Season summary: A widely agreed-upon disappointing season that led to coach Mosley’s firing after 5 seasons, the Magic are hoping to make the jump back to where the expectations were before this season as a top 3-4 seed in the East. The Magic also extended Jeff Weltman, who is at the helm of the basketball decisions. With new head coach Sean Sweeney coming in, the locker room vibes changing would alone add multiple wins to this roster next season even with minimal changes. They still need three point shooting, but they were right there in upsetting the 1 seed in the first round.
The Bane Trade
While the Desmond Bane trade got some criticism nationally for the amount of picks surrendered for a player that has never made an all star game, Bane ended up proving the front office right with strong value & appearing in every game. He was arguably the best player for the Magic this season, health and expectations considered. Paolo Banchero’s energy and body language affected his play on both ends too often to qualify for the best player on the team this year, despite the strong counting stats, and Franz Wagner missed more games than he played, which also disqualifies him. His ability to elevate the offense was key to keeping the Magic afloat often, and despite teams blitzing him because of the team’s lack of great spacing outside of him, he still found ways to win at an efficient clip. If the Magic got the chance to re-do the trade, I believe they still would, despite the year one results, which are not Bane’s fault and not related to the Bane trade.
Paolo’s Struggles
Banchero had his lowest PPG of his career, but it came with his most efficient season of his career both by FG% and TS%. Despite this, this was considered the worst year of his career because of how inconsistent he was at giving his all and contributing to winning. His body language was bad, and how he started games often influenced how hard he would play and how quickly he would act out. As the star when his co-star missed most of the season, this leadership is unacceptable for the Magic. There were clear tea leaves that Banchero and Mosley did not get along behind closed doors, so the Magic are hoping that the coaching change of Sean Sweeney can bring him back to his best self.
He did up his game come playoffs, but his efficiency was not as strong as the regular season. However, his low FT% (67.6% in the playoffs) put a dent in that, since he had a career best 77.5% FT% mark in the regular season. As a continued playoff riser who blew his previous playoff numbers out of the park (career bests bolded): 26.3 PPG, 9 RPG, 6.3 APG, 2.1 stocks per game, and 10 FTA/G. His ability to get downhill to get layups in traffic or over mismatches, ability to draw fouls, and the ability to dish out of the paint all make him a clear-cut superstar when his head is right.
Still, the Magic repeating history by blowing a 3-1 lead to the Pistons in the first round puts more pressure around him and the Magic to be that much more successful next year. With breakout years from Anthony Black and Jamal Cain, they have a solid rotation, but just need a few margin wins to round out the roster to make them more offensively capable.
Pick held: 46
Team needs: Shooting, stretch big, bench scorer, PG, versatile defensive wing/forward, center depth, defensive intensity, drought-ending scoring ability
Upcoming free agents: Jett Howard, Moe Wagner, Jevon Carter, Colin Castleton (two-way RFA)
Cap Situation: Barely above tax; first apron team with about $3.65M of room before the second apron. 12th highest payroll in the league for 2026-27 at the moment. They will need to make trades to save money this year to sign any of the below free agents, and most trades they make will need to be neutral financially or favorable in terms of cutting even a small amount of money. With Anthony Black up for extension, they can either extend him now, trade him (or Jalen Suggs to expedite the process), or wait until restricted free agency next year, which is another looming big cap hit for them. Jonathan Isaac’s partially guaranteed deal is going to be their best option to trade, but given his health, he will likely require some form of an asset to be attached to him to get off of.
Past 5 drafts:
2021: Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner
2022: Paolo Banchero, Caleb Houstan,
2023: Jett Howard
2024: Tristan Da Silva
2025: Jase Richardson, Noah Penda
Potential Targets at 46/Draft Board for 46:
Ugonna Onyenso, big from Virginia - The top shot-blocker in the draft, Onyenso can play the same minutes and role Jonathan Isaac did (with more true rim protection ability) the last couple of seasons for cheaper and with less injury concerns.
Braden Smith, PG from Purdue: Arguably the best point guard in college basketball (a two-time consensus All-American), Smith makes everyone’s lives easier on offense without sacrificing his game. He is the best pick & roll navigator in the class, using his age to his advantage in college basketball; this will translate right away. When he is not playmaking, his jump shot makes him extremely difficult to defend out of screens. Yes, his size is a major limitation, but his ability to make others better on both ends of the floor is worth the risk for a backup role. With the money rising for Orlando, they have to win on the margins with cheap additions that can contribute right away; Smith fits just that.
