DETROIT, MI- With the 2022 NBA Offseason and Preseason officially over, it’s time for the 2022-2023 NBA Regular Season to begin. For context, the NBA season will tip off on Tuesday, October 18, as the Philadelphia 76ers travel to Boston to face the Celtics while the Los Angeles Lakers will match up with the reigning 2021-2022 NBA champion Golden State Warriors. From there, the remaining 26 teams will make the season debuts on October 19th and 20th, beginning the 82-game long season that will conclude on April 9th.
Although the Detroit Pistons (23-59) and the Orlando Magic (22-60) finished in 14th and 15th place in the Eastern Conference last season, respectively, both teams underwent massive changes to their roster, in hopes to return to the top of the Eastern Conference. These are the top storylines to watch for in the season-opening matchup between Orlando and Detroit.
2021-2022 Rookie Standouts Cade Cunningham and Franz Wagner Begin Sophomore Seasons
There’s no doubt that the 2021 NBA Draft class was one of the deepest draft classes in recent memory. From collegiate stars in Gonzaga’s Jalen Suggs, Florida State’s Scottie Barnes, and Southern California’s Evan Mobley to G-League Ignite standouts Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga, plenty of NBA teams were able to add a young and skilled player to their roster. In reference to this, it appears that Detroit and Orlando may have the best rookies from the 2021 NBA Draft in Cade Cunningham and Franz Wagner. Although Cunningham and Wagner were beaten by Barnes for the 2021 Rookie of the Year Award, Cunningham and Wagner showcased their all-around skillsets on both sides of the floor.
As the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, expectations were sky-high for Cunningham’s rookie season. Unfortunately, his season didn’t begin as planned, as the 6’8″, 220-pound combo guard twisted his ankle, causing him to miss the majority of the preseason and the first five games of the season. After returning to the court, Cunningham shot 7-39 (17.9%) from the field in his first three games, marking the worst field goal percentage for a player with at least 30 attempts since the NBA/ABA merger in 1976. In spite of this, Cunningham quickly rebounded, finishing the 2021-2022 season averaging 17.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 5.6 APG while shooting 41.6% from the field, 31.4% from three-point range, and 84.5% from the free throw line in 64 starts.
Despite being drafted by the Magic at No. 8 after selecting Suggs at No. 5, Wagner proved to be the more effective rookie behind his stellar season. In 79 starts in Orlando, Wagner averaged 15.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.9 APG, and 0.9 SPG while shooting 46.8% from the field, 35.4% from three-point range, and 86.3% from the free-throw line. In addition to this, Wagner had multiple record-breaking games, as he became the sixth rookie in Orlando’s history to have a 25-point, five-rebound, and five-assist game. Just one month later, Wagner rewrote the history books yet again, joining Dennis Scott (1990) and Shaquille O’Neal (1993) as the only other rookies in Orlando Magic franchise history to score 38 points in a game. Due to their sensational rookie seasons, Cunningham and Wagner were named to the NBA’s 2021-2022 All-Rookie First Team, alongside Barnes, Mobley, and Green. Both Cunningham and Wagner will look to build on their great rookie seasons during the 2022-2023 season.
How Orlando’s Jalen Suggs Will Respond After Disappointing 2021-2022 Season
Despite being the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Suggs struggled due to numerous injuries suffered. Before the 2021-2022 regular season began, Suggs suffered a sprained thumb in the preseason, sidelining him for the final two preseason games. Soon after, Suggs dealt with multiple ankle injuries that limited him to 48 games. While Suggs averaged a modest-stat line of 11.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.2 SPG, his shooting numbers were downright atrocious. For context, Suggs shot 36.1% from the field and 21.4% from three-point range, both ranking among the worst of any 2021-2022 rookie. Although Suggs is a gifted passer and facilitator, he also struggled with committing fouls and turnovers, averaging 3.0 FPG and 3.0 TPG. While Suggs still has time to turn around the trajectory of his career, the Magic may decide that he is expendable due to a crowded backcourt in Orlando.
Paolo Banchero Makes Highly-Anticipated NBA Regular Season Debut
After winning the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft Lottery for the first time since 2004, the Magic faced the difficult question of which draft prospect to add. With the ability to choose between Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren, Auburn’s Jabari Smith, or Duke’s Banchero, the Magic opted for Banchero, who possesses one of the most balanced skill sets in this year’s draft class. Standing at 6’10” and 250 pounds, Banchero impacted the game in a multitude of ways at Duke, averaging 17.1 PPG (Sixth in ACC), 7.8 RPG (Fifth in ACC), 3.2 APG (16th in ACC), 1.1 SPG, and 0.9 BPG (13th in ACC) in 39 collegiate games. In addition to this, Banchero was also very efficient from the perimeter, as he shot 47.8% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range.
