The former Horned Frog insists chemistry, not talent, will define Orlando's success as the roster adapts to a new coaching system and pursues an Eastern Conference breakthrough.
Desmond Bane believes the Orlando Magic have everything they need to take a significant step forward in the Eastern Conference.
The former TCU star does not think talent is what is holding the team back.
Instead, Bane believes Orlando's success will come down to something much less tangible: getting everyone on the same page.
"I think talent is not a problem for us," Bane told Front Office Sports.
"I think we have a good collection of players. It's about coming together and collective buy-in to whatever it is coach [Sean] Sweeney wants from us. That's the ultimate key."
That message could be particularly important for a Magic team entering a pivotal season.
Orlando finished eighth in the Eastern Conference last season and ultimately fell to the Detroit Pistons in a seven-game first-round series.
However, the Magic showed what they could be when healthy, taking a 3-1 series lead before Franz Wagner's injury became a major turning point.
The roster still features a promising young core led by Paolo Banchero and Wagner, with Bane providing another proven offensive option.
Orlando also advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup last season after picking up victories against teams such as Detroit, Boston, and Philadelphia.
Now, the Magic are hoping a new coaching staff can help bring everything together.
Sean Sweeney takes over as Orlando's head coach, giving the team a fresh voice and a new system to learn.
Bane has already gotten an opportunity to build a relationship with Sweeney, who visited him at his home in Texas during the offseason.
For Bane, that type of commitment matters.
"I think just little things like him coming all the way out here shows his commitment, his care factor, how much he is willing to put into this thing," Bane said.
"I'm super excited. I think he is going to help us in a major way."
Bane also believes the current NBA provides opportunities for teams outside the traditional contenders to make surprising runs.
With the league featuring significant parity, he sees no reason Orlando cannot be one of those teams.
"There are 10 or 11 teams in the East that feel like they can make a run. And we're one of them," Bane said.
For the former Horned Frog, the path forward is clear.
Orlando does not need to find more talent. It needs to maximize the talent already on the roster, buy into Sweeney's vision, and stay together when adversity strikes.
If the Magic can accomplish that, Bane believes their ceiling could be much higher than last season's eighth-place finish.