Milos Uzan, PG from Houston: The star point guard on Houston’s championship run last year and their Sweet 16 run this year, the context around Houston changes how Uzan should be perceived. The areas of context that will help Uzan are as follows:
A) Uzan only took 48 transition threes in college (25 at Houston, 23 at Oklahoma), which is .3 transition three pointers attempted per game in college. He made 24 of his 48 transition threes, which is an excellent rate, albeit small sample size. NBA tempo will change this and allow for more high quality & open threes, which his career 36% mark from 3 and 75% mark from the line suggest will translate up with tempo, especially given his small sample size success as a transition shooter.
B) Three guard systems have become less common, at least for heavy minutes. Uzan played most of his minutes this year splitting point guard duties, while last year he was able to control the offense more, when his efficiency was stronger.
C) Houston’s spacing is vastly different from NBA spacing. Cenac and Tugler were not much of floor spacers (combined 2.4 threes per game) which made it hard for Uzan (and in turn Flemings, who had a low rim volume) to get to their spots in the paint.Trevon Brazile, big from Arkansas- although he is an older prospect that hasn’t entirely shaken off the concerns around his feel for the game, Brazile’s growth as a shooter and his physical tools could be summoned well as a final big on the roster with a chance to graduate from a likely two-way contract. That gamble is worth it for Orlando with minimal risk. Based on recent mocks, it is unlikely the Brazile falls this far; if he does, the Magic should be happy with the risk vs reward at 46.
Ernest Udeh Jr, big from Miami- A low usage big that has lateral mobility + P&R gravity on his dives to the rim, Udeh profiles well as a backup big for Orlando. As Orlando tries to find creative ways to add depth without creeping closer towards the second apron, Udeh provides an easy win as a backup big.
Bruce Thornton, guard from Ohio State- a scoring guard that has been one of the most productive players & guards in Ohio State history, Thornton would likely be a depth guard that could provide microwave scoring off the deep bench. He didn’t measure well at the combine and he struggles to play off the ball for now, so like most picks in this range, he would require time in the G League to refine some offensive skill before contributing to the Magic.
Emanuel Sharp, SG from Houston : Undersized 2 that shoots the ball well, despite somewhat unconventional shooting form, and is one of the toughest defenders that makes offensive players’ lives hell. In a simple role, Sharp immediately fits the needs of Orlando without needing time to develop other areas for him to contribute right away as a 3&D wing off the bench.
Tobi Lawal, forward from Virginia Tech- A freak athlete and a growing shooter, Lawal could be used well in the dunker spot & on the perimeter offensively, along with utilizing versatile athleticism. He will need some polish in the G League to learn the game at higher speeds and to develop his skill + decision making. As an older prospect that will limit his margin for error in his chances at a quick development.
Top UDFA fits:
Cade Tyson, wing from Minnesota- an ideal shooting wing that fits the profile of what this Magic team needs, Cade fits into the Duncan Robinson archetype (important to note the comparison is to the archetype, not the player). A high feel shooter with size & ability to use his shooting gravity well for others is a dream off the bench for Orlando. This is something they tried to get with Jett Howard to some degree, but he fell short both as a shooter and playmaker.
Lajae Jones, wing from Florida State: A shooter with the ability to operate in the post against smaller players as needed, Jones has an immediate translatable skill in his lefty shooting. Despite not being more than an average athlete, Jones makes up for it with solid feel and a strong ability to win 50/50 balls with effort.
Duke Brennan, big from Villanova- purely a rebounding & playmaking big, Brennan would be nice to have on as a two-way as his jumper develops from theoretical to practical. While he won’t be a rim-protector, he offers value across the board in other areas offensively and on the glass. He makes his teammates better and if he can develop his shot, he slots in well as a cheap backup big as a margin win.
Nate Bittle, big from Oregon- stretch big with injury history, but could be a Mike Muscala type off the bench to provide better spacing for the offense, particularly off the bench. One thing I have advocated for all year is a true stretch big that takes more 3s than 2s to come in against specific lineups, and Nate could fit that as an older senior.
Tyler Nickel, wing from Vanderbilt: movement shooter with good size. Despite athletic concerns, he is smart and knows how to play within his role + makes solid defensive rotations.
