There are things to be excited about, things to wonder about, and things to be concerned about as it pertains to the Orlando Magic in 2026-27.
The 2026-27 NBA season is almost in effect, and the Orlando Magic have the chance to put the potential of their roster into practice.
The Magic are a young team that has been talked about highly, but it has always come with an asterisk. Whether it has to do with injuries or offensive woes, there has always been some reason why this group cannot truly contend just yet.
So, will this be the season things change? There is still some time left until we find out. Until then, let’s identify what to be optimistic about, skeptical about and pessimistic about regarding this team:
What to be optimistic about: Sean Sweeney's coaching
The Magic have a promising, young head coach in Sean Sweeney, and while this will be the first time he is in this position, he has what it takes to be successful.
A change of leadership alone is enough for Orlando to spark some newfound motivation, but Sweeney offers more than that. By hiring him, the Magic get a seasoned and successful coach who has done it at a high level as an assistant for years.
This rookie should not be overlooked, and he can make a real difference.
What to be skeptical about: Paolo Banchero’s superstardom
I almost grouped this in the category that deserves optimism, because there are reasons to be excited about Banchero going into his fifth season.
We have seen flashes of greatness from Banchero. Even when he was not the best version of himself last season, he demonstrated what he was capable of, especially in big moments in the playoffs.
Banchero, however, has not consistently produced greatness. There is a clear indication of what his potential is, but to say he is one of the top players in the NBA right now feels disingenuous.
The good news for Banchero is he recognized his shortcomings last year, and he has clear goals that he worked hard over the summer to achieve. He has the right tools and the right mindset, and now it is time to put it together on a night-to-night basis to make his mark in the upper echelon of NBA stars.
What to be pessimistic about: shooting
Unfortunately, the Magic are a bad 3-point shooting team, and they did not do much to address that during the offseason.
The addition of Nikola Vucevic and the re-signing of Jevon Carter and Jonathan Isaac fall right inside the level of expectation for the types of moves a Jeff Weltman-led front office will make, especially when it is handicapped by first apron tax restrictions.
Still, it felt like a veteran who could play on the perimeter was out there for Orlando despite its limited financial flexibility. Now, unless a player like Malaki Branham, JD Davison, or Kevin Knox II put together awe-inspiring performances on their prove-it Exhibit 10 contracts to become a rotational player that can knock down 3-pointers, then the Magic really do not have another answer heading into the season.
