The Orlando Magic have a talented roster, but there is one thing they have not been able to get right.
For the Orlando Magic, 3-point shooting has been a struggle for several years now.
While injuries have been a major hindrance for the Magic, their inability to convert consistently from the perimeter in a league where success is driven by production beyond the arc has also hurt them. Orlando has made some changes to the roster to bring in better shooters — namely Desmond Bane —, but more improvements need to be made.
Perhaps Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs will take a step forward next season as shooters under new head coach Sean Sweeney, but it is not a responsibility that solely falls on the shoulders of the Magic’s best players. To be successful, the whole team will have to demonstrate consistency when taking 3-point shots.
This offseason, Orlando’s front office added Nikola Vucevic, a veteran big who is familiar with the organization and can stretch the floor. Vucevic carries a career 3-point average of 35%, and he shot 36.9% from long range last season.
The Magic also re-signed guard Jevon Carter, who shot well from beyond the arc last season during his time with the Chicago Bulls (41%) but experienced a decline in his production when he came to Orlando (33.6%). Additionally, Orlando brought back Jonathan Isaac, who, at his best, served as a solid 3-and-D option, but injuries and inconsistent play have been his downfall.
So, what must the Magic do to alleviate their perimeter shooting woes? I recently discussed this topic with my colleague RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic. Here is what I had to say:
"I think 3-and-D wings are invaluable in this league. You have to have them on your roster to win titles. All the best teams have had those guys that can do that, and, I mean, the Magic's, you know, star power is set. And 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 those, you know, 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 J.D. Davison; here in the offseason, 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 Kissimmee, you know, and play for the Osceola Magic.
And so, they're not really needle movers, so to speak. So, I would say right now, it's probably going to come down to the trade deadline or the buyout market once again if things are going poorly. Now, this team under Sweeney and under this new coaching staff could play lights-out basketball the first couple of months of the season, and they don't have to do anything.
But I think right now it's just too hard to identify. The only thing that 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."