Robert McCray, PG from Florida State: high feel playmaker with good athleticism. Jumper is a major question mark, but with more reps and professional shooting coaches in the G League and around the NBA, he only needs a small jump to hit the minimum threshold to earn the respect from defenses to close out and create space for him. With an ability to get to the rim and drive with both hands, a jumper adds real three level scoring ability to leverage his high feel to make others better around him. This was the goal with Tyus Jones, but that plan fell short this season. McCray’s age (24 on opening night) makes his margin for error slim, but he could be a solid two-way candidate to develop in the G League and serve as an emergency guard to make others better on offense in the NBA off the bench when injuries occur.
Tamin Lipsey, guard from Iowa State: tough guard with defensive stopper capabilities. His offense lags behind his defense, but with some grinding in the G League, he might have value on a team that values being tough on defense. However, if his offense cannot find a way to develop in the G League first, he won’t be seeing NBA minutes any time soon.
Veteran Trade Targets:
Kenrich Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder SF
Has a club option for ~$7.1M, but OKC will likely need to shed cash this summer beyond what they just sent Aaron Wiggins out for. Given Wiggins’ recent return, Kenrich should be had for relatively cheap.
Williams & Bane were teammates at TCU and have maintained a close relationship over the years. This could help add some much-needed chemistry to this roster
Proven shooter who plays hard on defense, earning him the nickname “Kenny hustle”
Myles Turner, Milwaukee Bucks SF
Turner seemingly made a mistake signing in Milwaukee next to Giannis, not only going from a title-contending team to a non-playoff team, but he also put up his worst stats since his rookie year.
The Magic need a big exactly like him: a big that can protect the rim and boost their defense while adding spacing and pairing well as a P&R partner for the Magic’s core players. His ability to pop and make the defense commit to, in theory, a slashing Paolo leaving Turner open, or leave Paolo 1-on-1 for the pop makes everyone in the lineup better.
Turner would allow the Magic center rotation to maximize itself; Wendell Carter comes off the bench (or starts next to Turner depending on the matchup), and Goga Bitadze doesn’t have to live as the primary backup which exposed his defensive weaknesses too often this season.
Derrick Jones Jr, LA Clippers Wing
High-flying athlete that played well as a 3&D wing next to Luka Doncic; Paolo’s somewhat heliocentric play style + Franz Wagner’s ability to make everyone else better plays well for Jones.
His improved shooting over the last three years feels like a legitimate jump. He never shot above 35% before his season in Dallas, then shot 34.3% from 3 (a career best) in Dallas, then 35.5-35.9% the last two years in LA on the Clippers.
The only risk for Jones is that he feeds off of the spacing around him. The more shooters and perimeter scoring around him, the better he does. This can be a risky factor for Orlando.
Jones may be kept in LA depending on what they do on draft night; since they are still looking to win next year.
Klay Thompson, Dallas Mavericks wing
High level shooter who has aged well into a role player despite a strong injury history
Adds veteran experience with championship experience that the Magic were missing in the locker room
Brook Lopez, LA Clippers big
Another inside out big, Lopez would complement the offense and add slight defensive value compared to Bitadze off the bench, allowing the Magic to play their bigs more strategically off the bench.
Despite his age, his shooting has still held up well, which fills the Magic’s need of getting a quick-trigger big to improve the spacing.
Saddiq Bey, New Orleans Pelicans wing
Coming off of a knee injury, Bey showed no signs of easing into himself again after the injury, and thrived in his role as a wing scorer.
Bey could be a bench scoring piece that the Magic didn’t have much of this year. He also adds needed wing depth.
One of his five 30+ point games this season came against Orlando in April, where the Pelicans narrowly lost despite his 32 point game.
Day’Ron Sharpe
Team option that would make him an expiring for just $6.25M. He could easily slot in as a backup big for Orlando and make a noticeable change.
Sharpe makes a lot of plays to make others better + rebounds very well. Tarris Reed compares favorably to him as a low end outcome, and Reed is someone the Magic are not in position to be able to draft, unfortunately. Taking someone in the same archetype could help this team right away.
With a club option this year and upcoming free agency in 2027, Brooklyn would be smart to get something back for him this summer or at the trade deadline.
Justin Champagnie
Strong rebounder and defender that can serve as a low-usage play finishing wing, he fits into the defensive culture the Magic will be trying to rebuild this season.
The big variable is what the Wizards do with Champagnie, who has been a cultural leader in Washington with grittiness and toughness in his time in DC. He has a team-friendly contract, so he is not going to be an “easy” acquisition compared to similar players in his role.
