The Orlando Magic won 47 regular season games, which was their most since 2011. It was enough to end their three-year playoff drought and made everyone excited about their future. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner led the way on their rookie contracts.
They are building something special and added a key piece in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this offseason. The Magic have a proven 3-and-D wing with championship experience to lead their young roster. KCP will sink open shots and play stout perimeter defense. Orlando will benefit from internal growth and hopes Caldwell-Pope is the missing piece in making a deep playoff run for the first time since 2010.
The Magic have eight players on their depth chart under 25 years old and need multiple players to step up to be in serious contention. The Eastern Conference improved with the Knicks trading for Mikal Bridges and Philadelphia signing Paul George. Orlando believes they are in that mix with growth, but who should the franchise be focused on developing?
Develop: Tristan da Silva
The Magic selected da Silva with the 18th overall pick in the 2024 draft. The 6’8 wing played four years of college basketball and should be NBA-ready quickly.
Fans saw his potential in the Las Vegas summer league. Da Silva averaged 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 26.8 minutes per game. He only played in three contests, but shot 17 of 28 from the field and made ten of his 17 3-point tries. The 23-year-old shined in Sin City and could quickly make an impact on the Magic.
Tristan da Silva is a plus-shooter with size and length. The Orlando Magic were last in 3-pointers made and 24th in 3-point percentage last season. They need someone with the rookie’s skill set and should take their time developing him.
Develop: Anthony Black
The sixth overall pick in the 2023 draft played in 69 regular season games as a rookie. His numbers were not eye-popping, but Black shot 46.6 percent from the field and 39.4 percent on his threes. The 20-year-old is looking to take a step in year two and hopes to get more on-ball opportunities after the departures of Markelle Fultz and Joe Ingles.
The 6’7 guard has plus size and immense potential. He fell out of the Magic’s rotation down the stretch and into the playoffs, but not many rookies are helping contenders. Black is still packed with upside and does not turn 21 until January.
Orlando hopes to see improvements on both ends of the floor. His shooting is a swing skill. He made 37 of his 94 3-point attempts last season but was a subpar shooter in college. The Magic want to see Black making plays and being a versatile defender. If he does that while being an above-average shooter, the 6'7 guard is an NBA starter for a decade-plus.
The Orlando Magic have a crowded backcourt. Jalen Suggs and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope appear locked in as starters with Cole Anthony and Gary Harris returning off the bench. Can Black work his way into significant minutes? The franchise should find him opportunities and continue his development because he has the makings of an exciting option. It is all about helping him reach his ceiling.
Give up: Caleb Houstan
The 32nd overall pick in 2022 has already played 110 games with the Magic. Houstan averages just 14.8 minutes per contest and his production leaves plenty to be desired. He improved in year two, but the 6’8 wing still averaged just 4.3 points and 1.4 rebounds, while shooting 38.8 percent from the field.
The Magic have two more years of team control and Houstan is set to make just $4.2 million total. He is a fantastic contract to have on the bench as a 21-year-old with size and upside.
Still, Orlando cannot afford to prioritize his development. He rated as a replacement-level player last season and has a negative VORP for his career. Houstan is a plus-shooter, but what else does he bring? It appears not enough to hold down a massive role, and the Magic are loaded with talent on the wings.
Every young player needs minutes. Orlando just does not have enough for Caleb Houston. There is no reason to cut him, but the Magic should not be afraid to include him in a trade or shop him for an upgrade. The 21-year-old has potential and could find a role in the right situation. Orlando should hope to turn him into a piece that helps them.
Develop: Jalen Suggs
It is crazy to think Suggs just turned 23 years old. He is still a young player, despite entering the final season of his rookie contract. The Magic need to work out an extension, and the 6’5 guard will get a massive pay raise after a breakout third year.
Suggs became one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA and significantly improved his jumper last season. It took him from a top-five draft pick playing off the bench to an unquestioned starter and key piece moving forward. Suggs averaged 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals in 27.0 minutes per game and was named second-team All-Defense.
The 23-year-old is locked in as a starter and should be a key rotation piece for a decade-plus. Suggs has room to grow as a playmaker and must maintain his shooting improvements to reach his ceiling. The 6’5 guard is still ascending and will likely land a massive contract before the start of the regular season.
Jalen Suggs should be one of three Orlando Magic starters under 24 years old next season. That is not common for a contending team and shows the franchise’s future potential if they can keep their young core intact as they reach their primes.
