The Orlando Magic have the most hype they've had for a long time.
The team has made positive strides in recent seasons, elevating itself each year closer to championship contention. And now, they have a chance to truly strike and establish themselves as an Eastern Conference juggernaut.
CBS Sports’ Ashley Nicole Moss believes 2026 is the year for the Magic to capitalize.
“I think this is going to obviously be a playoff team,” Moss said on CBS Sports HQ. “I think with how broken the Eastern Conference is, this is a prime position for a lot of these teams that get lost in the mix to really make some noise as an actual playoff contender. I think the Magic were plagued by injury and that’s really what made them suffer last season: the injuries to Paolo [Banchero] and Franz Wagner. I think health permitted, and the addition of Desmond Bane, this is a team to definitely look out for in the East.”
10 Teams Who Can Win NBA Title: No. 9 Orlando Magic Stream of National Basketball Association
10 Teams Who Can Win NBA Title: No. 9 Orlando Magic
The additions of Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones aren't the most flashy or ground-breaking, but they move the needle and address Orlando's needs. The most significant point of concern last season was the backcourt, which contributed to the third-worst scoring attack in the league. The Magic were also dead last in 3-point shooting, hitting at just 31.8 percent from the arc.
They addressed this by adding Bane as a shooting guard, as the veteran averaged 19.2 points last season on 39.2 percent shooting from 3-point range. Jones, as the point guard, brings facilitating and playmaking to set up the Magic's playmakers. If the Magic can just have a middle-of-the-pack offense, it would be a significant upgrade from what they have produced the last few seasons.
With no real headliners in the East, Orlando has been hailed as a top-3 unit in the conference. The offensive additions, paired with a suffocating defense, are projected to compete amongst the league's best for the title.
“I think Desmond Bane was a great acquisition for them, it’s gonna help them with their offense and scoring, both of which they really struggled with last season,” Moss said. “I do still think this is a very young team. I know that narrative has been squashed by the Oklahoma City Thunder after they won the championship, but this magic team is not that OKC team. I think that they are a couple of seasons away from really being in the conversation.”