ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s almost showtime for the Orlando Magic, and the oddsmakers are high on the franchise that calls the Kia Center home.
As the countdown to Wednesday’s season opener continues, the Magic are predicted to finish with more than 50 victories, top three in the Eastern Conference, and to contend for the NBA Championship.
Not only are oddsmakers thinking big things about the Orlando Magic, the Orlando Magic are, too. The players have not shied away from setting the Larry O’Brien Trophy as the goal this season.
Let’s look at the reasons why:
Momentum & Continuity: The Magic are still one of the youngest teams in the NBA, but what they lack in years they make up for in experience.
They’re coming off back-to-back trips to the playoffs and have a strong understanding of what it takes to win postseason games.
The core of the team, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr., enter their fourth season of playing together under head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Chemistry, trust and an understanding of each other’s games and how to effectively play together are a given. The Magic went 4 & 0 in their preseason game not by accident.
Paolo & Franz: Locked into long-term and lucrative contracts, the franchise’s two cornerstone players have shown leadership ability beyond their ages.
A healthy Banchero and Wagner are poised to have career years.
Banchero has emerged as one of the top-20 players in the world, averaging almost 26 points per game last season.
An oblique tear forced him to miss significant time last season, but he returned to form in the spring. He said last year’s injury was a learning experience on how to prepare physically and mentally for a long haul of games.
A competitor who wants to be the best, there’s no question that one of his individual goals is to make his second All-Star game.
A motivated Banchero is a tough handle for any defense.
Meanwhile, Wagner was once again the best player in Europe over the summer as he led Germany to its first EuroBasket title since 1993.
His conditioning and readiness for another NBA campaign is unquestioned.
Wagner is coming off a season where he averaged 24 points per game, despite a lower percentage shooting the 3.
An oblique injury impacted his shot-making. Now healthy, if Wagner can increase his consistency beyond the arc, he should have another career year.
New Additions: The Magic improved its offense during the offseason trading defensive stalwart Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and glue guy Cole Anthony for 3-point specialist Desmond Bane.
A career 41% 3-point shooter, Bane has averaged 20 points per game over the last four seasons. He is a significant upgrade on offense and an immediate starter.
The Magic also signed point guard Tyus Jones who provides poise and depth at the critical position. Jones is a low-turnover player, and his last three seasons were statistically his best during his 10-year NBA career.
Adjustments: The Magic head into the season continuing to preach the defensive identity that earned their reputation for grittiness and hard play.
However, the offseason moves indicate their recognition of a need for offensive improvement.
The Magic were last in the NBA in 3-point shooting. The acquisition of Bane and internal improvement should change that.
Also, during the preseason, the Magic focused on pushing the pace on offense. It remains to be seen if the Magic continue playing with more tempo in the regular season, how it could impact defense and turnovers, and how quickly the team adjusts.
Health: Every NBA team deals with injuries throughout a season. However, the Magic were hit significantly hard in 2024-25.
Oblique tears sidelined Banchero and Wagner for 54 games.
Back spasms interrupted Jalen Suggs’ fourth season and then a cartilage tear in his knee ended his campaign altogether last January.
The Magic missed Suggs’ energy, defensive presence and offensive fireworks during the playoffs last spring. Suggs had surgery and is working his way back into action soon. The target for Suggs is the season opener, but he may need extra time to be competition ready. He should be on the court in November at the very latest.
Moe Wagner also continues to recover from a torn ACL. His return date is unknown, but he aims to be back on the court at some point this season.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team is healthy.
Forward Jonathan Isaac says he focused on losing weight during the offseason and hopes to play all 82 games.
Forward/Center Wendell Carter Jr. says this is the best he has felt entering a season in years.
Avoiding significant injuries will be a huge key to the Magic’s success.
Eastern Conference Opportunities: Significant injuries are a storyline in the Eastern Conference heading into 2025-26.
Celtics star Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon during the playoffs last spring. What could be a season-ending injury for many players may not be for Tatum. He hopes to return at some point in 2025-2026.
The Pacers’ heartbeat Tyrese Haliburton suffered the same injury during the 2025 NBA Finals. He is currently rehabbing and his return is uncertain.
With the two stars sidelined, avenues are potentially cleared for the Magic to earn a higher standing in the East if they play well enough.
Only the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks (with new coach Mike Brown) have higher odds in the Eastern Conference of contending for the NBA Championship than the Magic.
The Magic tip off the season Wednesday night against the Miami Heat, then host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday and the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. The team will embark on a five-game road trip against conference rivals. The Magic have a chance to start the season strong.
Jamie’s Take
As long as the Magic stay healthy, they have a real chance of doing something special.
I see the Magic starting strong, winning 55 games in the regular season and going all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Paolo Banchero becomes a two-time All-Star.
Ryan’s Take
This team seems poised to make a deeper playoff run, and I think it does.
The additions of Bane and Jones alone address several concerns, especially shooting and overall decision-making.
The Magic’s two young cornerstones, Banchero and Wagner, are locked into long-term deals because of their All-Star abilities. Their games should flourish with another season in this system, and both players will benefit from having stronger offensive options around them.
Because of critical injuries elsewhere, the NBA’s Eastern Conference could be up for grabs.
There’s no reason why the Magic can’t be a contender this season.
The Magic finish the season with a 52-30 record, a top four playoff seed and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Nathaniel’s Take
The Magic haven’t won a playoff series since 2010, but that could change this year.
Both Banchero and Wagner signing their contracts over the last two seasons and bringing play-makers like Bane and Jones speak to the “win now” mentality, instilled by Jeff Weltman since the end of last season.
Add in a healthy Suggs and a deep bench with a healthy Mo Wagner, and the Magic become a real threat to vie for a top-seed in the Eastern Conference.
The conference hasn’t been this wide open in a while.
If the Magic can improve their shooting while maintaining their defense-first playstyle and stay healthy through the regular season, this team can secure home-court advantage in at least the first round of the playoffs, and win the first series in two and a half decades.
Prediction: 50+ wins and spot in ECF
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