The Orlando Magic ready to take a good larger step ahead this low season as Paolo Banchero leads the best way. After re-signing key gamers and focusing their consideration on additional growing the workforce’s younger core, the Magic have excessive hopes and expectations going into the brand new season.
Orlando Magic Off-Season: A Assessment To Date
Magic Off-Season Targeted on Resigning Younger Expertise
The 2024 low season for the Orlando Magic has turned out to be one of many higher ones within the league for up-and-comer groups. Final 12 months, the Magic made the playoffs for the primary time with their future celebrity in Banchero. Orlando additionally entered the summer season with loads of cap house on the desk, which is a plus for younger groups on the rise. As a substitute of looking for a high-profile title or star veterans (though Klay Thompson was apparently on Orlando’s radar for a short while), the Magic have thus far determined to lean into and deal with their younger core.
If something, this low season was a chance for the Magic to belief their very own course of, hoping that making the postseason final 12 months was not an anomaly. Resigning a number of key items and including a dependable free agent had been part of the Magic’s low season maneuverings. Banchero just lately spoke with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith on First Take concerning the Magic and their outlook for subsequent season. Banchero additionally sounded fairly assured in Magic’s positioning to return out on high within the Japanese Convention.
With their assortment of younger expertise, a budding celebrity in Banchero, and expectations rising as a consequence of final 12 months’s rise, Orlando is able to make one other gratifying leap ahead within the 2024-25 season.
Key Participant Departures
Former No.1 draft decide Markelle Fultz departed the Magic this low season after spending the final 4 seasons with the workforce. Fultz revitalized his profession in a approach throughout his time in Orlando. Fultz is at present unsigned and stays a free agent.
Different departures included 11-year vet Joe Ingles, who signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Kevon Harris.
Key Participant Acquisitions
The Magic spent most of their low season dealings with already-established franchise gamers. Brothers Moritz and Franz Wagner each stay with the workforce, Franz on an extension and Moe re-signing as a free agent. Jonathan Isaac additionally extended his keep in Orlando after renegotiating his contract. Isaac has turn into considered one of Orlando’s most dependable position gamers since they drafted him in 2018.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed this low season with the Magic after a few years and a championship with Denver. KCP is projected to be an important piece in Orlando as a niche filler and three-point shooter. Including the two-time NBA champion has been touted by NBA execs as one of many league’s greatest free-agent signings. The Nuggets had been reportedly upset they did not retain him.
Is Successful the East Reasonable?
The Magic are an thrilling workforce to observe and enjoyable to cheer for at that. They play quick and unfastened, and Banchero is already an distinctive participant. However it’s laborious to agree with him that the Magic are in play to win the East—not at this cut-off date, anyway. The East is crowded with the likes of Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Miami, Indiana, New York, and Cleveland (whom the Magic misplaced to within the playoffs final season). All of those groups will likely be vying for high 5 seeding. Pretty much as good because the Magic have improved, and look to be even higher sooner or later, it’s laborious to place them in the identical class as a few of their high Japanese Convention contemporaries. Nonetheless, their present enchancment is one thing to be pleased with and help.
That narrative could change within the coming few years. Within the meantime, watch and admire the expertise and ability of Orlando’s younger workforce. Little doubt, they are going to be within the playoff combine subsequent April.
