The Orlando Magic have quite the road ahead of them to success in the Eastern Conference, but if anyone believes in them, it is former Magic guard and NBA Champion Jason Williams.

In a recent episode of Hoopin' n Hollerin', Williams made the bold claim that Orlando will have a better record than the Philadelphia 76ers in the upcoming season. A year ago, this might not have been such an outlandish prediction, but the 76ers have since added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to the roster, and the outlook has changed.

If Williams is correct, what needs to happen for the Magic to enjoy more success than their stacked Eastern Conference rivals?

While Williams believes Orlando will be better than the 76ers, others suggest this could be one of the last chances for the Magic’s core to succeed, specifically as it pertains to Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Therefore, to end up superior to Philadelphia, the Magic need Banchero and Wagner to not only remain healthy but to reach their full potential.

Both Banchero and Wagner are the top weapons Orlando has at its disposal, but they are young and have not yet entered their prime years. When healthy, they can create a lethal tandem, but there have been questions about fit and who benefits when the other is not on the floor.

Recently, I pushed back against the idea that Banchero and Wagner will be broken up if the Magic underachieve in the upcoming season, but to beat and be better than Philadelphia, they have to overcome their limitations as a duo and as individuals.

Simply put, the Magic’s bench was pretty abysmal last season. 

Aside from Anthony Black, the Magic did not get much from their second unit, which put more pressure on the starters and made the team’s shortcomings more evident when there was an injury to a key player. This offseason, the decision to reunite with big man Nikola Vucevic was a good move, but the other ones may leave more to be desired.

However, the responsibility does not fall solely on the reserves. Orlando is also going to need the best version of Wendell Carter Jr. to create a strong one-two punch in the frontcourt with Vucevic. 

Can Jalen Suggs, who does not have the All-Star type of offensive capabilities as Banchero, Wagner, or Desmond Bane, be a dominant defender while being a reliable enough option with the ball in his hands? Finally, will Black continue to show improvement as a sixth man and prove that he is worthy of an extension?

For all their flaws, the kryptonite of the Magic is something they cannot control: health.

In a way, the same argument can be made for Philadelphia. On paper, it has constructed a championship roster, but it won’t mean anything if the best players cannot stay on the floor. 

The biggest concern for the 76ers is the availability of Joel Embiid. But again, they have the depth to handle bumps and bruises; it is a much taller task for the Magic.

Injuries have hampered the organization immensely in recent seasons, and unlike the 76ers, the Magic do not have enough talent to withstand a major injury. For Orlando to be successful, health has to play in its favor.

Overall, Williams’ prediction does not seem realistic at the moment, but who knows what might happen.