SB Nation ranks Orlando 5th in Young Cores in NBA

[Fortune Teller]

Recency bias might have impacted this list. Anthony Black and Jett Howard don't move the needle nationally, and even Magic fans don't foresee them being given a lot of minutes this season. Whereas the national perception is that Houston added two potential studs in Thompson and Whitmore. And of course the Spurs added the Second Coming in Wembanyama.

The best young core is Memphis because they've already proved it on the court. Everything else is just what-ifs. All that should matter are wins and losses, not style points or potential.

[Skybox]

Recency bias might have impacted this list. Anthony Black and Jett Howard don't move the needle nationally, and even Magic fans don't foresee them being given a lot of minutes this season. Whereas the national perception is that Houston added two potential studs in Thompson and Whitmore. And of course the Spurs added the Second Coming in Wembanyama.

The best young core is Memphis because they've already proved it on the court. Everything else is just what-ifs. All that should matter are wins and losses, not style points or potential.

I don't disagree...

IMO, Whitmore slid in the draft for a reason and landing in HOU looks exciting on paper, but might be the worst spot for a guy who has immense talent but no (proven) aptitude for team play - like the rest of their roster. I'm sure their hope is that FVV and Udoka can straighten them all out and run a smarter offense than their AAU superstar attitudes are used to. Kuminga landing in GSW may have killed the spotlights on him, but he's got a shot at becoming a really good player if he pays attention. If Kuminga landed in ORL (with the team at the time), he'd probably be ROY with 20 inefficient PPG and no wins. Whitmore looks similar to me...but, obviously, is very young and the future is unwritten.