After finishing with a losing record for four straight seasons, the Magic went 47-35 and made the playoffs a year ago, eventually losing a tight seven-game series against Cleveland.
Entering 2024/25, Orlando added veteran wing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, but long-term injuries to key players — including Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner and Jalen Suggs — played a significant role in the team’s middling 41-41 record. The Magic advanced as the No. 7 seed via the play-in tournament, but once again lost in the first round, this time in five games to the defending champion Celtics.
As Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel writes, the Magic finished with the second-best defensive rating in the NBA during the regular season, but had the fourth-worst offense, including the worst three-point percentage. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman says Orlando is ready to transition to a “win-now” phase entering ’25/26.
“What we need is proven shot-making, proven offensive play, someone that’s going to come in and help augment our weakness,” Weltman said. “Clearly, we need to get better offensively. Clearly, we need to shoot the ball better. Those are the goals and that’s the lens we need to look at as we enter the offseason.
“I don’t think anything’s off the table. Veteran help, proven offensive help is what we’re going to be looking for.”
Most of the Magic’s roster is under contract for next season, Beede observes, and the team won’t have the cap room necessary to be a major player in what’s viewed as a relatively weak free-agent class. That means the front office will have to make trades to add the types of players it’s looking for, which Weltman acknowledged.
“Most of our roster upgrades are going to have to come more through swapping than just adding,” Weltman said. “The reason we’ve been a good team the last couple of years — and I do believe we are a good team — is because we’ve got an elite defensive backbone.
“And as we look to improve our offense, we have to be very cognizant of not unraveling the DNA of our team. That’s what we have to balance this summer.”
Here’s more on the Magic:
- In addition to his end-of-season media session, Weltman also discussed the Magic’s season, the inactive trade deadline, and the team’s offseason plan on Mike Bianchi’s “Open Mike” radio show.
- Following the first-round elimination, Banchero reflected on how his season played out, according to Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. “Kind of how I evaluated the team’s season, it was a little disappointing for me and my season,” Banchero said. “Just going down with the injury and then coming back and having to work my way into shape and battle through those times. But I was happy with how I was able to kind of respond and finish strong. I didn’t let some of those early tough times discourage me. I kept going and, like the team, I wanted to finish strong, and do whatever I could to help us get to the postseason. We were able to do that.”
- Banchero, a former No. 1 overall pick and All-Star, will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer. He made it clear he’s ready to sign a long-term deal with Orlando, Beede adds in the same story. “I love it here,” Banchero said about Orlando. “… It’s a place that I love spending time, my family loves spending time here, and I couldn’t be more happy to be a part of the Orlando Magic. I look forward to spending a lot more years here.”
- While Franz Wagner isn’t sure whether or not he’ll suit up for Germany at this summer’s EuroBasket, center Goga Bitadze says he’s definitely going to represent his home country of Georgia at the tournament, per Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. “I take that very seriously,” Bitadze said. “I’m going to prepare for that and got to stay in shape all summer. Hopefully, we win a lot of games with the national team.”
Goodbye Franz.., been nice to know you.
Don’t laugh at this and call me names.., but Franz Wagner for Brandin Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga ?
Does Podski move the needle enough for the magic back court and be counted as a major acquisition to help them moving forward?
I don’t know but he has been pretty good once Jimmy came on board. That three-point shot came alive and I really like him as a player.
Throw in JK, freshly signed and ready to go? As I said, don’t laugh at me and call me names on this one.
Warriors benefit goes without saying of course. The only caveat is Steve Kerr would play Wagner at center lol
Magic says no.
Franz isn’t being traded unless it’s for some like Giannis
Well, he is 6’10” and about what 220? So he’d be playing often at center ;)
Let it go. The Warriors messed up not trading Kuminga and Moody years ago.
Now they are nothing more than inconsistent bench players.
Yeah Warriors fans need to buckle up and expect a long slow decline to continue. They aren’t the Lakers. They can’t expect stars to just show up at their door when they need it. They’re still somewhat competitive because of one man, who is getting old, and they don’t have much trade ammo. Kuminga has no value and Podz has a bit, but 10 teams beat that offer if Wagner’s available.
@Gary – I’d never laugh at a post of yours, and certainly wouldn’t call you any names other than the one you use. But the fact that you think some here might, indicates you’re skeptical of your own proposal.
IMO, ORL should (and soon) consider trading Wagner, despite his being an elite talent, because IMO his “highest and best” is playing the hybird scorer/facilitator role that Banchero plays. While it could never hurt to have two such guys, neither is enough of a pereimeter shooter to maximize the other when sharing the role. But teams really don’t make trades like that these days. Elite talents stay put as youngins. FO’s are too sacared to make a mistake.
If Wagner were traded (at least if I were trading him), the “must have” would be a big 2 way wing that is a plus perimeter shooter (the lack of the latter skill is essentially the only reason I’d be trading him). If you could combine the two GSW players into a single player, that would be the profile of the guy I would want. But I wouldn’t put much value on either one alone, or a package of the two.
Likely won’t make a big trade, they are afraid to.
Suggs should make a Jump. Black, Howard and Anthony 2. Gary Trent would be a good signing for some shooting.
Please take LaVine and/or DeRozan off the Kings hands…please!
Just stay healthy and stand pat unless a major move becomes available. Plenty of room for improvement from within. You can’t have KCP talking you’re with us, only to go 3 from your next 30 odd. A legit bench scorer would great and or try sign a Myles Turner type when the time comes.
Johnathan Issacs, Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, and the 16th overall pick for Zach LaVine
Suggs LaVine F. Wagner Paolo Carter Jr
Blacks KCP da Silva M. Wagner Goga
Magic still has Houstan and still have a pick in the draft at 25.
LaVine gives them a 25 points per game level scorer who is excellent from 3 (39% career and 44% last year) and excellent from the field (47% career and 50% last year).
Yes he’s a poor defender but last year you were one of the leagues best defences. You keep your two other stars, you keep Suggs, and you keep your depth.
Sacramento, you get Isaac’s who provides good forward depth cause you have none. You get Cole Anthony who can compete with Devin Carter as your new point guard and is more than happy to play impact sixth man. Malik Monk gets starting SG again. Jett Howard provides a good shooter but very much so a project. Plus you get a pick in this years draft after giving your away to the Hawks already. Should you chose to go through a rebuild then atleast you’ve added moveable contracts, gotten younger and got a pick in the draft and if your trying to stay competitive then you’ve added depth and gotten younger
Win win