The Orlando Magic still have two weeks remaining in their regular season and the postseason ahead. Even if the team climbs the tall mountain ahead to escape the Play-In (a mountain that has only gotten taller), this season will undoubtedly go down in franchise history as one of the most disappointing.<\/p>\n
Injuries played a role in that. Orlando simply never saw its roster together and fully healthy for very long.<\/p>\n
Even with that, the Magic clearly need to make some changes this offseason. They cannot stand still.<\/p>\n
The frustrating part about this season is that the Magic already pushed a lot of chips in. And while a healthy roster would surely have meant the team is in a better position in the standings, the reality is that the Magic have limited options to adjust their team.<\/p>\n
And that pressure from the salary cap is only growing as the offseason nears.<\/p>\n
Last week, Shams Charania of ESPN reported the league told teams the salary cap for the 2027 season would likely be reduced by $1 million<\/a>. The reason reported for the decreases is uncertainty about local TV deals around the league, as Main Street Sports, which operates the FanDuel Sports Network, is likely to file for bankruptcy and likely stop airing NBA games next season.<\/p>\n The NBA has informed teams that the league is projecting a $165 million salary cap for 2026-27 — $1M lower than previous outlooks due to a reduction in local media revenue, sources tell ESPN. Minimum salary $149M, tax level $201M, first apron $209M, second apron $222M also $1M\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n That is a relatively small amount when the salary cap is $165 million. But it could have major implications for a Magic team that is bumping right up against the first apron.<\/p>\n The Magic will be in the tax next season and are flirting with the first apron. And that is still with work to do to add to the roster. The Magic will be limited in the way they can attack this summer. And there is seemingly a lot of work to do.<\/p>\n The Magic’s cap situation<\/p>\n President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has been warning that the team’s bill would come due for retaining and developing all of their young players.<\/p>\n While Weltman has plenty of draft misses, the Magic’s roster is essentially all players he drafted and then extended. Add to that the move to acquire Desmond Bane, and the Magic are certainly over-committed in payroll. The team is well over the salary cap.<\/p>\n The move to trade Tyus Jones<\/a> at the trade deadline for a few second-round picks was a pure cost-cutting move meant to get the team below the tax and delay the start of the team’s repeater clock.<\/p>\n There is no avoiding the tax next year, especially if the Magic still want to stay on the path they are on.<\/p>\n According to the numbers from Spotrac, the Magic have $207.9 million guaranteed for next season. That includes waiving Jonathan Isaac and taking only the $8 million he is believed to be guaranteed for next season.<\/p>\n That $207.9 million leaves the team $1.1 million beneath the first apron and its restrictions under the current projections.<\/p>\n The Magic’s payroll has suddenly ballooned because Paolo Banchero’s max extension — assumedly 25 percent of the cap in the first year — kicks in next season. So does Wendell Carter’s extension, going from $10.9 million this year to $18.1 million next year.<\/p>\n Orlando knew this day would come. And because the Magic are over the tax, they are very limited in what they can do in free agency.<\/p>\n Why the aprons matter<\/p>\n Everyone can clearly see the Orlando Magic have a lot of work to do to improve their team.<\/p>\n