The Orlando Magic have reloaded and will take a significant leap within the East this season.
The Magic burst onto the scene within the 2023-2024 season, clinching their first playoff berth for the reason that bubble-shortened season.
They have been anticipated to take a good greater soar in 2024-25, however the workforce stumbled and fell to the No. 7 seed. They have been then eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics in 5 video games.
The Magic enter this season with a terrific alternative to bounce again. With groups just like the Celtics, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks anticipated to take a step again, the Magic might wind up as a top-3 seed.
Franz Wagner might have his finest season but with the Magic.
He’s going into his fifth 12 months and he has gotten higher each season he’s been within the league. He’s gone from averaging 15.2 factors to 24.2 factors over 4 seasons.
He did miss a while with a torn indirect final 12 months, however the 24-year-old nonetheless put up good numbers and saved the Magic afloat with all of their accidents.
Wagner’s three-point capturing is the one a part of his recreation that appears to have regressed. After making over 36 % of threes within the 2022-2023 season, he shot beneath 30 % from downtown within the subsequent two seasons.
If Wagner can enhance his three-point capturing, he might change into a first-time All-Star this 12 months.
Paolo Banchero has celebrity potential.
He’s an unbelievable expertise that has helped flip one of many worst groups within the league to a possible contender.
The Magic signed Banchero this previous summer time to a most rookie contract extension that might attain as much as $287 million so the expectations will probably be excessive transferring ahead.
Final season, he averaged a career-high 25.9 factors and seven.5 rebounds together with 4.8 assists. Nonetheless, he solely suited up for 46 video games as he handled an indirect harm early into the season.
After the All-Star break, Banchero actually turned it up a notch averaging 29.0 factors per recreation on 47.3 % capturing from the sector and 33.3 % from three.
He has averaged over 20.0 factors per recreation in his first three seasons within the league and is poised to have one other large 12 months.
If Banchero stays wholesome, he looks as if a lock to make the All-Star workforce once more.
The Magic may have a brand new weapon of their arsenal this season.
The workforce went all in, buying and selling Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and 4 first-round draft picks to the Grizzlies for Desmond Bane.
Though the value was steep, the Magic consider Bane is a vital piece in getting them to that subsequent stage.
Bane is immediately going to assist increase the Magic’s poor three-point capturing. The Magic have been the worst three-point capturing workforce final season, making simply 31.8 % of their photographs from past the arc. In the meantime, Bane is a profession 41 % three-point shooter.
He’s additionally a strong passer, ball handler and defender who’s going to create a scary defensive tandem with Jalen Suggs in Orlando’s backcourt.
Bane might very properly be the explanation why the Magic take the East by storm this season.
