How do the Orlando Magic Build on Their Breakout Season?
Cleveland, OH (PSF) — The Orlando Magic had a disappointing end to their breakout 2023-2024 season, falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the first round 94-106.
For the league’s second-youngest playoff team, the Magic’s lack of playoff experience and youthful inconsistencies proved to be their downfall. However, a few glaring issues with their shot creation proved to be prominent issues as well, mainly self-creation and shooting.
Throughout the season, the Magic hovered around the bottom 10 leaguewide in offensive rating, and ultimately, that’s where they finished: at 22nd, with a 112.9 offensive rating.
However, the Magic’s youth, defensive prowess, financial flexibility, and presumable continuity with Head Coach Jamahl Mosley means that the Magic should be playoff staples for years to come. With a few roster additions and tweaks, they could become an even bigger threat within the Eastern Conference.
Players coming off the payroll include Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Chuma Okeke, and others, which is a decent chunk of salary, and 3 potential roster spots to fill. Although the Magic bringing all three of these players back would not surprise me, they should be aiming big this offseason.
Need #1: Backcourt Shot-creation
The Magic desperately need a backcourt starter who can create their own shot. That deficiency was clear all throughout the Cavaliers series, where the Cavs defense could focus on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and take the ball out of their hands. While Markelle Fultz is a nice bench ball-handler, his offensive limitations on the perimeter constrain the offense and inhibit the spacing at times.
Jalen Suggs is a fantastic complimentary player, one of the most valuable pieces of the team, and already an All-NBA level defender. He averaged an efficient 12.6 points (47.1/39.7/75.6), shot 40.7% on catch-and-shoot threes, and guarded the opposing team’s best perimeter player. Essentially, he is the Magic’s Marcus Smart.
But for a playoff team that relies on two interior-oriented scorers in Paolo Banchero (33.9% 3PT) and Franz Wagner (28.1% 3PT), the Magic desperately need a third or second option who can create their shot both outside and inside the arc.
Thus, D’Angelo Russell should be the Magic’s top offseason priority, if he opts-out of his player option.
Russell, regardless of the playoff concerns and questions, is coming off one of the best, most efficient seasons of his career: 18 points per game and 6.3 assists on 45.6/41.5/82.8 shooting.
He is an effective pick-and-roll ball handler and can threaten defenses as a playmaker in these looks as well as a shooter, can play off the ball (43% catch and shoot 3PT), and has the skill as a ball-handler to score off perimeter isolation. He is a serviceable finisher at the rim, which can play well in the pick-and-roll game, but the perimeter shot creation would be the most important aspect.
Suggs is great as a stationary shooter, but less so off the dribble. Adding Russell would lighten some of the unnecessary offensive pressure on Suggs, while adding an offensive threat on the perimeter that will keep defenses honest and force playoff defenses to have fewer possessions where they can force the ball out of Banchero and Wagner’s hands.
With over $70 million of financial flexibility before the Magic hit the first Luxury Tax threshold, Russell should be a high-impact, yet affordable option.
Other options for this include Immanuel Quickley (RFA), James Harden (UFA), or if they want to get ultra-ambitious, a trade for Trae Young. Either way, the Magic desperately need some form of shot-creation from whoever becomes Jalen Suggs’s backcourt mate next year.
Need #2: Shooting
The Magic desperately need a source or multiple consistent sources of shooting.
In the seven-game series against the Cavaliers, they shot a putrid 30.7% as a team from three-point range. Only two players in the rotation (Paolo Bancher0 & Jonathan Isaac) shot above 38 percent. The latter shot 38.5%, and the former 38.2%.
Overall, the Magic ranked 24th in the NBA in terms of three-point shooting, shooting just 35.2% from three.
Thankfully, this crop of free agents has quite a few prominent shooters, many of whom are not just shooters and can provide quality defense, primary or secondary ball-handling, or complete three-level scoring as well, which would help in the shot creation aspect. Some players have player-options, and whether or not they will hit the market is still unclear. These options include:
(*UFA = Unrestricted Free Agent / PPG = points per game)
Paul George: 22.6 ppg (47.1/41.3/90.7) — PLAYER OPTION
Klay Thompson: 17.9 ppg (43.2/38.7/92.7) — UFA
D’Angelo Russell: 18 ppg (45.6/41.5/82.8) — PLAYER OPTION
James Harden: 16.6 ppg (42.8/38.1/87.8) — UFA
Buddy Hield: 12.2 ppg (42.6/38.9/92.3) — UFA
Malik Monk: 15.4 ppg (44.3/35.0/82.9) — UFA
OG Anunoby: 15.1 ppg (48.9/37.4/71.7) — PLAYER OPTION
Gary Trent: 13.7 ppg (42.6/39.3/77.1) — UFA
Malik Beasley: 11.3 ppg (44.3/41.3/71.4) — UFA
I listed higher-profile names because that is what the Magic should be aiming for. They have a reasonably-priced, but playoff-caliber core, and tons of money to spend. The earlier they add a shooter or two, the earlier they can incorporate them into the offense and find an effective role for them.
The Magic desperately need shooting. More floor spacing for Paolo Bancherop and Franz Wagner would do wonders for the offensive flow and rhythm, and alleviate some of the problems with ball stagnation and isolation. Having a shooter to kick it to, or someone who can create an open three on their own would add another dimension to the Magic offense that would make them infinitely more dangerous.
Honorable Mention: Backup Center
This scenario only applies if they lose Moritz Wagner to free agency. Wagner is a nice floor spacer, a competent interior defender, and an energy burst when he’s on the court. Bringing him back should be a top priority this offseason.
If they were to lose him, similar options from a weak Center free agency class include Isiah Hartenstein (who will probably return to NY), Daniel Theis, James Wiseman (RFA), Kevin Love, and Christian Wood.
