In order to completely understand the moves a team makes the timeline of events must be listed as well.

Pre Draft

• Accept team option for Mo Wagner

• Accept team option for Joe Ingles

Draft

• Pick 18 the Magic select Kel'el Ware

• Trade pick 47 and a plethora of SRPs for Corey Kispert, Jae'Sean Tate and pick 51 in a 3 team deal

• Pick 51 the Magic select Adem Bona

  • Explanation: Magic take a big who projects to be a good shooter and defender fitting their style perfectly. They trade future assets to add shooting and wing depth. They add a little more front court depth with Bona with the expectation of Goga leaving in free agency.

Free Agency

• Trade Wendell Carter Jr, Cole Anthony, Jett Howard, 2025 Magic and Nuggets FRPs and the 2026 Magic SRP for Paul George. They immediately extend George to a 4 year deal taking him to age 38.

• Sign Gordan Hayward to a 2 year 10 million dollar contract with a team option on the 2nd year.

• Sign Skylar Mays to a 2 year minimum deal with a team option on the 2nd year.

With the new added shooting the Magic are fully invested in this team competing this year while remaining completely flexible financially. The Magic are roughly 21 million away from the luxury line this year but have the ability to have 60 million coming off the books next season.

Start of Season

Starting lineup:

• Jalen Suggs

• Paul George

• Franz Wagner

• Paolo Banchero

• Mo Wagner

The bench is much improved with Kispert providing the shooting needed to help Black and Isaac offensively. The additions of Hayward and Tate provide new options instead of Ingles. Theis and Ware both provide something different and valuable off the bench.

During the season

• The season starts a little rough during the first 10 games as Paolo tries to give PG room to operate, however, after that time frame PG gives up his role and becomes the 3rd guy. The defense becomes the best in the league with the length and athleticism giving back courts trouble on a nightly basis. Isaac becomes the full time backup center allowing for an agile unit with Tate as the front court partner. They rely on and Ingles/Hayward to make decisions off the bench allowing Black to be more of a secondary playmaker instead. They do shop Ingles and Theis to try and find a way to bring in Mitchell Robinson off the bench unit but aren't able to find a team willing to take on those deals.