There is a lot of curiosity surrounding the 2026-27 Orlando Magic.
With the final days of September getting closer, that means it is almost time for media days to take place across the NBA.
Soon, the Orlando Magic will fill the AdventHealth Training Center to discuss the season ahead, and there will be several burning questions after a summer full of change and preparation for the upcoming season. Let’s discuss a couple of these questions:
What has Sean Sweeney’s preparation looked like?
The biggest change the Magic underwent this offseason was at their head coaching position.
Just weeks after firing coach Jamahl Mosley following a 3-1 collapse against the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and the Magic’s front office decided that Sweeney was the right guy for the job.
Sweeney enters his role as a rookie, just like Mosley did, but his demeanor and coaching philosophy will be beneficial for this young team, and they are already adhering to his goals. Recently, I talked about my greatest point of confidence ahead of media day with my colleague RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic, and I highlighted how bought-in this roster is to Sweeney already.
I do not expect Sweeney to reveal his playbook, but I am interested in seeing how this summer has gone for him, with months to get to know his players, get involved with Summer League and more. What does he identify as the team's greatest strengths? What about the weaknesses that need to be addressed? These elements will be important heading into the season.
Franz Wagner’s health
Last season was another tough year for the Magic in terms of health, but the injury bug hit no one harder than Franz Wagner.
Wagner suffered a high ankle sprain against the New York Knicks on Dec. 7, and he was not the same after that. After coming back in January for a pair of games in Europe, Wagner was sidelined again.
By the end of the regular season, the 25-year-old had only appeared in 34 games due to his ankle and the ailments that followed. When it came time for the NBA Play-In Tournament and the playoffs, Wagner seemed good to go and played well.
However, a calf strain suffered in Game 4 against Detroit cut his series short and impacted the Magic greatly. Now, it is time for Wagner to bounce back.
Wagner made the choice not to play for Germany this summer, a decision that was certainly beneficial for his recovery. The Magic need the best version of Wagner, and it will be worth knowing if a full summer away from live game action helped him get back to 100%.