Give up: Cole Anthony
Seeing a drop in minutes is always a negative sign for a young player. Anthony was the 15th overall pick in 2020 and played a career-low 22.4 minutes per game last season. His run dipped further in the playoffs. Anthony is clearly a reserve guard with limited upside.
He still averaged 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. The 24-year-old regressed to a 33.8 percent 3-point shooter and made just 43.5 percent from the field. Those steps back coupled with his decrease in playing time should have Orlando exploring their options.
Anthony has two years and $26 million guaranteed on his contract. The Magic also have a team option for the 2026-27 season at $13.1 million. The option will be below the mid-level exception, so there should be no issues in moving on if Orlando can find a team that believes Anthony can fill a larger role.
It is time for the Magic to prioritize other options. They know what Cole Anthony is at this stage. The 6’2 guard is a score-first player who struggles with efficiency. Anthony Black or Tristan da Silva offer more to Orlando, especially with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero taking on additional ball-handling and creation responsibilities. The Magic should look to trade Anthony as part of a package for a starting center.
Develop: Franz Wagner
The Magic made it clear that Wagner is one of their two building blocks by giving him a five-year $224.2 million extension this summer. It was a maximum contract and can balloon to $269 million if he makes All-NBA in 2025.
The 22-year-old averaged 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 32.5 minutes per game last season. His 3-point percentage strangely dipped to 28.1 percent after shooting north of 35 percent in his first two seasons. Wagner must prove it was a fluke, but he certainly has All-Star potential. It will take time, but the 6’10 forward is years away from his peak.
Giving him a max contract was a bold move, especially with the new spending restrictions the NBA has in place. The Magic clearly believe he will blossom further. He is set to make over $51 million in the 2029-30 season. The salary cap will continue to rise, but that salary only works for Orlando if Wagner is an All-Star and elite NBA player.
The Magic are all-in on Franz Wagner’s development. His versatile skill set makes him valuable. He will keep improving and could be a top 20 player in the world in his prime. Orlando must help him reach his ceiling or the franchise may regret giving him a rookie max extension. Bet on Wagner blossoming as the Magic continue to ascend.
Give up: Jett Howard
Howard has proven to be a plus-shooter. The 6’8 wing shot the ball well at the University of Michigan and made 37.7 percent from 3-point range last season in the G League over 337 attempts. The 20-year-old will space the floor, but what else does he offer?
He has size but struggled mightily on defense in the G League. There is limited passing and not much else to be excited about. Howard is a floor spacer with some scoring potential, but he will struggle to stay on the floor without ancillary skills.
It is too soon to completely give up on the 20-year-old wing, but the Magic have no minutes available. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Franz Wagner are the team’s starters on the wings and both will play 30-plus minutes every night. It leaves Howard battling Gary Harris, Jonathan Isaac, Anthony Black, and Tristan da Silva for playing time. There will not be much available and the Magic brought back Harris and Isaac on long-term deals as proof they are prioritizing those options.
Jett Howard was a surprise lottery selection with room to grow. There is plenty of time, but the 6’8 wing needs minutes. They are just not available in Orlando, and the Magic should look to trade him as part of a package for a difference-maker.
Develop: Paolo Banchero
The number one overall pick in 2022 has accomplished a ton in just two NBA seasons. He won Rookie of the Year and averaged over 20 points per game to start things off. His production took a step forward in year two as Banchero became an All-Star and led the Magic to the playoffs. The sky’s the limit for the 6’10 forward and he should quickly be entering All-NBA conversations.
Bachero turns 22 in November and is already the best player on a playoff team. He is on a legendary trajectory and it is dangerous to limit him. Banchero averaged 27 points per game in the playoffs and showed he will shine when the lights are brightest. The next step is superstardom, and Magic fans should not rule it out happening in 2025.
He has two years left on his rookie contract and will be a max player in the 2026-27 season. Banchero will be worth every penny. The 21-year-old is already the number-one option on a playoff team and is likely seven years away from his prime. It is scary to think about how good Banchero will be at that stage. The Magic hope he remains in Orlando and can make them a title contender.
The Orlando Magic’s roster is loaded with young talent, and the franchise must decide who to develop. Finding the best fits around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner should be the top priority as they looks to take the next step. Stay tuned because the Magic are just getting started.