Expectations for Orlando will continue to increase as the team looks to improve on last season's success.
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We’re counting down 24 key storylines heading into the 2024-25 NBA season. Our senior analysts will dissect a new topic each day as we help you get ready for opening night on Oct. 22.
Here is storyline No. 11:
The Magic are trajecting upward. What’s the next step?
22. 34. 47.
Three seasons. A 25-game improvement. A seven-game slugfest during the first taste of playoff action.
The Magic have developed alongside coach Jamahl Mosley, who has this youthful squad fully bought in on defense (which is often tricky for up-and-coming teams to do). Now that they’re locked in around Paolo Banchero’s soaring potential, it’s time to make that hardest of jumps into top-4 territory and annual contention.
Everything here banks on the offense rising toward that suffocating defense. Orlando allowed 110.8 points per 100 possessions (No. 3 in the NBA), a full wave of the wand from 18th (113.7) a season prior. The Magic have size up front: Banchero and Franz Wagner are each 6-foot-10 as are the re-upped Wendell Carter Jr. (three years), Moritz Wagner (two years) and Jonathan Isaac (five years).
(Of note: Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager Anthony Parker managed to re-negotiate and extend Isaac into a declining deal to help cushion against the apron.)
In the backcourt, Jalen Suggs finally turned in a full season and his 3-point percentage climbed to 39.7% (from 21.4% as a rookie and 32.7% in 2022-23), solidifying the lead guard’s starring role. Cole Anthony is now firmly established as a bench sparkplug, and 2023 No. 8 pick Anthony Black awaits opportunity, enough so that Markelle Fultz was not re-signed.
Seeking championship experience, the Magic tapped into their cap space and picked up Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as the starting 2-guard. He’s expected to provide switchable D along with the 3-pointes as a career 36.9% shooter (and 40.3% — on 4.3 attempts — for the last five seasons).
Our John Schuhmann recently analyzed how Banchero is key to improving the offense’s unpredictability. A bounce-back campaign from maxed-out Franz Wagner, whose points and efficiency dipped unexpectedly in Year 3, will determine the true ceiling.
The expectations have risen, and another first-round exit will be considered a step back. Even weathering more considered efforts on a nightly basis, there’s no reason the Magic can’t elevate out of the East’s middle to take advantage of injuries or inconsistency at the top, though just looking at the numbers, a third straight double-digit improvement is unlikely … or is it?
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Ben Couch is director, editorial content for NBA.com.
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