Lineup
Starters: Markelle Fultz-Jalen Suggs-Franz Wagner-Paolo Banchero-Wendell Carter Jr
Bench: Cole Anthony-Gary Harris-Joe Ingles-Jonathan Isaac-Moritz Wagner
Reserves: Anthony Black-Jett Howard-Caleb Houstan-Chuma Okeke-Goga Bitadze
Two-Ways/Cuts: Kevon Harris, Trevelin Queen, Admiral Schofield
Markelle Fultz
I expect Markelle Fultz to finally be healthy and take a massive leap this year. He averaged a career high in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, fg%, and 3p% last year, despite only playing 18 games the season before and suffering a toe injury in preseason. I expect his shooting splits to increase as well as his assist numbers. He was an underrated perimeter defender last year and will be vital as a role player this year. He's entering a contract year so this will be the make or break year where he either takes the leap to solidify himself as our starting PG of the future or it'll be the year where we replace him with Anthony Black.
Projected Stats: 15/5/7/2/0 on 51/32/80
Jalen Suggs
2 years ago, we drafted Jalen Suggs, and I thought this was the move that would finally turn our franchise around. Instead, Suggs has struggled to get acclimated to the NBA and is barely even getting a starting job. If it were up to me, Suggs wouldn't even start over Gary Harris. With that in mind, it seems a fresh start for Suggs might be the best option, making him an ideal trade candidate. However, if he were to stay, he would still bring some value to the table, mainly his defense. Suggs is arguably the best defender on the team, locking up opposing guards on the perimeter. This does make him valuable to our team, who were middle of the pack in terms of points allowed last season. Losing Suggs could harm our defense and hurt our chances of a playoff push. However, if he can be flipped for an elite shooter (a more pressing need at the moment), this could massively benefit us. Don't be surprised if Jalen Suggs isn't in a Magic jersey by the end of the season.
Projected Stats: 12/4/4/2/0 on 43/32/74
Franz Wagner
Franz Wagner, the MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER in the NBA. This man is the perfect compliment to Paolo Banchero. Back in 2021, I thought it was Jalen Suggs who would change our franchise's trajectory. Well, here we are 2 years later and only one of the guys that we drafted from that class is a franchise cornerstone, and he's German. Franz is an elite scorer. He also projects to improve as a shooter and take the star leap, taking some of the pressure off Paolo. I expect Franz to take the leap to stardom and make an All-Star push. He WILL be a 20 PPG scorer. If he can help the Magic with spacing, he can lock us in as a play-in team and a contender next year.
Projected Stats: 20/5/4/1/0 on 49/37/85
Paolo Banchero
The man. The myth. The legend. Paolo Napoleon James Banchero. Simply put, Paolo is the cornerstone of our franchise. We're building around him. He was almost the unanimous Rookie of the Year and balled out in his rookie year. I'm the biggest Paolo fan out there BUT, there are still question marks surrounding his game. First, his shooting. He was hella inefficient in his rookie year, shooting 30% from 3. However, we've seen rookies struggle with things like hooting and defense and go on to become at least average in those aspects. I think Paolo will improve as a shooter this season, but by no means do I expect him to be elite. I hope that the improvement of Fultz and Franz can take some of the pressure off him as a shooter and allow him to cook in other areas of his game, which takes me to his second weakness: Defense. Paolo was often inconsistent defensively and did get caught off guard. If this doesn't improve, teams will start to take advantage. Once again, I do expect this to improve but to what degree is the question. No matter what happens, Paolo will be a star next year and likely even an all star. The future is bright.
Projected Stats: 22/8/4/1/1 on 45/32/75
Wendell Carter Jr
I still remember back in 2022 when Wendell Carter Jr was dominating the league. In fact, I remember hearing this statistic: Only 3 players were averaging 20/12 - Jokic, Giannis, and WCJ. Towards the end of the season, the Magic started to tank and he played less, but the talent was shown. Wendell could ball. All the Magic need Wendell to do this season is A) Get his double-doubles and B) Space the floor. I'm confident that he can do both. Wendell has averaged a double-double (15 and 10) since coming to Orlando and should replicate that this season. Additionally, he's proven to be one of the best stretch fives in the game, shooting 36% last season. This ranked 7th amongst all centers last season. Health is the biggest question mark for Wendell as he's been in that 40-50 game range every year besides 21/22. However, if he can stay healthy, he should elevate the Magic to compete for a play-in berth.
Projected Stats: 15/10/3/1/1 on 53/36/74
Cole Anthony
Jamahl Mosley will likely give Cole Anthony the PG2 job to start the season over Anthony Black. Although it may shock some people, I respect the decision from Mosley. Cole is experienced and is a good shooter. He proved he could be a great 6th man for us last year, with his shooting splits increasing significantly when he was moved to the bench. I doubt he finishes the season as PG2 or even as a member of the Magic. Cole is probably the most likely of our players to get traded. He's a fun guy in the locker room and I'm sure our guys would be sad to see him go but that's the reality of pro sports. If he can get traded for a shooter, then the Magic should pounce, especially considering the fact that he could leave for nothing this offseason.
Projected Stats: 13/4/4/1/0 on 46/36/90
Gary Harris
Surprisingly to me, it seems that Gary Harris will be SG2 this season. Mosley seems to want to give Suggs another chance as a starter. This could pan out but I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't and Gary ends up back in the starting lineup. Gary is an elite 3 point shooter, making 43% of those shots last year. Additionally, his perimeter defense is very good. This makes him the perfect player alongside the likes of Paolo Banchero and Markelle Fultz. The floor spacing that he provides is much more valuable than what Suggs has done for us in the past 2 years. With Harris being benched, he could definitely be a prime candidate to get traded at the deadline. He's on an expiring contract and could be paired with a guy like Cole Anthony or Jonathan Isaac for an elite starting caliber shooter in return.
