The Magic are making a head coaching change this spring, but president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman doesn’t believe significant roster changes are necessary for the team to take the next step toward title contention, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
Although Weltman admitted that losing a first-round series after leading 3-1 – and holding a 24-point lead in Game 6 – was a “gut punch” for his team, he believes that it’s a positive that Orlando was one game from closing out the top-seeded Pistons before Franz Wagner went down with a calf injury.
“When healthy, we were top five (on) defense and top 10 (on) offense,” Weltman said. “… I think we saw some of what we had hoped to see (against Detroit). So I don’t want to tear this thing down and dismantle it because of the way it ended and certainly one half.”
Injuries have been a recurring issue for this version of the Magic. Wagner was limited to 34 regular season appearances this season, largely due to a nagging ankle problem, while Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Jalen Suggs all had extended health-related absences in 2024/25.
“It’s very frustrating,” Weltman said, per Youngmisuk. “But it’s also very encouraging because whenever they are together, they have been elite. I feel like there are different ways to build a team. We are built on physicality, versatility, good defensive personnel and ultimately guys that can elevate their games in the playoffs. I think what we had hoped to happen in the playoffs happened. But obviously it’s hard to outrun injuries.
“… Had we stayed healthy, I’d like to imagine where we would have gone in this series and beyond. I think when you build a team for the playoffs, you try to construct a roster that has the attributes that we have. It’s not easy to get the positional versatility, guys that can elevate their games when it matters the most. The physicality, a lot of the way that we are built is designed to be successful in the playoffs.
Here’s more on the Magic:
- Not everyone around the league shares Weltman’s rosy view of his roster. One Eastern Conference scout who spoke to Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN said the Magic are “kind of a mess,” adding that Banchero and Wagner overlap as “iffy” shooters who need the ball in their hands to be most effective. “Their ceiling just isn’t very high with Paolo. Their roster construction is just off,” the scout said. “Paolo has to have the ball to make an impact. He reminds me of Julius Randle: great size, great talent, but he’s more of a floor-(raiser) than ceiling-raiser. Having him lead your team is tough to pull off.”
- Weltman spoke at length at his end-of-season presser about the Magic’s impending head coaching search, though he said the team isn’t looking for a “particular trait or a quality,” suggesting that he wants to keep an open mind about potential candidates, writes Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (subscription required). Weltman wouldn’t even say whether he prefers someone with or without prior head coaching experience. “I don’t want to kind of come to it with any preconceived non-negotiables,” he explained. “There are some really talented young guys out there that haven’t gotten a chance yet – as (Jamahl Mosley) was. There are also some guys that have proven that they can do the job. What’s the best fit for our team right now? I don’t think you can really know more than speculate until we really like … get in and talk to them and exchange ideas and their thoughts on our team. That’ll hopefully lead us where we need to go; the more preconditions you put on that, maybe you kind of give yourself a worse chance of getting to the right place.”
- Speaking of Mosley, he put out a formal statement on Monday after being let go by the team, referring to his five years on the job as “incredible.” Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link) has the full statement.
- Within his preview of the Magic’s offseason, ESPN’s Bobby Marks says adding more shooting off the bench will be a priority, as will acquiring an athletic, rebounding big man and a play-making reserve guard. Marks also considers whether Orlando will sign Anthony Black to a rookie scale extension and suggests Jonathan Isaac is a potential release candidate, since only $8MM of the $44MM left on his contract is guaranteed and that money could be spread across seven seasons using the stretch provision.
Paolo and Franz don’t work together. Maybe now isn’t the time to move on from one of them. Let Franz get healthy (if he ever can). The Magic should be looking to get off Jalen Suggs’ contract and get some shooting. Add some good depth pieces and reevaluate at the trade deadline.
Ask the Pistons when they were down 1-3 what they think about how Paolo and Franz work together.
Not encouraging, although what else is going to say? In the end, it doesn’t matter what Weltman says, only what he does. Obviously, whether changes are “necessary” isn’t the standard. If this guy has another do nothing off season, and the team’s identity is the same next year, its inconceivable that he’ll keep his job.
You signed Isaac for $44m…..more? Hahahaha
Future buyout candidate perhaps?
It is mind-boggling to think about how much money Isaac has been paid throughout his career considering that he’s virtually never available to actually play. If they can cut him and spread the remaining $8M over seven years, that is literally a no brainer.
So they will continue to be a borderline playoff team that won’t escape the first round. Cool.
Just hire Donovan. Saw something that he was hired in 07 just changed his mind and got cold feet. It’s a no brainer. Problem is I don’t think Suggs/Banchero/Wagner trio works.
The Chicago Bulls’ last four years have had a losing record, Billy Donovan hasn’t accomplished anything yet in the NBA, he isn’t a good fit for Orlando; thanks but not thanks, what is really a “no-brainer” is not to hire Billy Donovan.
I’m ( pretty) sure Bobby is correct but I thought Isacc had a clause where if he hit 52 games it became fully guaranteed
He played exactly 52 this year
No brainer to cut him if Bobby is indeed correct. I’m usually against stretching but I can see he logic in this case if so
The terms of his guarantee were amended in March, right before he got to 52 games. The 52-game trigger was removed and the guarantee decision date was moved up to June: link to hoopsrumors.com
Interesting
Why in he double hockey sticks would Isaac abd his agent agree to that tho ?
My guess is they said they would have cut him at game 51 and the 8 mill wouldn’t transmit ?
Wouldn’t the players association be upset about that or is that normal ? I’d think that can get into sone gray area but don’t know the history enough
Either way score for Orl , I thought he was goma be 14 on the books
Suggs didn’t have a good series. Magic need a better PG. One that can run an offense and manage a game. A closer. Banchero and Wagner shouldn’t be doing that. Don’t know if Black is ready for that that.
I was thinking Jamal Murray would be a fit for Orlando, but I’m not sure Denver would get much out of a trade with them.
Totally agree with you Nick
Agreed, I was thinking a trade with Dallas; Kyrie Irving for Jalen Suggs, this trade can work for both teams. Orlando will get a veteran point guard and Dallas will get a tremendous young defenser player, of course others players will be involved in the trade like Jonathan Isaac, Tristan DaSilva, Goga Bitadze from Orlando and from Dallas maybe Daniel Gadffor or Marshall and to make it a little more easy a third team can be involved as well. I think that Kyrie Irving can take Orlando to the next level.