The Orlando Magic have been a very exciting basketball team this year, and none of that excitement lies in their record, as the Magic are currently winless.
Aside from the race to the bottom for Victor Webanyama, there are some serious flashes on the court for the Magic so far. That starts with number one overall selection Paolo Banchero, who has shown that he has the ability to be everything Orlando wanted him to be.
#1 For A Reason
Banchero has averaged 24 points, eight rebounds and three assists so far this year. But Paolo has shined on the other end of the floor as well, averaging a steal and a block and a half per game. Although his effort defensively has not always been consistent, he’s shown the ability to be an elite perimeter defender in spots so early. Paolo already has the NBA body (6’10, 250), so he can bang and be physical with many of the NBA’s stronger players. His inside game is already at an elite level on offense, as he can score with short jumpers, floaters, and has a solid spin as well. The biggest hole in his game right now, as many expected, is the long range jumper. Banchero has only hit 28% of his attempts from deep so far. Once Banchero’s inside-outside game fully develops, he will be so difficult to stop.
Supporting Cast So Far
Franz Wagner has continued to become one of the most well-rounded young players in the NBA, and is still considered one of the analytics nerds’ (like me!) favorite players. He can guard the other team’s best player, hit the spot up shot efficiently, as well as create shots for his teammates. The Paolo/Wagner pick and roll is so fun to watch and will be a fixture for years to come.
Wendell Carter Jr. is projecting to be an above average athletic average center for the rest of his career, but “there is only one ball” and Carter has some solid hustle and rebounding moments for the Magic, and those are appreciated, but he still has yet to fulfill the expectations of a #7 overall pick.
Cole Anthony and Terrence Ross fit into the same bucket for me, as they are both streaky scorers who can’t do much else for you on the court. Both are “Great 6th Men”, if you will. When these guys are hot, watch out, but they are not exactly quality starters going forward. Cole Anthony still has a chance to ascend as a player, but he is fitting snugly so far this season.
The Bol Bol Experiment
I have always been a Bol Bol believer. Ever since this he shot silky turnaround threes at Oregon, I’ve been intrigued by his shot blocking, handles, and streaky jumper, but a team has never really given him a shot as more than a gadget guy (apart from a few games in Denver).
Bol was plagued by rookie mistakes and injuries until this year with the Magic; he has gotten his chance to shine, averaging a career-high 9.8 PPG and 5.8 RPG. Unfortunately, you can only really have one slow footed, inexperienced seven footer on the floor at a time, so young Texas product Mo Bamba has been phased out of the rotation through five games. Bol is perfect for this team, as he is really a flier, and if he loses the team games, well, that’s really the best case scenario anyway.
Thoughts for the Rest of the Way
The amount of touches in critical game situations that Wagner and Banchero have been able to get will be huge for the remainder of their careers, and the best thing the Magic can do is to continue to give these young stars opportunities.
As far as the rest of the roster, there is some sifting to be done. Mo Bamba, R.J. Hampton, Bol Bol, and some of the other young players need to continue to show that they are worthy of an NBA contract, because Orlando might be the easiest place to get minutes in the league.
Or could one of these pieces become valuable through a trade? I wouldn’t be surprised to see a team like the Lakers, Suns, or 76ers go after Terrence Ross or Wendell Carter Jr. if they continue to struggle.
Continuing to lose games and build for the future is a spot that the Magic find themselves in, and fans must embrace the young talent with the tough losses.