It’s hard to overstate the major changes the Orlando Magic made this offseason. After finishing last in the league in assists and 3-point shooting, president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, knew a major move was needed to keep the team in contention as Paolo Banchero enters a contract year. That led to the acquisitions of Desmond Bane, Tyus Jones, Jase Richardson and even assistant coach God Shammgod.
The moves signal the Magic are going all-in while still preserving future flexibility with their young core. With injuries reshaping the Eastern Conference, they are expected to take a major leap forward and even enter the championship conversation.
Bleacher Report recently predicted the Magic would be one of the league’s most improved teams next season, citing their defensive efficiency and new offensive additions.
“If the Orlando Magic don't smash last year's total of 41 wins,” the article wrote. “Something will have gone terribly wrong. From inevitable improvement by potential fringe MVP candidate Paolo Banchero, to the massive offensive additions of Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones, to the return from injury by starting point guard Jalen Suggs, everything about Orlando screams a leap is coming. Note, too, that Banchero lost nearly half of last year to injury. Franz Wagner was playing like an All-NBA first-teamer until he also went down with an oblique strain early in the year. Those two combined to appear in just 106 games, only 40 of which featured both together.”
The most important factor in the Magic’s improvement is the continued growth of Banchero, who has only gotten better since his rookie season and is already mentioned as an early MVP candidate. Coming off a career-high average of 25.9 points, he now has an improved three-point shooting cast around him. That should ease his need to shoulder the offensive load and force tough shots, allowing him to create easier looks by kicking out to open teammates in the corners.
“The Magic's defense is a true "set it and forget it" known commodity,” the article added. “If head coach Jamal Mosley has settled one thing, it's that he can coax maximum effort out of his teams on D. And Orlando has the personnel, led by Suggs and super-sub Jonathan Isaac, to channel all the effort into supreme stopping power. The Magic finished second in defensive efficiency in each of the last two years and would stun the NBA if they landed outside the top five in 2025-26. Teams that are truly elite on one end and average on the other tend to win at least 50 games and are sometimes much better than that.”
Magic Rookie Jase Richardson Could Be Championship X-Factor For One Key Reason