Orlando Magic Daily
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3 Up, 3 Down for the Orlando Magic’s future playoff spot

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Miami Heat guard Kyle Lowry (7) is fouled by Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons
Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic find themselves playing meaningful games and with a real chance to make the Play-In Tournament. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /

3 Up, 3 Down in the Eastern Conference playoff picture

2 Up: Detroit Pistons

It is hard to think of a team that went 17-65 and finished with the worst record in the league as a team on the rise. Especially considering that team was the one team in the bottom four to fall out of the Lottery spots.

The Detroit Pistons probably feel a bit like they wasted this season because of that Lottery loss.

Still, if there is a team that is going to be on the rise alongside the Orlando Magic and a team that could become one of the team’s chief rivals, it is the Detroit Pistons.

They may have stepped on the pedal too quickly last year and raised expectations with their gambit on veterans like Bojan Bogdanovic. But, who could plan for the Cade Cunningham injury that limited him to just 12 games?

And Cunningham was still very good in those 12 games — 19.9 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, 6.0 assists per game albeit on inefficient shooting splits (41.5/27.9/83.7). Cunningham absolutely has another gear and this young team was very reliant on him to be the engine.

The talent potential on this team is great not just because of Cunningham’s return. They have Jaden Ivey coming off an impressive rookie year. And the fifth pick in the draft could net them Amen Thompson, Ausar Thompson or Cam Whitmore.

They also have cap room — $43.2 million in cap room even with picking up Alec Burks’ team option — and could be a team that tries to throw a lot of money at a player to entice them to Detroit and get back on track after their Bogdanovic bet last year to be good while they develop.

The biggest problem for them is just roster balance with all the centers they have on the roster — and Jalen Duren might be their best after a strong rookie season.

Detroit probably is a bit farther than Orlando. But not by much. And they could make up that gap quickly if Cunningham hits the ground running.