The Orlando Magic face an even tougher path to an All-Star

Paolo Banchero was an All-Star in 2024.

If not for injuries, Franz Wagner would have been an All-Star in 2025 and 2026.

The question facing the Orlando Magic is: How do they get back to that level? How do they get that honor?

Selecting All-Stars, especially with the limited roster space, is a chicken-or-an-egg problem. Are players All-Stars simply because of their numbers, or does their team's success make them All-Stars? Does their play bring team success?

The answer is both/and. Unless a player is putting up absurd numbers or gets voted in -- like Tracy McGrady did on both counts in the 2003 season -- a team only gets All-Stars if they are winning. That is likely what kept both Banchero and Wagner off the All-Star teams the last two years.

The question is not really whether Banchero and Wagner are All-Star-level players, but whether they can do enough to make it this year in a crowded field. Whether their team can do enough to get them there.

Wagner is a favorite candidate to get a first-time All-Star nod. Banchero also likely had a good case. But they both have work to do to get their team where they need to be.

Winning comes first, then the accolades.

Even then, the competition will be stiff.

The Eastern Conference is expected to be tight. There are a lot of All-Star-worthy players, specifically at the forward positions that Banchero and Wagner occupy. Getting in will be a gargantuan task on its own.

Banchero and Wagner are not about to get voted in. Most of the Magic's national television appearances come after voting has closed. The coaches will need to vote them in. That will not happen unless the Magic are winning.

Who will the Magic's stars have to beat for the precious few spots to head to Phoenix? This is your early All-Star handicap.

Likely In

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson is hosting Saturday Night Live's premiere. He is the toast of New York City after leading them to a championship. It would not shock me if he is the leading vote-getter for All-Star Weekend.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat: Giannis Antetokounmpo has been voted into the All-Star Game for 10 straight years. It is hard to imagine that he would not get voted in again with the switch to Miami. It is fair to argue that he might still be the best player in the Eastern Conference.

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: Orlando Magic fans know firsthand how good Cade Cunningham can be. He has established himself as a perennial All-Star. And he will be the engine once again for the Detroit Pistons. Whether the Pistons will contend again is the question left for the rest of their roster.

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers: Tyrese Maxey is expected to make the biggest sacrifice in the Phialdlephia 76ers' offense after a breakout season. But the Sixers are still planning to hand the reins to him for the long term. He should remain the key to the Sixers' success.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers: Donovan Mitchell continues to be overlooked among the elite guards in the league. He consistently puts up big scoring numbers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, for all their flaws, are still a contender in the East. Age may claim him at some point. But Mitchell will get the benefit of the doubt.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics: It was truly incredible to see Jayson Tatum return from a ruptured Achilles less than a year from the injury. That he was solid and gaining steam toward the end of the season before a calf injury shut him down in the Playoffs was even more miraculous. What will he do with a full season? If he is healthy, Tatum is going to be an All-Star again.

Jaylen Brown, Philadelphia 76ers: Jaylen Brown's counting stats might be depressed being in a lineup with so much star power. But Brown is still an All-Star player. Especially if the Philadelphia 76ers are as good as everyone thinks they can be.

Good Chance He's going

Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors: Scottie Barnes should be an All-Star, although I would not make him a perennial All-Star quite yet. His versatility on a bigger stage with Kawhi Leonard in the mix should get him in front of more eyes and boost his impact this season.

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks: If the New York Knicks are the top seed in the East, it is safe to assume they will get a second All-Star. And Karl-Anthony Towns is still putting up All-Star numbers. That shiny ring will get him plenty of respect.

Something Pending

Kawhi Leonard, Toronto Raptors: We are all still waiting for the Toronto Raptors to complete the Kawhi Leonard trade. When that goes down, the Raptors vault themselves into contention. And Leonard, coming off his healthiest and most productive season in years, becomes a clear All-Star possibility. Especially if the Raptors are that good.

Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers: There is always a chance that Tyrese Haliburton gets voted in. He may be that popular. But I am personally hitting pause on the Indiana Pacers hype. Haliburton will be back and the Pacers will be better. But I think Haliburton will still need the year to get his feet under him. I am not sold this is the year the Pacers make a big push.

