By Ryan Brock
Anticipation is building as the Magic prepare for the upcoming NBA season. With big expectations, here are five bold predictions for the team this year.
With opening night just days away, it's the perfect time for predictions! The start of a new season is a time where fans of even the most doomed franchises can find optimism. Mario Hezonja will break out! Markelle Fultz will rediscover his shooting touch! We’ve all been let down before. However, for Orlando Magic fans, hope shouldn’t be too hard to find as the 2024-2025 season opener rapidly approaches.
After a promising season that saw the Magic on the brink of round two of the playoffs, the team aims to build on its solid foundation and continue to be one of the league’s most exciting teams. The signing of veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was Orlando’s lone big move this off-season, as they’re banking on continued internal development of their young players to proceed on their upward trajectory. With budding superstar Paolo Banchero at the helm, it’s easy to buy the hype as the Magic seem poised to make some serious noise in the Eastern Conference.
While I generally prefer to avoid negative predictions—after all, hope reigns supreme at the start of a new NBA season—these bold (yet optimistic) predictions reflect the potential for a successful season. Although there’s a fair chance that none of these predictions will actually come to fruition, if everything were to fall into place, they are certainly within reach. Without further ado:
Prediction #1. Paolo Banchero finishes Second Team All-NBA
You might think this prediction lacks ambition, but consider that Paolo Banchero isn’t even among the top 20 MVP candidates in terms of betting odds headed into the season. The NBA is deeper than ever, so if Paolo were recognized as a top 10 player by season's end, it would be a revelation for the Orlando Magic. Last season, he averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. To secure All-NBA honors, he’ll need to elevate his game, averaging over 25 points per game while improving his shooting efficiency from both the field and beyond the arc.
He’ll also likely need to lead the Magic to a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference to garner consideration for the Second Team. With Jalen Suggs running the point, the offense is likely to flow more through Paolo this year, giving him ample opportunity to showcase his talents. Paolo has already established himself as a rising star, this season, he will prove he’s a superstar.
Prediction #2. Jonathan Isaac plays at least 75 games and earns First Team All-Defense honors
Just a year ago, mentioning “Jonathan Isaac” in conjunction with “75 games played” would have seemed impossible. One may have thought we were in the multiverse. But after finally having a relatively healthy season, Isaac is poised to wreak havoc on the rest of the association. A defensive system in his own right, playing 75 games would virtually guarantee him a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Isaac’s ability to guard all five positions and potentially be one of the leaders in the league in "stocks" (steals plus blocks) speaks to his defensive prowess.
The bold aspect of this prediction lies in his past injury history; he has only reached 75 games played once in his seven-year career. However, after a healthy offseason where he added 30 pounds of muscle (allegedly), Isaac is expected to participate in back-to-backs consistently and be the backbone of this Magic defense. While he may also be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year, I believe he will find himself starting at times, which could complicate his chances for that award.
Prediction #3. The Magic win the NBA Cup, with Franz Wagner as MVP
The In-Season Tournament appears tailor-made for teams like the Magic — young, ambitious squads eager to prove themselves. While the Los Angeles Lakers took home the trophy last year, the tournament also elevated the Indiana Pacers and showcased Tyrese Haliburton’s talent. While Paolo is the go-to player in the playoffs, I believe the In-Season Tournament will be where Franz Wagner truly shines. Nobody matches Franz's competitive spirit, and his international experience should help him excel in a tournament format.
The missing piece for Franz is obviously the three-point shot. Last season’s shooting struggles were disappointing, but fans hope Franz can find some positive regression to the mean. If Franz can find a return to form and shoot around 35%, as he did in his first two seasons, he could be in for a breakout year.
Prediction #4. Tristan da Siiva makes Second Team All-Rookie
Draft experts were lukewarm on this year's rookie class, to put it nicely, so it’s not exactly a murderers row of players that Tristan da Silva must beat out to earn All-Rookie honors. The challenge? Playing time. Currently, the rookie from Colorado isn’t projected to be in the opening night rotation, however, as the season progresses, I believe he will earn his way onto the floor. da Silva exhibits versatility reminiscent of the aforementioned Franz Wagner, contributing to the game of basketball in many ways. He can shoot from deep, handle the ball, make smart decisions, and play solid defense. A swiss army knife type of player. He’ll need to seize opportunities when they arise, particularly since injuries are inevitable throughout the season. But if he capitalizes on his chances, he could secure a spot in the rotation and never look back.
Prediction #5. - Three Magic Players Make All-Defensive Teams
As previously mentioned, I expect Jonathan Isaac to be named to First Team All-Defense. Well, the Magic may also boast one the league’s best defensive backcourts this year, featuring last season's Second Team All-Defense selection, Jalen Suggs. KCP, the Magic’s key free-agent addition, is also a dawg on the defensive side of the ball, making this duo a potential nightmare for opposing teams on a nightly basis.
Last season, the Magic ranked among the top three defensive teams in the league, and there’s every reason to believe they’ll improve with this trio logging significant minutes together. With defensive standout Anthony Black also likely to see increased playing time, Orlando should once again rank among the elite defensive teams in the league. If the Magic can secure a top seed in the East on the shoulders of a dominant defense, their players will gain well-deserved recognition for their achievements.
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