Why Jeff Weltman's Bet on a Healthy Orlando Magic Team Better Hold Up

Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman has maintained a staunch and consistent defense of the roster when it is healthy.

Weltman hangs his hat on the thought that if the Magic stay healthy, their true potential will be greater than what they have shown. Now, with an expensive roster that limited free agent moves this summer, the Magic's core of Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs better stay healthy, especially in a strengthened Eastern Conference.

In a recent episode of Full Court Magic, I detailed these points while grading out the Magic’s free agency signings of Nikola Vucevic, Jevon Carter and Jonathan Isaac:

"So far, you know, the Magic did not just stand pat. Weltman in the front office did make some moves. I'm a fan of the Vucevic signing. I'm not a fan of the Isaac signing. Jevon Carter falls somewhere in the middle for me. And then, you know, you look at the loss of Moe Wagner. So, not bad so far. Not bad by any means. And we'll see if the Magic continue to make any moves as free agency churns onward in the early days here of July and so on and so forth."

But will this be enough? The Eastern Conference landscape has evolved and gotten stronger. Can the Magic rely on these three players to supplement the likes of their core group? Can a sixth man, such as Anthony Black, stay on the floor and make high-level contributions? 

The addition of Sean Sweeney as Orlando’s new head coach is helpful also, so I do not want to act as if Weltman has not done anything to improve. However, his bet on a healthy team must hold up. 

Next season, the Magic will be running into a Miami Heat squad led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, a Philadelphia 76ers team that just added LeBron James, the Indiana Pacers will be back and healthy to start the season, and others in Orlando’s division, such as the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and the Washington Wizards, have all made moves to become more formidable.

The Magic have the talent, but nothing will be easy about this. There will be a period of acclimation between the roster and Sweeney; there will be high and low points that naturally come with an 82-game season.

What does not change, though, are expectations. The organization is betting on Weltman’s decision making, the ability of Banchero, Bane, Wagner and Suggs to elevate the team, and the Sweeney hiring to work out. The challenge is not going anywhere, and the Magic must be ready.

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