The Orlando Magic are in a prime position to compete for the top seed in the Eastern Conference after adding Desmond Bane and Tyus Jones. The young core continues to develop, and Bane brings a dynamic the offense lacked last season: reliable three-point shooting. Orlando ranked last in the league in three-point percentage, a weakness compounded by Jalen Suggs’ injury, which hurt spacing. With stronger perimeter options, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner won’t face as much pressure to force tough shots.
Coach Jamahl Mosley knows better than anyone how much the Magic struggled from the perimeter, and he believes Bane will strengthen the offense. He expects Bane to be a strong fit not only on the court but in the locker room as well.
“Well, the biggest piece that everyone's talked about is their ability to shoot the basketball,” Mosley said during Magic Media Day. “The space in which they provide on the floor, I think, is tremendous. Then the other side of that, though, is their leadership, their experience, what they've done in this league, who they've been for each team that they've been on. I think that provides such great mentorship for our young guys, and also a mindset of guys who have done it throughout this league, and they can share that experience in the locker room.”
Bane is not only a career 40% three-point shooter but also one of the league’s top perimeter defenders. His physical mentality fits seamlessly with Mosley’s hard-nosed system. As a veteran leader on both ends of the floor, he gives the Magic a poised presence in big moments.
“We talked a lot this summer of our ability to convert,” Mosley added. “You have the number two defense in the NBA. You hang your head on the defensive end, and our ability to get out and transition was high. Our ability to convert is where we have to improve. And so being able to hang our hat on the defensive end still, but get out and push the pace faster and transition after you get those stops, after you get those steals, after you make those turnovers, we've got to make sure we finish on the other end. And that's what you know, Desmond and Tyus have done. They did that in Memphis. When they pushed the pace, they were a fast-paced team, so they understand how we need to run and how we need to get out in the open court.”
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