LeBron James, Philadelphia 76ers: LeBron James has made the All-Star Game every year since 2005, an incredible run of recognition. He is someone who gets voted in even if he is not playing like an All-Star -- last year was his first time not getting voted in. To be sure, James is not an All-Star every night. But nobody can keep him off the list.

Depends on the Team

James Harden, Cleveland Cavaliers: James Harden is getting older. But he is showing no signs of slowing down. He is still putting up crazy good numbers. His All-Star days are coming to an end. But he is still playing at a high level.

Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks: How good Jalen Johnson truly was snuck under the radar last year. He filled up the stat sheet without much flash. He was not even credited with Atlanta's surge last year. That might be the problem. He struggled in the Playoffs.

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic: Franz Wagner should be a two-time All-Star already (he was making it over Norman Powell last year). He just needs to be healthy. I think Wagner is closer to the tank that played 70-plus games in his first three years than the one who suffered random long-term injuries in the last two.

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic: Paolo Banchero has been an All-Star and puts up the raw stats that befit an All-Star. The question is whether coaches give him that respect. This is why the Magic winning matters. It puts him at the front and makes everyone recognize his positive impact. When the Magic lose, the blame gets heaped on him.

Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers: Pascal Siakam was the rare player who got an All-Star bid while playing for a team at the bottom of the standings. Siakam was legitimately good and put up All-Star-worthy numbers. Everyone understood the Pacers' situation.

Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat: Bam Adebayo is going to be thrilled to have Giannis Antetokounmpo next to him. It will ease a lot of pressure for him on both ends and allow him to play to his strengths. He is not a primary scorer. He loved being the ultimate role player. But that could also depress his stats and make him less likely to be an All-Star.

Trae Young/Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards: The Washington Wizards pushed a lot of chips in to try to get better quickly, acquiring two aging All-Star who are looking to regain their form. If they are healthy, they will make the Wizards much better. That is what will determine whether they are All-Stars or not.

Michael Porter Jr./Julius Randle, Brooklyn Nets: Michael Porter Jr. got some quiet All-Star consideration last year. He did not play enough and the Brooklyn Nets did not win enough for him to get over the hump. Both he and Julius Randle will be in the running to represent the Nets if they shock everyone and play well next season.

Brandon Miller, Charlotte Hornets: Brandon Miller seems poised to make a major leap in play and climb into All-Star consideration this year with LaMelo Ball leaving Charlotte. His All-Star bid is wholly dependent on the Hornets being competitive in the East. They need Miller to be an All-Star to do so.

Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons: Jalen Duren had an All-Star season last year. But his bid was a recognition from the coaches of how the Detroit Pistons climbed to the top seed in the East. He would ned to help his team repeat that performance to get a second invite. Right now, he just needs to sign his contract.

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers: Evan Mobley's meteoric rise has suddenly stopped. His offense hit a wall last year. And while his defense is still solid. He no longer looks like the versatile superstar he did a few years ago.

The Magic's chances

Quite simply, the Orlando Magic's chances of landing an All-Star will come down to whether they are winning.

If Orlando is in the fight for homecourt advantage and comfortably clear of the Play-In, they will get one representative in Phoenix. If they are fighting for a top seed, there is a good chance they will get two.

As you can tell from this list, there are a lot of qualified and quality players who will push for a spot at the All-Star Game. I had seven players as essentially shoo-ins, leaving just five spots open. That is not a lot of space for the Magic to get their players in.

Here are my preseason All-Star predictions:

It is going to be touch and go. This has Wagner as the last man in.

There are a few spots that seem up in the air -- Kawhi Leonard's spot is very injury-dependent and dependent on the Toronto Raptors being an elite team. But that leaves essentially four spots in question at this point in the offseason.

The season still has to play out. And that is what will ultimately change minds. Injuries will open spots like they did last year. Disappointment will too.

Ultimately what matters for Orlando is to win. If the team succeeds, the individual players will reap the benefits.

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