depends on how Banchero and Wagner develop as a go-to duo.
The pair are top-class self-shot creators at their age; even in a below-average offensive system that ranked in the league's bottom ten in offensive rating, they remained productive and will continue to be as they see the ball in their hands as the team’s primary focal points on offence.
However, efficiency-wise, less so. According to Opta, both Banchero and Wagner were rated in the 27th and 52nd percentiles in scoring efficiency. Finding more consistency in their shooting touch has been critiqued at the two since the playoff crash in the summer, when Wagner, in particular, shot 1-15 from the field in Game 7 vs. the Cavs.
Being able to offload the rock when it's falling instead of playing through a rough patch was also a point of improvement for the young duo, but Wagner's slight elevation in playmaking was seen in the Olympics with Germany.
Banchero’s self-acknowledgement of how his game can benefit from a more simplified role is a major plus at his age. Just like Wagner with Germany, more games and more reps in different systems should help him find footing in what should be a less convoluted offense.
A Trade In The Offing
The addition of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a wonderful piece of movement from those in the Magic front office. Rumours of Klay Thompson seemed unlikely, given where he sees himself in the game and what he can offer at the league’s echelons, but Caldwell-Pope, who shot 40.6% from beyond the arc last year, is a nod to improving the team’s spacing and conversion from deep.
Yet, there's still room in the team to spruce up the on-ball enterprise. The Magic’s defence (second in defensive rating with 111.3 to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the entire league) still remains their foundation point and has left them devaluing the need to have a near-elite ball handler, which they could coast without but risk stagnating.
There are enough draft incentives and valuable depth options, which most of the league would have a conversation about, that can allow them to swing at a seismic move (not named Zach LaVine). Ironically, now-Chicago Bulls Josh Giddey would've been a nice fit.
The option to wait and see how the market pans out is valid, but if there's an area of gain to be made to mount a credible challenge in the post-season to the East elite, that would be it.
