What team would you compare the Magic to?

[zaymon]

Good comp. Lots builds to look at as benchmarks.

For me it all starts with who Paolo will end up most resembling as that will dictate how everything around him runs. I can’t tell if he’ll become a proper floor general playmaker like LeBron and Giannis are, or if he’ll become an efficient scoring leader like Tatum.

Franz is great because he will compliment any player in the league, so it’s nice to have a 2-man core that can adapt as they grow. But I still see Franz as the ultimate glue-guy and not a lead guy. So if our team was looking for an ideal 1b or 2nd option alongside Paolo, I don’t have the strongest feel for who that player should be. Will he be better alongside a Lowry/JRue, a Brunson, a Brown or an AD type? I’ve gotta think a Wemby/Paolo combo would be a dynasty foundation.

I agree that Banchero closest comp in the nba could be Randle. Is it good or bad we will find out, but we can see that you can build a playoff team around that archetype. Defense and playmaking will be deciding factors.
For Knicks biggest difference next to Randle makes Brunson. Switchable guard who excels in pick and roll and is a knockdown shooter from 3. Thats opposite of what we have right now.

[jezzerinho]

Knicks or Pels (pre CJ) would be the closest comparisons, to my mind.

[pepe1991]

Hopefully Banchero in playoffs will be more than Randle is.
Knicks win games despite of Randle in playoffs, it's painfuly to watch him play.

[VFX]

I don’t really get the Knicks comparison other than Randle and Paolo having similar games.

Knicks are only in the playoffs because of Brunson. Orlando doesn’t have that player on the team.

Franz and RJ are vastly different guys. Let’s just say I’m glad they aren’t the same. RJ was easily my least favorite Duke recruit to watch.

[Skybox]

I don’t really get the Knicks comparison other than Randle and Paolo having similar games.

Knicks are only in the playoffs because of Brunson. Orlando doesn’t have that player on the team.

Franz and RJ are vastly different guys. Let’s just say I’m glad they aren’t the same. RJ was easily my least favorite Duke recruit to watch.

Knicks were a joke without Brunson and many fans would have gifted Randle (just one year removed from All Star year)...Exhibit A of what a badass triple-threat PG brings to a decently setup roster. It's effect is revolutionary - way beyond just improving 1/5 of the roster. Take Tom Brady off the Bucs and they would have been mediocre, not champs.

[MasterGMer]

Before Magic drafted Paolo, I said his comparison is Julius Randle. I actually changed my mind one day before the draft about Paolo.

In return, it proved to be a great idea. Maybe i was right.

[Bensational]

I don’t really get the Knicks comparison other than Randle and Paolo having similar games.

Knicks are only in the playoffs because of Brunson. Orlando doesn’t have that player on the team.

Franz and RJ are vastly different guys. Let’s just say I’m glad they aren’t the same. RJ was easily my least favorite Duke recruit to watch.

Knicks were a joke without Brunson and many fans would have gifted Randle (just one year removed from All Star year)...Exhibit A of what a badass triple-threat PG brings to a decently setup roster. It's effect is revolutionary - way beyond just improving 1/5 of the roster. Take Tom Brady off the Bucs and they would have been mediocre, not champs.

The Knicks were 4th in the east just 2 seasons ago in 2020-21, with the same winning record (41-31, 57%). They did that with Payton and Rose at PG. Brunson is a different class though because it's debatable who the best player in New York is now, and they're fighting in the 2nd round.

MagicMatic - Franz and RJ aren't a style comp, but a role comp for secondary playmakers who are triple threats and strong on defense. Franz is already much better than RJ. Franz has a higher bball IQ and reads the court better, so everything he does is more efficient.

Knicks seem like the more accurate comp of where our team is, not necessarily where it ends up. Apart from similar star players, they've been successful with defense and depth, same as us. Considering we were basically a .500 version of their 47 win team with so much youth is impressive in its own right.

Robinson - Wendell
Randle - Banchero
Barret - Franz
Grimes - Harris
Brunson - Fultz
Hart - Suggs
Quickly - Cole

[pepe1991]

I would argue that Brunson benig best Knicks player isn't arguable

[Skybox]

I would argue that Brunson benig best Knicks player isn't arguable

No doubt…his impact goes way beyond his own stats

[Bensational]

I would argue that Brunson benig best Knicks player isn't arguable

True. Randle may not have accepted it yet. Probably knows it, but won’t admit it.

Brunson is coming up so big this postseason.

[drsd]

I would argue that Brunson benig best Knicks player isn't arguable

Watch on YouTube

[jonbob17]

I'd say we are most like OKC with less draft picks and a bit less talent. We are on the upswing with a lot of talent under 25, and all of our picks and a few others going forward. Weird players like Bol and Poku.

OKC is really deep with young guys, and SGA looks like one 10 best players in the league going forward at age 24.

Two days from now we could luck our way past them, or maybe at least get closer. I'd be shocked if OKC were not a top 5 seed next year, so ahead of us by a year or so...