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Top 5 Orlando Magic lineups to try this season

By Harrison Brown

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 31: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on October 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 31: Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic drives to the basket against Paul George #13 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Crypto.com Arena on October 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. 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 Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – NOVEMBER 02: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on November 02, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – NOVEMBER 02: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic in action during the second half of a game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on November 02, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

5 ideal lineups for the Orlando Magic

Shooting Lineup: Cole Anthony/Gary Harris/Franz Wagner/Joe Ingles/Wendell Carter

This is a rare unit for the Orlando Magic where all five players can shoot the basketball.

Cole Anthony has been inconsistent handling the ball so far this season but Franz Wagner can also bring the ball up the court when needed.

Anthony and Wagner can initiate actions to provide open looks to the rest of this unit. This group does not have much defensive prowess, but Wendell Carter is one of the better bigs at handling the pick and roll.

All five players would need to be disciplined on defense and look to bend not break. This will be the only unit Orlando has that will attempt to outscore other teams rather than limit them.

Gary Harris has been a steady wing defender and Franz Wagner has continued to improve on that side of the ball. Jamahl Mosley would hope that Joe Ingles makes up for his lack of defense on the offensive end.

Ingles has had a difficult start to the year but he is a career 40.8 percent three-point shooter. He will figure it out, but in the meantime he is showing his ability to distribute the ball. He is fourth on the team in assists.

Ingles has enough tread on the tires to know that his role is to shoot the lights out for this young club.

The duo of Ingles and Harris will be one of the few times in recent memory that two elite three point shooters will share the floor for the Magic. Anthony and Wagner will have ample operating room with two players that need to be nose-guarded on the perimeter.

Wagner would be the facilitator with this group while letting Anthony be an off-ball scorer which seems to be more comfortable for him — that has been an alignment the Magic have used playing Anthony and Ingles together with the second unit.

Wagner would have room to get to his spots and a big body in Carter to set screens. Wagner has taken a major leap after the FIBA World Championships with his ability to navigate defenses.

He uses long strides and quick moves to get past defenders. Wagner already looks like an All-Star and this unit gives him more space than he has had on the court since he was drafted.

Luckily with Ingles, Wagner and Carter, all 6 -foot-9 or taller, the shooting unit will not be undersized. The group can play solid defense while still scoring in bunches.

Fast break opportunities will result in open shots and luckily everyone on the floor is a threat from deep. It will open up driving lanes and force defenses to close out to shooters.

This would be an ideal first unit off the bench as it forces the defense to play a completely different style relative to the starters. It provides instant offense and is still capable of defending.

Surprisingly, out of the 51 units that Mosley has placed on the court, this is not one of them. He is trying to distribute shooters evenly throughout each rotation. I think it is worth giving it a shot.

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