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3 thoughts on the Orlando Magic after one-quarter of season

ByLuke Duffy|
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Amway Center on October 28, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 28: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the Charlotte Hornets during the fourth quarter at Amway Center on October 28, 2022 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
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Orlando Magic
Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic dunks (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

3 thoughts on the Orlando Magic’s first quarter

1. This is still the best rebuild yet

Despite all of this, it is not all doom and gloom in Orlando.

There are plenty of reasons to be thankful, and this is clearly the best rebuild the organization have had in the decade-plus they have been trying to get it right.

Paolo Banchero is a star in the making. And Franz Wagner is having an excellent sophomore season. If nothing else, the recent injury to Wendell Carter has shown us how valuable he is to the Orlando Magic.

That is a strong trio to start to build any contending team with, and although we keep talking about the injuries, it has sadly become the defining feature of the organization right now. Jalen Suggs has been much improved in year two, while Cole Anthony is sorely missed in the rotation.

Terrence Ross has smiled through all of the adversity and is an excellent veteran leader for this group. Both he and Gary Harris have trade value around the league, and if the Magic decide to go in a different direction, they have the flexibility on their roster to do so.

They have their own lottery pick next year, as well as one coming to them from the Chicago Bulls.

Hard as it can be to think about as the losses pile up, they have come a long way from the days of Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon. They have nailed recent draft picks like Wagner and even Banchero (remember the talk that they were going to draft Jabari Smith Jr. over him?), and won the Vucevic trade.

We have picked apart coach Mosley some here, but he is a young coach who will be given more time to get this right. It will be a big boost to him when some of the aforementioned players are able to suit up again.

Offensively this team has a star in Banchero, and is a much better watch on that end than they used to be. This season will get worse, but the best is yet to come for the Magic.