Previewing The 2024-25 Orlando Magic

September 10th, 2024

by Alan Lu

The Orlando Magic had a tremendous 2024 season that saw them win 47 games and earn the fifth seed in the 2024 NBA Playoffs.  They had strong seasons from Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and Banchero made his first All-Star team.  Jalen Suggs made the All-Defensive second team, and the Magic were a formidable defensive team last season.  Jonathan Isaac came back from injury, and he returned to make an impact to help them, especially late in the season. The Magic struggled to score in the playoffs though, and they ended up losing to Cleveland in the first round.

This year, they’ll be out to prove that last season was not a fluke, and they will look to build off of last year’s regular season success.  The Magic should be back in the playoffs in 2025, but they may face some stiff competition in the standings in doing so.

The 2024 Orlando Magic had surprising success in the regular season, and with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner returning as a really solid forward tandem, people are wondering if the Magic will continue to build off of their surprisingly successful 2024 season.
(Photo: Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press, via Orlando Sentinel)

Star Players:

F Paolo Banchero

Paolo Banchero is a versatile forward that excelled as a scorer and playmaker for the Magic, and he made his first NBA All-Star team in 2024. He helped get the Magic to the playoffs, and he looks to be their team’s franchise player both right now and for the foreseeable future.

There was some debate on whether or not if Wagner is a star, and while he may not quite be a star just yet, Franz Wagner is a very versatile forward that brings energy, scoring, as well as some playmaking and defensive skills to the table. He may be one of the most underrated players in the NBA, as he averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, but the main thing that is holding him back is his lack of an outside shot. He made just 28% of his threes in the 2024 regular season, and 26.5% of his threes in the postseason against Cleveland. If he can improve his outside shot to a passable level, Wagner could be a rising star in the future. Otherwise, he’d still be a very good role player for the Magic.

Additions:

G-F Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, F Tristan da Silva, and G Cory Joseph

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a solid 3 and D veteran role player that excels at knocking down shots and can guard the toughest of players, and he is a two-time NBA champion that has proven himself to be a reliable wing player in this league. Tristan da Silva is a versatile forward that projects to slot in well as a role player in the NBA, and Cory Joseph is a pass-first point guard that could compete for playing time and a backend rotation spot on the Magic this year.

Subtractions:

F Joe Ingles, G Markelle Fultz, and F Chuma Okeke

Losing Ingles and Fultz may hurt the Magic a bit, as Ingles is a smart, wily veteran forward that excelled as an offensive player, but he seemed to be losing a step with each passing season. Fultz is an athletic combo guard that can slash to the hoop, facilitate, and defend, but his lack of a reliable jump shot has been holding him back. Okeke had a fairly solid rookie season in 2021, and he is an athletic combo forward that can guard people, but he’s struggled with his jump shot or to be a consistent performer ever since.

Rookies:

F Tristan da Silva

He is a versatile role player that can do a little bit of everything, and while it’s not a guarantee that he’ll get much playing time this year, he is a skilled forward that could make an impact when he steps onto the floor this season.

Expected Rotation:

Franz Wagner had a terrific 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and he has been a vital player for the Orlando Magic. (Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images, via Fansided’s Orlando Magic Daily)

The Magic has a talented group of starters, and Banchero and Wagner lead an exciting group of young players that could enable them to make the playoffs in 2025 once again.

Projected Starting Lineup:

C Wendell Carter Jr.

F Paolo Banchero

F Franz Wagner

G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

G Jalen Suggs

Key Bench Players:

Cole Anthony is a skilled playmaker that can excel for them as a starter or bench player, and he will play a key role on the Magic’s team this season.
(Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack/The Associated Press, via Orlando Sentinel)

Cole Anthony is a solid playmaking point guard that has given them a big boost off the bench. Anthony Black had a solid rookie season, and his playmaking and defensive skills should keep him in the rotation this season. Jonathan Isaac had a strong comeback season after missing a lot of time to injuries in seasons past, and the Magic has a slew of capable bench players that will contribute to their team in 2025.

G Cole Anthony

G-F Anthony Black

F Tristan da Silva

FJonathan Isaac

F-C Moritz Wagner

The Rest of the Roster:

G Gary Harris

C Goga Bitadze

F Caleb Houstan

G Cory Joseph

G-F Jett Howard

G-F Trevelin Queen (Two-Way)

Team Options at the End of the 2025 Season:

Here I will project the likelihood of the Orlando Magic to pick up and accept or decline the team options for various players at the end of the 2025 season.

Paolo Banchero – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (100% Certainty)
Anthony Black – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (100% Certainty)
Moritz Wagner – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (70%-80% Certainty)
Gary Harris – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (70%-80% Certainty)
Caleb Houstan – Team Option Will Likely Be Accepted (70%-80% Certainty)
Jett Howard – 50/50, Leaning Towards That It Will Be Declined (50% Certainty)
Cory Joseph – Team Option Will Likely Be Declined (70%-80% Certainty)

Head Coach:

Orlando Magic’s head coach, Jamahl Mosley helped his team get more wins than expected last year, and they will look to build off of that for the upcoming season.
(Photo: Jim Dedmon/USA Today Sports, via SB Nation’s Orlando Pinstriped Post)

Jamahl Mosley
2023-24 (ORL): 47-35, 3-4 in the playoffs
Coaching Career: 103-143, 3-4 in the NBA Playoffs

Mosley did a very good job last year, as he helped the Magic win 47 games in the regular season, and he is one of the best young coaches in the NBA.

NBA Head Coach Rank: 12

Outlook:

The future is bright for the Orlando Magic, and they should be back in the playoffs in 2025.
(Photo: Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images, via SB Nation’s Orlando Pinstriped Post)

The Magic surprised most of the NBA by winning 47 games in the regular season, and they were one of the league’s best defensive teams in 2024. They’ll look to build off of their success, but they will face some pretty stiff competition in the East. But if the Magic can prove that last season can be not only repeated but built upon, then the Magic could end up surprising more people and make a deeper run in the playoffs than expected.

Projected 2024-25 Finish:
Expected Win-Loss Record: 41-41
Projected Regular Season Finish: 8th in the Eastern Conference
Expected Playoff Finish: Projected to lose in the 1st Round
Preseason NBA Power Ranking: 16

I went to Basketball-Reference and SalarySwish to look up some information for this write-up. It will be an exciting basketball season this year, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the season will unfold. Anyways, that is my write-up on my preview of the 2024-25 Orlando Magic. Thanks for reading.