Building on the Banchero-Wagner foundation, Orlando may look to fortify its perimeter. A gritty 3-and-D wing could provide the championship-caliber depth needed to sustain a postseason run.
The Orlando Magic slightly improved its roster this offseason with the signing of Nikola Vučević. Sticking with the same core as last season, the Magic will rely on the star duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to lead Orlando to new heights this season.
Last year, the Magic added Jamal Cain midseason, and he took advantage of his opportunities and became a playoff contributor.
While the ideal situation is the Magic don’t need to make a midseason move, if it came to it adding a 3-and-D wing may be the move they need to make.
Full Court Magic Host and Roundtable contributor Don Strouble recently discussed the Magic’s ideal midseason addition, RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic. Here is what he had to say:
On potential mid-season roster adjustments and Exhibit 10 signees:
"3-and-D wings are invaluable in this league; you have to have them on your roster to win titles, and all the best teams have had those guys. The Magic's star power is set, so I don't think that going and getting a guy that can put the ball on the floor and create his own shot is the right answer. I think that they're banking on Anthony Black to be that guy behind the core group of players that they have. It's hard to say right now when I don't envision any more moves coming.
Now, the team did take a flyer on Malaki Branham and JD Davison here in the offseason and signed both of those guys to Exhibit 10 deals, but they're going to have to prove themselves or they're going to get relegated to Osceola and playing for the Osceola Magic. So they're not really needle movers, so to speak. Right now, it's going to probably come down to the trade deadline or the buyout market once again if things are going poorly. Under Sweeney and this new coaching staff, this team could play lights-out basketball the first couple months of the season and they don't have to do anything. But right now it's just too hard to identify; the only thing I can identify is the repeating patterns of Jeff Weltman and how he operates, along with what we know to be on the roster right now in terms of shooters.
Cain is the embodiment of a slow and steady approach. This is a 27-year-old who spent the first four years of his career on two-way contracts before finally getting converted to a standard deal last season.
Cain brings elements that the Magic can use: he's 6'7", sub-200 lbs, so he's tall but not big, yet he plays bigger than his frame and bigger than his position. He is willing to go crash boards and fight for loose balls. That type of athleticism, aggression, and effort is what the Orlando Magic love to see in a player, especially a role player. He can also space the floor—he's a good enough three-point shooter, career 38% and a little bit over that mark.
