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5 questions for the Orlando Magic to answer in training camp

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 3, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) controls the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Paolo Banchero, United States
Paolo Banchero has emerged as a strong defender for Team USA, a skill that would not have likely emerged with Italy. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA/AFP via Getty Images) /

5 training camp questions for the Orlando Magic

How much will the Orlando Magic experiment with lineups?

The Orlando Magic had to get creative by necessity last season. Injuries gutted the guard room and forced the Magic to get creative with the roster they had.

So there was Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero bringing the ball up the court as the point guards. There was Bol Bol playing small forward in a jumbo lineup of ball-handling big men.

The idea of skill versatility was born. It was not just about having players who could play and defend multiple positions, it was about having players who did unusual things for their size. It was about using bigs as ball handlers and playmakers. A true all-five kind of offense.

That is very much still in the works. But this versatility has been the guiding principle for the team in its building. The Magic want to be able to place players in any role within the offense and still be able to run it effectively.

There is still work to achieve this ultimate dream. Namely, the Magic need more shooting to give space to their forwards to attack. But this versatility will also give the team some opportunity to be creative.

Everyone turned their heads early in training camp last year when it came out the Magic were trying lineups with Bol, Banchero and Wagner. What will they say when the Magic try lineups with Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac? Will they try those lineups with a center like Wendell Carter or line up Paolo Banchero or Jonathan Isaac at center?

What about all the guards? The Magic have a big guard in Anthony Black who could see minutes at any of the perimeter positions and is an excellent rebounder for a player his size. Could they use him along with Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs or Markelle Fultz with Paolo Banchero at center?

Team USA putting Banchero as the backup center during the FIBA World Cup seemed to open all kinds of doors for what the Magic can do. Banchero held his own on both the glass and as a defender, making it very possible Banchero sees more minutes at center.

Before even getting there, Orlando played small throughout Summer League, using D.J. Wilson at center with Caleb Houstan and Jett Howard as the two forwards. It was an experiment to say the least.

All this versatility means Orlando can get closer to the ideal of playing its five best players on the court. That is the ultimate dream.

How adventurous will the Magic be? That is a fair question to ask. And some of the Magic’s training camp and the preseason will be spent seeing what the limits are to this kind of versatility.

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