The Orlando Magic are already starting to get some work in with pick-up runs. They may well be chatting with Jamahl Mosley and getting some sense of what they plan to run and how they will hit the ground running for the season.
There are still a few players getting in their last bits of the offseason.
Franz Wagner is, of course, playing for Germany in EuroBasket. Cole Anthony appears to be stealing some last pick-up runs in New York before making his trip south. Markelle Fultz also appears to be waiting a bit before returning to Orlando.
Everyone will have to be back in town though soon. We are officially in the final countdown to training camp and the start of the 2023 season’s journey.
T-minus two weeks.
The Orlando Magic will open training camp in two weeks and there are already a lot of questions to ask as the team examines its roster ahead of camp.
The Magic will officially get together at the new AdventHealth Training Facility on Monday, Sept. 26 for the team’s media day and begin training camp on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
This is a season with tremendous anticipation and excitement to be sure.
It is not just the introduction of first overall pick Paolo Banchero and the growth of young prospects like Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Wendell Carter and more; or the return from injury for Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac (we hope); or just the start of a new season, it is all of those things combined. It is the anticipation and excitement to see all these elements come together.
External expectations are once again low as everyone expects a young team to go through its lumps. Internally, the Magic are not ready to commit to saying this is a playoff team (although they do not close that door).
The goal is simply to improve and to be doing things that will help the team win more. Not only for this year but in the long term.
Orlando is still a rebuilding team with long-term goals in mind.
Before anyone can get to what the Magic ultimately do in April, we have to get to October first. Training camp is going to be a critical part of the season for sorting through positions and setting roles for the team in the early part of the season.
There are going to be a lot of questions answered early in camp before the season begins. Or, at least, there are questions that need some answer to start the season even if that answer could change through the course of the season.
Every training camp brings these kinds of battles and roster questions. The Magic are no different. Especially with all the young players they have.
Here is what we are watching as camp begins: