2024-25 NBA Season Previews: Orlando Magic

2024-25 NBA Season Previews: Orlando Magic

With hours until the NBA season gets started for all but a few teams, it is time to take a look at the Orlando Magic ahead of their opening night game against their Floridian rival.  

What happened last year?

After three consecutive seasons at the bottom of the East, the Orlando Magic made a huge jump last season. They finished with a record of 47-35 while winning their first Southeast Division title since the 2018-19 NBA season. Their record was also good enough for the fifth seed. However, they did not go much further. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the series went to game seven but the Magic fell 106-94 despite Paolo Banchero scoring 38 points. 

Offseason Recap

The biggest move for the Orlando Magic amidst a quiet offseason was going out and signing two-time NBA Champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The experience that KCP has should help immensely with a young team. Outside of that signing, the Magic drafted Tristan da Silva from Colorado and gave Franz Wagner a five-year max extension worth $224m. Jalen Suggs was also given a five-year extension just days ago for $150.5m. 

Projected Starting 5

PG: Jalen Suggs – After missing 63 games over his first two seasons, Suggs took a leap last year playing 75 games. His offensive game improved but it was his defense that continues to make him an important player. Finishing with 1.4 steals per game and making it a hard matchup for any opposing guard, Suggs was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. With scoring not a worry in Orlando, watch for him to have another lockdown season at the other end of the court.

SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – Caldwell-Pope spent the last two years playing for the Denver Nuggets and was a key part of their success. He is a knockdown three-point shooter who shot 40.6% from behind the arc last season. He will also fit great alongside Suggs on the defensive end. Arguably the best defender on the Nuggets, Caldwell-Pope was tasked with guarding the opponent’s top players.

SF: Franz Wagner – The younger Wagner brother had a career year in 2023-24. Franz finished with career highs in points (19.7), rebounds (5.3), assists (3.7), and steals (1.1). It will be interesting to see how his performance during the 2024-25 NBA season will be now that he has signed a max contract extension. 

PF: Paolo Banchero – There is not much that Banchero cannot do. He led the Magic in points (22.5) and assists (5.4) while tying Wendell Carter Jr in rebounds (6.9) last season. What was more impressive was that he turned it up another level in the playoffs averaging 27ppg and 8.6reb in the Cavs series. Look for him to once again be the leader of this Magic team.

C: Wendell Carter Jr. – Carter Jr’s shooting game has improved since joining Orlando in 2021. He shot 52.5% from the field the last three seasons while his three-point percentage went up from 24.1% to a career-best 37.4% last year. On the other hand, his rebounding numbers have dropped in part due to the size of Banchero and Franz Wagner at the forward positions. 

Notable Reserves

G: Cole Anthony – The fourth season of Anthony’s career saw him embrace his new role as the sixth man. He played 81 games and led the bench unit with 11.6ppg to go with just under 3ast. While his minutes have dropped year by year he still can be what the Magic need off the bench.

G: Anthony Black – Heading into his sophomore season, Black will have eyes on him to make that next step. He started in 33 of 69 games last year but managed only 16.9 minutes per game. Maybe this will be his breakout year? With a veteran guard in Caldwell-Pope mentoring him, the 2024-25 NBA season is a big one for the 20-year-old.

C: Moritz Wagner – This Wagner brother has finally found a home in Orlando after bouncing around three teams during the 2020-21 season. Moritz Wagner has also found his offensive touch off the bench shooting a career-best 60.1% from the field last season. Expect him to continue being the first option off the bench when one of the big men needs a rest. 

Biggest X-Factor: Will the offense improve?

Defensively the Orlando Magic were as good as they come. Last season they ranked fourth in points against in the NBA allowing 108.4 points per game. The other end of the court was a completely different story. The Magic ranked 24th in the league in points scored with 110.5 per game. The addition of a sharpshooter in Caldwell-Pope should help with this. But I am looking for Banchero to improve on his team-leading 22.5ppg and solidify him as an elite offensive threat. If the offense does not step up then it could be another first-round exit for Orlando.

Season Projection

The Orlando Magic had a good record last year and I could see them improving on it this year. My prediction is another division title and a record of 49-33. If they can finish as a top-four seed and win a playoff series this season will be a success. 

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