2023-24 NBA Season Preview: Orlando Magic

2023-24 NBA Season Preview: Orlando Magic

Training camp for the 2023-24 NBA season is officially underway! Up until opening night on Oct. 24, we will be previewing all 30 NBA teams! Today, we will be previewing the Orlando Magic, who possess one of the NBA’s best young cores.

What happened last year?

The Orlando Magic earned the No. 1 pick and ended up selecting Duke star forward Paolo Banchero to pair alongside forward Franz Wagner. The Magic finished 34-48, their best record since 2018-19, including going 7-6 over their final 13 games. While Banchero and Wagner carried the majority of the offensive load, the Magic were the fifth-worst offense leaguewide and attempted the fifth-fewest 3s per possession with the seventh-worst efficiency. They posted the 18th-best defense, including the 11th-best (8th in DREB%) after the All-Star break. This was an encouraging developmental year for the Magic, and we hope it can take another collective step this season.

Offseason recap:

The Magic did not have a very active offseason after drafting Anthony Black and Jett Howard–a controversial pick–with their No. 6 and 11 picks in the 2023 draft, respectively. Though Orlando did sign veteran Joe Ingles to a two-year, $22 million deal. Don’t be surprised if he provides valuable mentorship to Banchero and Wagner, two rising stars.

Projected Starting Five?

Anthony Black, G — Black’s initial fit with the remaining foursome might be questionable at first because of the lack of consistent outside shooting. But he has size and toughness, is a very willing passer and is a smart decision-maker. They’ll need to figure out the spacing, but he’s set up to be a fine table-setter for Orlando’s primary and secondary creators.

Gary Harris, G — Harris, who appeared in just 48 games a season ago, is a good complement to Black and the rest of Orlando’s backcourt. He shot 43.1 percent from deep and has knocked down 42 percent of his spot-up triples since the start of 2021-22.

Paolo Banchero, F — Banchero had one of the best rookie seasons since LeBron James’ 2003-04 campaign. He averaged 20.0 points and seven rebounds on 52.9 percent true shooting, though I trust his long-range shooting will improve over time. I was also encouraged by how he ended his rookie campaign defensively.

Franz Wagner, F — Wagner has continued blossoming as a two-way star with Orlando, averaging 16.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He’s remarkably crafty with the ball and his hands is a very strong 2-2.5-level scorer. 

Wendell Carter Jr., C — Carter is still growing fundamentally as a center, but is an important building block within their young core. He averaged 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds in his second full season in Orlando, converting on 52.5 percent of his attempts for the second straight year. Though the 24-year-old did experience an uptick in 3-point percentage and 3-point volume.

Notable Reserves:

Moritz Wagner, C — The 7-foot big man has built a solid role behind Carter in their frontcourt rotation, posting 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes a year ago.

Markelle Fultz, G — Fultz had the best–and perhaps–season of his career and could easily start the season ahead of Black in the starting 5. There’s real potential, here. 

Caleb Houstan, G/F — The Magic’s biggest need is shooting, and Houstan definitely showed flashes from distance as a rookie, despite finishing the season as a sub-34.0 3-point shooter.

Biggest X-Factor? Franz Wagner

Wagner’s continued growth will heighten this team’s ceiling. Wagner blossomed as the Robin to Banchero’s batman, but his continued growth as a primary/secondary ballhandler and as an- and off-ball defender will strengthen Orlando’s structure. His growth is almost as important as Banchero’s as the two franchise pillars, which could help vault this team to the postseason.

Season projection?

I predict this team going 39-43 with the 9th-best record in the East.

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