In reference to this, there were concerns regarding Banchero’s offensive skillset and if it could translate to the NBA against tougher competition. Based on Banchero’s NBA Summer League Debut, however, it appears that this won’t be the case. In Orlando’s first two Summer League Games, Banchero averaged a team-high 20.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 6.0 APG, and 2.5 SPG while shooting 40.7% from the field, 50.0% from three-point range, and 80.0% from the free-throw line. In Orlando’s first two Summer League Games, it was Banchero would led the Magic to impressive wins over Houston (91-77) and Sacramento (94-92, 2OT). Due to his immense talent and potential, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Orlando’s offense take massive strides after a lackluster 2021-2022 season (29th in PPG, 28th in FG%).
Will Jonathan Isaac Return and Remain on the Court for Orlando?
Just six seasons ago, Isaac appeared to be one of the top-draft prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft due to his uncanny athleticism and two-way play at Florida State University. Since being drafted No. 6 overall by Orlando, however, Isaac’s NBA career hasn’t gone to plan. When Isaac has been healthy, he’s been a difference maker for Orlando on both sides of the court. In 136 career games from 2017-2020, Isaac averaged 25.8 MPG, 11.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.1 BPG while shooting 43.5% from the field and 33.0% from three-point range. The issue with Isaac is his extensive injury history. After tearing his ACL and Meniscus on August 8th, 2020, in the NBA Bubble, Isaac has missed the past two NBA Seasons, while still making $40 million from his four-year, $80 contract extension with the Magic.
While it is smart to ease Isaac back into NBA action, the Magic’s front office may start to become impatient with Isaac’s lack of progression. It’s worth noting that Markelle Fultz tore his ACL in January of 2021, but returned to the court just 14 months later, leading Orlando to a 119-103 win over Indiana. With the aforementioned addition of Banchero, along with the constant growth of Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., and Mo Bamba, Isaac could become replaceable in Orlando, as shown by the numerous trade rumors this past offseason.
How Detroit’s Revamped Roster Plays in a Stacked Eastern Conference
After finishing the 2021-2022 NBA Season with a 23-59 record and 14th in the Eastern Conference, Pistons’ General Manager Troy Weaver and Head Coach Dwane Casey knew that Detroit’s roster needed to be upgraded. With the 2022 NBA offseason officially over, it’s safe to say that Weaver and Casey took major steps in upgrading Detroit’s roster. Beginning with the 2022 NBA Draft, Detroit was able to draft Purdue’s Jaden Ivey with the No. 5 pick and acquire Memphis’ Jalen Duren via a trade with the New York Knicks. Although Ivey and Duren weren’t too impressive in Summer League, both players hold tremendous talent and upside for the future.
Soon after, Detroit decided to resign Marvin Bagley III to a three-year, $37 million contract on June 30th. Once Bagley III was traded by Sacramento, he was impressive in Detroit, averaging 27.2 MPG, 14.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 1.1 APG in 18 games with the Pistons. Following the resigning of Bagley III, Detroit made another trade with New York, acquiring Alec Burks (11.7 PPG, 39.1% FG) and Nerlens Noel (3.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.2 BPG) to add depth to their rotation. To conclude their eventful offseason, Detroit managed to trade Saben Lee and Kelly Olynyk to Utah in exchange for sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic (18.1 PPG, 45.5% FG, 39.6% 3’s) on September 22nd. From all of Detroit’s offseason moves, the Pistons have created an intriguing roster alongside 2021 No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey, and Isiah Stewart.
Game Information for Orlando vs Detroit
Game Infomation
- Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan (Capacity of 20,322)
Date: Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 - Tip-Off Time: 6:00 P.M. ET
- TV: Bally Sports Network (BSN)
- Game Spread: -4 Detroit
- Point Total Over/Under: 218
- Orlando vs Detroit in 2021-2022: In four meetings between Orlando and Detroit last season, the Pistons were victorious in three of the games, winning by an average margin of eight points per game.
Orlando Magic’s Depth Chart and Projected Lineup for 2022-2023 NBA Season
Guards: Cole Anthony, Devin Cannady, Markelle Fultz, R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Jalen Suggs.
Forwards (Wings): Caleb Houstan, Jonathan Isaac, Chuma Okeke, Terrence Ross, Franz Wagner.
Forwards (Big Men): Mo Bamba, Paolo Banchero, Bol Bol, Wendell Carter Jr., Mortiz Wagner.
Projected Opening Night Starting Lineup: Anthony, Suggs, F. Wagner, Banchero, and Carter Jr.
Projected Opening Night Bench Unit: Hampton, T. Ross, Houstan, Okeke, and Bamba.
Detroit Piston’s Depth Chart and Projected Lineup for 2022-2023 NBA Season
Guards: Alec Burks, Buddy Boeheim, Cade Cunningham, Hamidou Diallo, Killian Hayes, Jaden Ivey, Cory Joseph, Rodney McGruder.
Forwards (Wings): Saddiq Bey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Braxton Key, Kevin Knox II, Isaiah Livers.
Forwards (Big Men): Marvin Bagley III, Jalen Duren, Nerlens Noel, Isiah Stewart.
Projected Opening Night Starting Lineup: Cunningham, Ivey, Bey, Bogdanovic, and Stewart.
Projected Opening Night Bench Unit: Hayes, Burks, Diallo, Bagley III, and Duren.