Orlando, FL – After missing the playoffs and having four consecutive losing seasons, the Orlando Magic are looking to change the narrative and perception around this team. Third-year head coach Jamahl Mosley has a roster that is immensely talented top-to-bottom with great young talent everywhere you look. With a roster that features a phenomenal young nucleus, with a limitless ceiling, and a potential superstar in Paolo Banchero, it’s hard to not get excited about what this team can do.
Former number-one overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft Markelle Fultz, has had a resurgence in his career since being traded to Orlando in 2019. After the Magic started 5-17 last season without their starting point guard, he changed life for his team when the team finished 29-31 with him on the court. Markelle in 60 games last season averaged career highs in points (14.0), assists (5.7), steals (1.5), and his best shooting season across the board to date. Excluding the 2021 season where Fultz only appeared in 18 games, every season in Orlando he has matured as a reliable scorer, and a facilitator in this offense, and his confidence has grown significantly with his shooting percentages. Markelle, who is healthy and as confident as ever, is bound for a breakout season as his talents will be on full display.
Another former number-one overall pick, Paolo Banchero, took the association by storm last year in his rookie season. Paolo was arguably the Magic’s best and most dominant player on a night-in and night-out basis last season, which led him to win the Rookie of the Year award. Banchero had a rookie season we haven’t seen since the likes of an all-time great player in LeBron James. Paolo capped off his rookie season with 40 20-point performances, which was the exact amount LeBron had in his rookie campaign back in 2003-04. Banchero also joins an elite list of rookies who averaged at least 19 points, three assists, and six rebounds joining Blake Griffin, Michael Jordan, Grant Hill, Larry Johnson, Larry Bird, Walter David, and now Paolo Banchero. Now that Banchero is undisputedly the face of this franchise and one of the young up-incoming players in the association, he will be looking to help lead Orlando to a playoff berth this season.
After Orlando traded away former All-Star Nikola Vucevic in 2020 to Chicago, one of those two draft picks that they acquired turned into Franz Wagner. Since coming into the league in 2021, Franz has been one of the best and most versatile young players in the association. A 6 ’10 forward who is incredible in the pick-and-roll, is a very capable shooter, a versatile player on the defensive end, and he’s essentially a positionless player who can fit any role you need him to play. Franz embodies what the modern-day positionless forward looks like and is expected to have another leap in his career alongside Paolo and this core.
Former Chicago Bull who was acquired in the Vucevic trade, Wendell Carter Jr had arguably the best season of his young career last year. After Orlando had lost longtime center Nikola Vucevic, Wendell filled into that role seamlessly and has gotten better every season. At just 24 years of age, Wendell posted career highs across the board last season in points (15.2), and three-point percentage (35.6), and tied his career-high in field goal percentage (52.5). Wendell has provided a consistent interior presence; he’s been a very reliable rebounder and a big man who can stretch the floor. Now that Wendell is the clear and definitive starting center for the Magic moving forward, don’t let it be a surprise when his role and efficiency increase this year.
The last player who was acquired in the Vucevic trade for Orlando came in the 2023 NBA draft as they selected Jett Howard. Orlando last season ranked 25th in the association from three-point range shooting a measly 34.6%. Howard was drafted to help provide shooting and floor spacing for a team that has been searching for a consistent shooter since the days of JJ Redick and Aaron Afflalo. In his lone season at Michigan, Howard averaged 14.1 points, shot 41.4% from the field, and 36.8% from behind the arc. It will be interesting to see how many minutes and touches Howard gets in the rotation, especially with a deep guard and forward room.
Orlando had two lottery picks in the 2023 NBA draft as they selected a guard from Arkansas Anthony Black with the sixth overall pick. Anthony was a very controversial pick to a lot of Magic fans as they felt like their guard depth was already solidified, and Black wasn’t the best shooter coming out of college. In his freshman season for the Razorbacks Anthony Black averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and shot only 30.1% from behind the arc. Black provides upside with his 6-7 frame, the ability to see the floor, and potential on the defensive end. Similar to his teammate he got drafted alongside Jett Howard, it will be interesting to see how many minutes and opportunities Black gets in a loaded guard room.
