Orlando Magic Eye Run in Eastern Conference
The Orlando Magic finished last season with a record of 41-41, good for seventh in the NBA’s Eastern Conference. They advanced from the Play-In Tournament, but were eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs in five games.
This season, the Magic will have to capitalize on injuries around the Eastern Conference and look to advance beyond the first round for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Orlando made offseason additions, including trading for shooting guard Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies. Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the 2025 Orlando Magic.
Point Guard
Jalen Suggs returns as the starting point guard for the Magic. He underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery last season, appearing in only 35 games. In those games, he averaged a career-high 16.2 points and 3.7 assists. Suggs’ impact on defense was his most valuable asset, as he racked up 1.5 steals per game.
The Magic use multiple ball handlers, meaning the point guard does not always have the ball in his hands, or even always brings the ball up the court. These factor into Suggs’ lower-than-average assist numbers. A return to his 2023 shooting — when he shot 39.7% from the 3-point line compared to 31.4% last season — would allow for a true breakout season for Suggs.
Still rehabbing his knee, Suggs’ goal is to be ready for the Magic’s first game, an Oct. 22 clash with the Miami Heat.
Orlando signed Tyus Jones in the offseason to a one-year, $7 million contract. Should Suggs miss time with his knee, Jones would be in line for the start. With the Suns last season, Jones averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 assists. He is more of a traditional ball handler who will be able to be the quarterback of the second unit.
The third point guard on the roster is Anthony Black. Entering his third year, Black has started 43 games across his first two years. Now he faces competition, with a healthy Suggs and Jones. Black increased his production, but he was on worse efficiency during his sophomore season.
Shooting Guard
Desmond Bane was acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for guards Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the No. 16 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, three future unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap. It is a haul to give up, but the Magic believe Bane will help them to take the next step.
Last season, the Magic struggled to shoot from 3, something that is a strength for Bane. He has shot 41% from 3 in his career, providing a catch-and-shoot option for kick-out drives from the Orlando ball handlers.
The Magic selected Jase Richardson out of Michigan State with the 25th pick in the 2025 draft. Richardson is supposed to come in and take the role of Jett Howard, who enters his third season without consistent production. Should Richardson play well to open the season, Howard will see his playing time drop even more.
Small Forward
Franz Wagner saw his points per game jump nearly five points, from 19.7 to 24.2 between 2023 and2024. His leap, like many of his teammates, came more from an increase in volume rather than efficiency. The hope is that with more help around him, he will be able to bring his efficiency up to match his touches. Having Wagner at the small forward position is a big boost for the Magic, as he can handle and pass the ball well. He averaged a career-high 4.7 assists last season.
Despite playing limited minutes during his rookie season, there is a belief that Tristan da Silva is going to be a valuable contributor this season. His value goes beyond the box score, as 7.2 points and 3.3 rebounds do not jump off the page. With that, he provides confidence in perimeter shooting and a reliable option when Wagner is on the bench.
Power Forward
The star of the show in Orlando is Paolo Banchero. The former Rookie of the Year and All-Star averaged 25.9 points per game last season, albeit in only 46 games. He suffered a torn oblique, which forced him to miss nearly half the season. How well he recovers from this injury and how quickly he can get back to 100% will determine how well the Magic play to begin the season.
If Banchero is limited in any way, it will be up to Jonathan Isaac to pick up the slack. Isaac has been far from a picture of health in his career, missing two full seasons with injuries. He also lacks the offensive game of Banchero, meaning it is more likely that either Wagner or da Silva slides to the four if Banchero misses time. Still, Isaac excels at defense. He, alongside Suggs, stands as one of the best stoppers on the team. Isaac’s versatility to guard all five positions will make him a valuable part of the Magic.
Center
The biggest question for the Magic is who will start at the center position. Last season, it was split between Wendell Carter Jr. and Goga Bitadze. Carter played more minutes and was more of a floor spacer. The big man shot 37.4% from three in 2023, but that number dropped to 23.4% in 2024. His time on the court will be determined by how well he can shoot the ball.
On the flip side, Bitadze is not looking to shoot, but will battle in the paint. He shot 61% from the floor last season, while also pulling in 6.6 rebounds on just 20 minutes per game. The addition of Bane for this team means that Bitadze can see the floor more as the only non-shooter on the court.
Category: Basketball, NBA, Orlando Magic