Malik Monk
Coming off a down year in Sacramento, a change of scenery is in order for Monk. He developed some bad habits and still plays a flashy over controlled style that can be prone to facepalming moments. He also struggled on defense this year in Sacramento. However, his scoring ability and ability to pass off of his scoring gravity bodes well for the Magic. Orlando also could surround him well defensively, especially if he is back in his 6th man role. Monk fits the needed bench scoring as an elite bench piece when things are right, which makes him a great buy-low candidate.
The cost for Monk should be pretty low, and the context around Sacramento last season makes it easy to justify him fitting into a new Orlando system that could let him run/be a key part of the bench units well.
Michael Porter Jr
An upcoming expiring contract, MPJ would be a fantastic fit with the Magic to not only bolster their spot-up shooting to help their creators have even more gravity, but he can create his own 3 point shot too.
MPJ’s presence makes the floor less crowded, which gives higher quality shots to other shooters & the slashers since defenses have to play the 3 point line tighter than they did this year against this iteration of the Magic team.
Orlando may lack the necessary trade pieces, in terms of draft capital and valuable young players they are willing to surrender, to get MPJ; this makes him an unlikely candidate, but one that would fit what they need.
Andrew Wiggins
An NBA vet with championship experience, Wiggins can help stop droughts and improve the Magic’s transition scoring that they felt in the playoffs.
Wiggins was a strong defender for Miami, doing a great job of truly being a wing defender that can guard his position while scaling down against guards and forwards.
Depending on if the Heat trade for Giannis, Wiggins could be a great piece to fit the Magic roster; the big question mark is how do they fit in terms of making an equal and fair deal since Miami’s future is a big question mark at the moment.
Wiggins has grown as a spot-up shooter over the last five years, hitting 35%+ of his catch & shoot attempts all but one of the last five seasons. This year he shot 41.4% on spot-up 3s, ranking in the 79th percentile.
Veteran Free Agent Targets:
Collin Sexton
A microwave scorer that has grown in making his teammates better since his college and early career days, Sexton could thrive in addressing one of the Magic’s biggest offensive needs: stopping droughts.
One of the things Orlando missed when they let Cole Anthony go last year was his energy and toughness. Sexton brings this, embracing the nickname “Young Bull.” He could be great for the team’s chemistry, in addition to being a great spot-up shooter that can also do damage off of his own creation.
Even though he ended the season on some tanking teams the last few years, what Sexton brings to a winning team is cleanly translatable. He shoots 40% on catch & shoot 3s consistently year-over-year, and his overall intensity on both ends is contagious. While not a great defender, he won’t go down without a fight on any given matchup, and won’t let his size limit him.
Andre Drummond
Orlando was 16th in the NBA in rebounding, which Drummond instantly improves for the Magic. Drummond was 2nd in rebounds per 36 minutes this season; the highest ranked player on Orlando this year was Goga Bitadze at 17th. Pairing these two off the bench should create a much better offense that gets more scoring opportunities.
Drummond’s extra-possession creation also helps shooters, since the best time to shoot a three is off of a three.
With Daryl Morey out of Philly, he might walk and be able to find a new home. Drummond briefly played in LA, but otherwise has stayed in the Eastern Conference. That bodes well for Orlando to snag him if they can shed some money via trades this summer.
Harrison Barnes
Although he didn’t play much in the Spurs’ deep playoff run, he would add strong regular season value for Orlando under his well-known new Magic Head Coach Sean Sweeney. Given the Magic’s different context than what he is going with in San Antonio, he could play more meaningful minutes in Orlando than he is now, at least in the regular season.
Marvin Bagley III
Purely as a 3rd or 4th big, Bagley offers value in the regular season when players inevitably get injured. He can nab double doubles with easy reboundig & interior scoring. He will give a lot of points back on defense, but if Orlando can find an inside-out big to add to the roster, this is manageable in small doses.
As a purely offensive minded big, Orlando couldn’t afford to run him as the 5 or the lone rim defender; they’d have to keep him out there with Wendell Carter, which means Wendell would have to be more aggressive in shooting 3s.
Robert Williams
Despite injury concerns, Robert Williams is a positive rim protector and great P&R lob threat. However, his lack of shooting may not fit what the Magic want in another big next to Wendell Carter, who has been reluctant to shoot even open 3s.
Other candidates/good fits/quick hitters that may be more difficult to sign given the tight money to operate with:
Luke Kennard
Quentin Grimes
Dean Wade
Landry Shamet
Kevin Huerter
Kelly Oubre
Khris Middleton
Rui Hachimura
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