A fan favorite and former dunk contest participant in 2022, Cole Anthony has embraced and flourished in his new role for the Orlando Magic. After being selected in the 2020 NBA draft, Cole has embraced this team, the city, the fanbase, and what Jamahl Mosley has asked of him to become a bucket-getter off the bench. After starting 65 games in 2021, Cole only started four games in 2022-23 and flourished in his role as a six-man. While his minutes and points took a dip this past season, he had his most efficient season shooting 45.4% from the field, and 36.4% from deep. Cole’s role and responsibility have changed since coming into the association, but he has the green light in this offense to provide scoring off the bench, and he’s poised to be a candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Through two seasons in the NBA, Jalen Suggs hasn’t lived up to the expectations that may have been fairly or unfairly placed upon him. Jalen has been an incredible defender as he is one of the best in the business, but he hasn’t found his footing as a reliable shooter, and injuries have derailed him as he’s only appeared in 101 of 184 potential games. While Suggs hasn’t been particularly great on the offensive side of the ball, he has shown flashes of becoming great, especially as a closer for this team. We have seen career performances from Jalen in two notable performances versus the Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors this past season. In a matchup at the United Center versus the Chicago Bulls, Suggs led the team to victory scoring 20 points, dishing out eight assists, chipped in one steal, one block, and a game-winning three-point shot. At the Amway Center Suggs helped close out at the time the reigning and defending NBA champions the Golden State Warriors. Suggs led the team in scoring that evening with 26 points, had nine assists, and made the game-winning three-pointer to put Orlando up with 37.7 seconds remaining in the game. If Jalen Suggs stays healthy, he should be the starting two guard of the future as a perennial All-NBA defender, and a hopefully much-improved shooter.
Now that we’re on the topic of All-NBA defensive caliber players, it’s time to discuss former Florida State Seminole Jonathan Isaac. Since being drafted in 2017 Jonathan Isaac has been incredibly disappointing, simply due to having an injury-riddled career to date. Isaac has only appeared in 147 games since coming into the association. Jonathan Isaac played a career-high 75 games in 2018-19 and hasn’t eclipsed more than 34 games in a season since 2019-20 when he last did it. When he’s healthy, he is an all-world defender and one of the best in the NBA. Orlando fans should have little to no expectations for Jonathan Isaac as he has unfortunately shown an inability to stay healthy, and any impact he gets on the court should be viewed as a bonus.
Another recent Orlando Magic draft pick who has been widely viewed as a disappointment primarily due to injuries, came with their selection in 2019 with Chuma Okeke. Chuma suffered an ACL injury during the March Madness tournament that kept him sidelined for the entirety of his rookie season in the NBA. Okeke has only appeared in 142 of the 318 potential Magic’s regular season games since being drafted. Chuma has shown flashes on the defensive side of the ball and some potential offensively, but this could very well be his last opportunity in Orlando.
When the Magic traded away former dunk contest participant and now NBA champion Aaron Gordon, they acquired Gary Harris in that trade from the Denver Nuggets. Harris has been a nice plug-in-play veteran guard for the Magic becoming the most reliable shooter on the roster. In 42 starts last season, Harris averaged 8.3 points, shot 45% from the field, and a career-high 43.1% from deep. Gary will still find himself very much in the rotation of this team as a reliable shooter, most likely in a role off the bench, but is not the long-term answer at the two-guard spot.
Although he hasn’t suited up for the Magic in a regular season game yet, Joe Ingles will quickly become a fan favorite. The Australian forward has been quietly one of the best and most consistent knockdown shooters in the association from his days in Utah and Milwaukee. Ingles is a career 40.8% shooter from deep and averaged a career-high 45.1% from behind the arc in 2020-21 playing for the Utah Jazz. Joe has been incredible in the pick-and-roll as he can dish, finish at the rim, pull up from deep, and defensively he’s a very pesky defender. Ingles has been known to be an incredibly selfless teammate who is always willing to put the team first and play his role at a very high level. Joe will make a tremendous impact as a mentor to many of the young players on the roster.
One of four Michigan Wolverines on the roster, and the older brother of Franz Wagner is Moritz (Mo) Wagner. Mo has bounced around the association since being drafted in 2018 playing for the Lakers, Wizards, and Celtics, before finding his role and home in Orlando. In just under 20 minutes a game last season Mo averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and shot 50% from the field. Magic fans are the ones who can appreciate Mo Wagner who plays with a ton of energy and always gives his best effort out on the floor. While Mo Wagner will not have near the load that his younger brother does, expect him to still make solid contributions when he gets his opportunities.
Last season the Magic signed another big man and former first-round pick by the Indiana Pacers Goga Bitadze. Goga was waived by Indiana after a three-team trade had occurred at the deadline, and he later signed with Orlando. In 17 games last season for the Magic, Goga averaged 5.8 points, and 5.5 rebounds, and shot a career high 57.5% from the field. While he has flashed ability as a nice depth piece who can contribute, it will loom large how many minutes he can get in the rotation.
The fourth and last Michigan Wolverine on the Orlando Magic’s roster is former second-round pick Caleb Houstan. In 51 appearances last season, Houstan averaged 3.8 points, shot 36.3% from the field, and 33.8% from deep. Many Magic fans including myself believe he has the potential and capabilities to become a very good three-point shooter. Houstan more than likely will not get much of a role considering how deep the roster is with guards, but he has all the potential in the world to become that. With more minutes, time, and growth at the next level, Caleb could very well be a sneaky good player for the Magic going forward.
Although Jamahl Mosley has a lot to figure out regarding personnel, the rotation, and how he will utilize his players, the talent on the team cannot be overlooked. Orlando, if they remain healthy, has one of if not the best young teams in the NBA, as they will be looking to get back into the postseason for the first time since the 2020-21 season.