The Orlando Magic Are Quietly Building the NBA’s Best Young Core

Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, two of the Magic’s talented young players.
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Nobody seems to notice what the Orlando Magic are doing. They sneakily almost made the play-in tournament last season with a 34-48 record, despite many injuries to their core players and a poor 5-20 start to the 2023 season. They have two young stars, major guard depth, and excellent coaching that will no doubt bring them back into playoff contention next season. Everyone always talks about the OKC Thunder when it comes to young cores (and rightfully so), but everyone forgets what the Orlando Magic have been building, and it’s all coming together at just the right time.

The Magic have only made the playoffs twice since trading Dwight Howard in 2012: in 2019 as a seventh seed and in 2020 as an eighth seed. During that time, all-star Nikola Vucevic and veteran shooting guard Evan Fournier were the team’s leading scorers, while newly acquired point guard Markelle Fultz and 2017 sixth overall pick Jonathan Isaac were quietly developing into the Magic’s future cornerstones. Unfortunately, Fultz and Isaac both sustained major ACL tears and other severe injuries that kept them off the court for long periods. When the Magic decided to go into a full rebuild with Fultz and Isaac sidelined, they drafted two point guards (Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs) and got Franz Wagner eighth overall in the 2021 draft. Now it’s time for a new era of Magic basketball with the 2022 first overall pick Paolo Banchero solidifying himself as their franchise player, and with Fultz playing his best basketball since returning from various injuries, this Magic team is looking potent heading into the 2024 season. They also have a chance to further bolster their young core with the sixth and 11th picks in the 2023 draft.

Paolo Banchero

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The 2023 Rookie of the Year didn’t disappoint in his first year with the Orlando Magic and has all the makings of a future superstar. What Banchero can do at 6’10 with his scoring and playmaking is like few players in the NBA today. His combined size, skill, and versatility make him an extremely tough matchup. Banchero averaged 20.0 points per game (PPG), 6.9 rebounds (REB), and 3.7 assists (AST) on 42.7 percent from the field, 29.8 percent from three, and 73.8 percent from the free throw line. Not many rookies have ever averaged a stat line like Banchero’s. Though his shooting efficiency will need to improve, he showed enough flashes that proved he could be an efficient number-one option one day, which could be as early as next season. Banchero is the perfect player to carry this Magic franchise to a future championship.

Franz Wagner

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Wagner was an absolute steal with the eighth pick in the 2021 draft. He was a very versatile prospect coming out of Michigan, but it was unclear what type of player he’d be at the next level. Immediately, Wagner became the Magic’s most durable player amidst all their injuries and proved to be one of their top-scoring options. His size, length, and playmaking have allowed him to play nearly all five positions at times, and he has established himself as a franchise cornerstone. In 2023 Wagner averaged 18.6 PPG, 4.1 REB, and 3.5 AST on 48.5 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from three, and 84.2 percent from the free throw line. It’s unclear if the Magic will keep his older brother Moritz “Mo” Wagner, but Franz Wagner is set to be a part of the Magic for years to come.

Wendell Carter Jr.

The Magic made their direction clear midway through the 2021 season when they traded their franchise center Nikola Vucevic, for young five-man Wendell Carter Jr. from the Chicago Bulls (including the draft pick that became Franz Wagner and the 11th overall pick in the 2023 draft). Though Carter Jr. has struggled with injuries, the Magic were much better when he played, and he showed enough improvements to earn a four-year, $50 million extension that kicked in this past season. He isn’t the flashiest player and doesn’t have the most eye-popping stats, but his defensive impact and basketball IQ go far beyond the box score. In 2023 he averaged 15.2 PPG, 8.7 REB, and 2.3 AST on 52.5 percent from the field and 35.6 percent from three. Carter Jr.’s ability to stretch the floor as a center will be super valuable going forward and his improved play will be crucial to the Magic making a massive leap next season. If Carter Jr. can stay healthy, I could easily see him developing into an all-star caliber player and being one of the best centers in the NBA.

The Point Guard Dilemma

Jalen Suggs (left) and Cole Anthony (right) are two of the Magic’s point guards, both lottery picks in back-to-back years.
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Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, and Markelle Fultz were all lottery picks in their respective drafts, and all have the talent to be starting NBA point guards. Here lies an interesting case for the Magic, as though all these guys have been able to co-exist and have great chemistry, Fultz has been given the starting point guard spot since returning from his various injuries. Anthony was a starter in 2022 and averaged nearly 18 PPG and five assists while Suggs had some clutch performances when made a starter, but both didn’t make their mark enough to be the permanent starting point guard once Fultz returned. Anthony and Suggs saw a little less playing time this past season, yet they noticeably improved their shooting efficiencies and decision-making. Though Fultz’s steadiness and defense may keep him as the starting point guard, Anthony provides a better scoring punch, and Suggs’ high ceiling may make him a better long-term option. It’s likely that either Anthony or Suggs will be traded within the next year, as the Magic can’t guarantee a permanent starting role for either of them. Anthony and Suggs are extremely talented players with high upside, and even though one of them may take over the starting spot next year, Fultz has been a great fit in the starting lineup, which could ultimately be the deciding factor in the Magic’s dilemma. Either way, it may be more of a good problem to have too many talented point guards than to have none. Fultz has his spot secured for now, but Anthony and Suggs will make it a competitive battle going forward.

The Future of Bol Bol and Jonathan Isaac

Bol Bol showed tremendous growth as a player during the 2023 season.
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Bol Bol was easily one of the NBA’s breakout players during the 2023 season. Though his role greatly decreased toward the end of the season with key guys getting healthy, Bol showed massive improvements on both sides of the ball. Now that he is finally healthy, he got to showcase his elite shot blocking, soft shooting touch, and dribbling skills that will leave you speechless. What Bol can do at 7’2 is like nothing we’ve seen before, and he’s basically a prototype of what many scouts think Victor Wembanyama will become. After only averaging around two PPG through his first few seasons in the NBA with a nagging foot injury, Bol averaged 9.1 PPG and 5.8 REB on 54.6 percent from the field and 75.9 percent from the free throw line this past season with the Magic. Bol’s contract is non-guaranteed for next season, but I imagine the Magic will pick up his option given how well he played throughout the majority of last season.

Jonathan Isaac is launching a new clothing brand UNITUS in August 2023.
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Finally, Jonathan Isaac is the big unknown in the Magic’s young core. He’s actually their highest-paid player with an annual salary of $17.4 million but has only played 11 games in the past three years. Isaac greatly improved during the Magic’s two playoff appearances in 2019 and 2020 and averaged 11.9 PPG, 6.8 REB, 1.6 steals (STL), and 2.3 blocks (BLK) on 47 percent from the field, 34 percent from three, and 77.9 percent from the free throw line during the 2020 season. He tore his ACL in the 2020 bubble, and it took him until the middle of the 2023 season to return since the rehab process took much longer than expected. Isaac looked great in limited minutes but unfortunately sustained another season-ending injury and had to get surgery. He is an extremely prolific defender who has shown considerable offensive improvements over the years. Isaac has been unlucky with injuries, and the Magic might eventually trade or waive him if he can’t stay on the court. I’m praying Isaac can move past the injury bug soon because he’s proven to be an important contributor to winning when healthy. The Magic’s young core has so much potential and versatility heading into the 2024 season, but the future and health of Bol Bol and Jonathan Isaac could be major factors in the progress of this team next season.