ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic concluded their preseason slate with a 136-115 win over the Miami Heat on Friday, and there is a lot to know about their final preseason contest:

If there is anything Magic fans are hoping for most this season, it is for their best players to stay healthy. 

Unfortunately, bumps and bruises are taking over before the season even gets underway, and forward Franz Wagner had to leave Friday's contest early due to right shoulder soreness. 

Wagner was grabbing his shoulder after a 3-point attempt and displayed discomfort despite no contact being made. Wagner is coming off a brutal 2025-26 campaign in which he was limited to 34 regular-season games. 

For the Magic to be at their best, Wagner is going to have to stay healthy, and hopefully whatever is ailing his shoulder is not serious.

As the Magic gear up for the season, the presence of guard Anthony Black continues to be missed. To make matters worse, forward Noah Penda also exited the game early with right hamstring tightness.

Both Penda and Black were initially unable to participate in training camp due to Black suffering a minor ankle sprain during voluntary team workouts and Penda tweaking his hamstring. Black was unable to participate in preseason, and the fact that Penda’s hamstring continues to cause problems for him is a point of concern.

The concern surrounding Black is not limited to his ankle injury, either, as he is at an impasse with the organization over his rookie contract extension. 

Recently, Blacks’ draft classmate and Golden State Warriors guard, Brandin Podziemski, received a five-year, $110 million deal. Black and Podziemski share an agent, and both are of a similar caliber, which further complicates things, as a report from Brian Windhorst illustrates that the Magic are reluctant to pay Black the same amount of money. 

Last season was a breakout year for Black as he averaged 15 points in a sixth man role, and Penda also showed promise as a rookie with his size and basketball acumen gained during his time playing in Europe, and Orlando could use their services sooner rather than later.

Moreover, guard Jase Richardson joined Penda and Wagner in leaving the game early. The team reported that Richardson was dealing with lower back soreness.

Sure, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are the two big stars on the Magic's roster, but Desmond Bane is not far behind, and his presence will be the difference-maker this season. 

Bane put together a dominant performance against the Heat and was largely responsible for why the Magic routed them. He scored 23 points and hit 7 of his 12 three-point attempts. 

Banchero was the high man again with 24 points, but Bane is showing once again that he can be a second or third scoring option, which is incredibly important.