Projected Stats: 9/2/2/1/0 on 45/41/88
Joe Ingles
I think the Joe Ingles signing goes under the radar. We needed the veteran experience that he brings to the table. Before the signing, we had no one over the age of 30 besides Gary Harris. Additionally, Ingles brings much needed versatility and forward depth to the team. Johnathan Isaac struggles with injuries, the Magic don't have great wing depth behind Franz, and the Magic often struggle with consistent SG play. Ingles helps with all 3. His ability to play 2-4 as well as bring a veteran presence to the locker room makes him a valuable asset to this young Magic team. By the way, Joe Ingles has won close to 60% of his NBA games. That's winning mentality.
Projected Stats: 8/3/3/1/0 on 43/39/84
Jonathan Isaac
Man, Isaac was finally back on the court last year but then 11 games later he was gone again. You can't help but feel bad for the guy. It seems like just yesterday that he went down with that initial ACL injury back in 2020. He was one of the most promising young defenders in the league. I'm surprised he's still in the league after everything he's been through but he keeps working on that recovery. It'll be great to see him again on opening night and I pray that this can finally be the season where he stays healthy. If he can even reach half of what he was before injury, he can be a highly productive player for the Magic. We could use his rim protecting and defending as a whole, as he's one of the most versatile defenders in the league. Additionally, we need the forward depth so an injury would hurt us big time. I just hope to see the man back on the court balling again. Good luck this season Jonathan Isaac!
Projected Stats: 8/5/2/1/1 on 45/38/71
Moritz Wagner
Moritz Wagner has quietly balled out since joining the Magic. Most people just know him as Franz Wagner's brother but he's much more than that. Since joining the Magic he's averaged 10 PPG despite limited playing time (20 PPG/36 min!). He's become pivotal as a backup center, seeing an increased role over the years. He even stepped in as the starter when WCJ went down with an injury last year. Expect Mo to play a key role for the Magic off the bench this season, and step in for WCJ when needed. And enjoy the special moments created between the two Wagner brothers :).
Projected Stats: 11/5/2/1/1 on 50/33/83
Anthony Black
Anthony Black at number 6 was a pick that I didn't like at the time and I still don't like it. I thought that the Magic should've gone after a guy like Gradey Dick or Jordan Hawkins to help with floor spacing. I sincerely hope that Black proves me wrong but only time will tell. His athleticism is good and I trust him to play at and above the rim. The best part of his game for me is the passing and ball-handling. He's a versatile defender, being able to guard 1-3. But once again, the shot worries me. The mechanics aren't great and he only 30% from 3 in college. Hopefully, he can develop well and eventually become a backup guard for us or even challenge Markelle Fultz for the starting spot. However, the fact that he's debuting as PG3 shows how unready he is for the league. He will likely end the season as PG2 but this isn't a good sign.
Projected Stats: 8/5/4/1/1 on 43/29/70
Jett Howard
Our other lottery pick from this past year also seems to be unready. He comes in as SG3 on a team that lacks wing depth, showing Mosley's uncertainty with these rookies. A guy like Gradey Dick would've been a better pick IMO but this could pay off. Jett is a solid shooter and scorer in general when he's hot. However, he's streaky and inconsistent. He has potential as a playmaker and defender so this pick could definitely pan out but for this season, Jett's impact will be minimal. Once again, not a great sign that our lottery pick is starting as a third stringer but hopefully he can work his way up to competing with Jalen Suggs.
Projected Stats: 8/3/2/0/0 on 40/34/78
Caleb Houstan
Caleb Houstan is basically the 15th man on the roster. However, he did show some talent in his rookie year that could lead to him being a role player. He played 1-4 throughout his rookie year, proving his defensive versatility. When he was on the court, his defense was great and his 3 pointer looked good at time. If you get rid of October and March, he actually shot 42.5% from 3. The potential as a floor spacer is there and he could eventually find himself on the second unit.
Projected Stats: 3/1/1/0/0 on 40/36/83
Chuma Okeke
Chuma Okeke is a player with great potential but he hasn't shown it very often. Imagine a 6'8" forward with good defense, hustle, athleticism, and a 3 point shot. That's what Chuma can be if he puts it all together. Entering a contract year, if he doesn't show the signs this year, his tenure on the Magic and maybe even in the league will be over. Jonathan Isaac's injury history means that Chuma could still get minutes but he's also had his own injury troubles, playing only 27 games last year. This has led to him being shunned from the rotation. Hopefully, he can work his way back up or find a good fit elsewhere. If Okeke can get his shot going consistently, he can be a role player in the league.
Projected Stats: 4/2/1/1/0 on 39/32/80
Goga Bitadze
The Magic are likely Goga's last chance to display that potential that led him to being the #18 pick back in 2019. This is his fresh start after failing in Indiana. He played well for the Magic last year, providing rim protection that the Magic lack. He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 min with Orlando. It's a small sample size so it probably doesn't translate completely accurately but it does show that he can play well. Goga is the inly consistent rim protector on the roster, making him valuable to the Magic unlike in Indiana who had Myles Turner. If he performs well, he could definitely put some pressure on Mo Wagner for that backup C role and will almost certainly get minutes due to WCJ's availability. Hopefully, Goga can find his footing in Orlando and help them contend in the near future.
Projected Stats: 6/4/1/0/1 on 52/27/66
Magic Team Predictions
Record: 39-43
Seed: 9
Beat Nets in 9-10 Play-in
Lose to Heat in 8 Seed Play-in