5 decisions the Orlando Magic face entering the 2024 season

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 14: Jett Howard #13 and Anthony Black #0 of the Orlando Magic pose for a portrait during the 2023 NBA rookie photo shoot at UNLV on July 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

5 decisions the Orlando Magic face entering the 2024 season

Where do the rookies fit in?

Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman has made it clear the Magic are in a new phase of their rebuild. Rookies are not going to get gifted minutes for the sake of development, everything is going to be earned throughout the roster.

While we can certainly debate the Magic’s depth some, this team does feel a bit more loaded with talent than previous iterations. Summer League was spent debating two-way contracts, but the reality is the Magic are not going to lean on two-way contracts as much this year. This team is better covered for injuries than it was last season. A 5-20 start should not happen.

But there is that other saying that Weltman likes to say: When the team drafts someone, they want to give them a path to play and a path for their success.

Orlando had two first-round picks and used them both. So that would go to thinking the Magic are invested in their future. It may not necessarily be for this season. But at some point, the Magic will want to see them play.

So how do they fit into this roster? Because this roster is pretty full. Just look at a potential depth chart without the rookies:

PG: Markelle Fultz/Cole Anthony
SG: Gary Harris/Jalen Suggs (more on this position later)
SF: Franz Wagner/Joe Ingles
PF: Paolo Banchero/Jonathan Isaac/Chuma Okeke
C: Wendell Carter/Moe Wagner/Goga Bitadze

Outside of power forward, the Magic seemingly feel confident and comfortable with what they are developing and growing at each position.

If anything Anthony Black’s presence muddies up the guard depth some, forcing himself or one of the players to play more at the 3. Similarly, Jett Howard could easily slot in at forward and slide Joe Ingles to play some bigger forward. But the Magic added Ingles on an $11-million per year contract.

All three of these players are new to the team and assumedly should get some playing time.

This is all to say, the Magic are going to have to force-fit the rookies into the rotation a bit as the dust settles. And indeed everyone is going to have to earn their spot on the roster. And if all the players on the team get better as we expect, that is only going to get tougher.

Things will happen during the course of the season. There will be injuries and so having depth in talent with Black and Howard is going to help fill those gaps. There is a lot more confidence the team will not suffer through the injuries and lack of depth that led to the 5-20 start to last season.

But there is likely going to be some time this season where one, if not both, of Black or Howard do not play or are part of the rotation.

That is why it feels like a trade is imminent for this Magic team to consolidate some talent and clear up pathways to play. That might be a question for the offseason after the team has a season of data and understanding of the players they have.