The Orlando Magic are using Paolo Banchero in different ways, at least in what they have shown in the preseason. This is not business as usual for the Magic's offense.
The team's opening play against the Memphis Grizzlies saw Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane execute a Spain pick-and-roll to get Franz Wagner going downhill to kick out to Wendell Carter for a corner three.
The opening play against the Cleveland Cavaliers saw a similar setup with Banchero eventually getting a switch to Peyton Watson and diving to the block to set up a post-up play.
That opportunity was flubbed when Watson pulled the chair, causing Banchero to lose his balance. But it was a good design to get a favorable matchup, executed well until the finish.
Banchero is on the move a lot more in the early public unveiling of the Magic's new offense. The team is focusing on better spacing and quicker decision-making. By all observations, Banchero is not holding the ball nearly as much or as long.
No one should be worried about Banchero's ability to get himself ready for the season.
Yet . . .
There is still the lingering concern that Banchero has not fixed the efficiency issues that have dogged him throughout his career. And while Banchero is scoring points -- 21 total points in the preseason to lead all of the Magic's regular starters -- he is not making shots.
Banchero is shooting 3-for-17 from the floor (17.6 percent) and 1-for-5 from three. He was 1-for-10 from the floor in the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday, making a three after eight misses for his lone field goal.
In true Magic fashion, this deserves an "Is this Anything?" even acknowledging Banchero is playing limited minutes and ths is the preseason. Should the Magic be concerned with Banchero's struggles to shoot? Or is this just a matter of Banchero working to find his rhythm?
The answer to that is probably no. This is just preseason. The Magic seem focused on looking at other things during these games.
But it is still inescapable.
One way or another, getting Banchero going is one of the biggest things the Magic have to figure out. He is a vital player for this team and essential to the team taking that vital next step this season.
Banchero in the new offense
The Orlando Magic's offense has certainly showed signs of being different this season.
Coach Sean Sweeney has emphasized spacing to ease pressure on the team's best players. The team is seemingly trying to increase some of its 3-point output.
That spacing seems to be a far bigger focus in these preseason games so far rather than running any specific actions to get Banchero or any individual player going. The Magic are still getting a feel for their offense.
To Banchero's credit, he has taken 20 free-throw attempts through two preseason games. He is still an engine at getting to the foul line, even when his shot is not falling. Banchero demands attention and creates pressure.
The next leap everyone wants to see from Banchero is improved field goal percentage, efficiency and impact on winning. Many of those things are not things you can find in the preseason.
But this abysmal of a shooting start is noteworthy.
The process in how Banchero is attacking seems to be fine so far this preseason.
He is moving quicker and making quicker decisions. There is less of him staying at the top of the key and overdribbling. But he is still flowing into mid-range jumpers, and he has yet to hit one this preseason.
He has looked a bit out of place on offense so far. He is still trying to find the best way for him to be effective. He has yet to assert himself as the main offensive engine.
Some of that might be intentional. The Magic are focused on other things and are using Banchero in ways that may be more limited when the season begins.
There are a lot of promising signs and ideas for how to get him more involved within the offense.
The team is using him more as a roller and playing him off of Franz Wagner a lot more. The Magic are working to get him on the move a lot more. There are fewer pick-and-rolls for him so far this preseason.
Maybe these misses are truly about playing with preseason intensity. The Magic do not seem overly worried about a few lackluster preseason performances.
But Banchero is as important as any player on the team. Results will matter most with him.
A sign of things to come?
It is somewhat easy to dismiss preseason performances as just the preseason. That is mostly like the way things should be.
But there is a lot of pressure on Paolo Banchero this season.
For any changes the Orlando Magic have made to their offense, success still depends on Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner leading the way. They carry a lot on their shoulders. And the team will need both to get where they want to go.
Last year was undoubtedly a struggle for Banchero. He shot 45.9 percent from the floor (better than his 2025 percentage), 30.5 percent from three and a 49.6 percent effective field goal percentage. He remains one of the least efficient high-volume shooters in the league.
And those struggles were previewed in a difficult preseason.
In the 2025 preseason, Banchero averaged 13.0 points per game in three appearances and shot 12 for 30 (40.0 percent) from the floor and 2 for 8 (25.0 percent) from three.
Worse than that, he looked sluggish and ground-bound. It was a preview of a difficult season in which Banchero never quite got off the ground.
That is not the case this year. One of Banchero's misses was an attempt to dunk on Cameron Boozer in the paint. Banchero has been flinging himself at the basket to draw fouls. And he is moving noticeably quicker and with more purpose.
The only thing that has been missing are the results.
As much as the Magic are trying to change the conditions around Banchero to improve their offensive flow, they still need Banchero to be the team's best player and an efficient force.
The biggest growth the Magic can make this year is for Banchero to ascend to superstardom. And that will come if he is a more efficient scorer and shooter.
Nobody should panicking over two preseason games. The Magic are likely working on and focused on other things. The practices happening behind closed doors at the AdventHealth Training Center are fare more important.
But the Magic also need to see Banchero take that leap. And in two preseason games, his struggles are at least something to flag and be aware of once again.
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