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What do you expect for Orlando next year with the Bane addition?

Second round is a must next season. All will depend on health and the shooting development of Paolo and Franz. If they improve and the team is healthy, they should be a legit conference finals contender, at the least.

Second round exit .

With Indy's run it's hard to define what a contender is considering the East is going to be weird next year. But it only matters if Paolo/Franz take another leap - if so, and if we get some sort of guard on the roster to help, I like our shot against most east teams

1st round exit. Bane is a good shooter but he can't shoot the ball for Paolo and Franz. Already in the trade thread, people are making excuses for their future disappointments by claiming that they need a "PG".

What ORL really needs is a franchise player that can shoot and score at a league average efficiency. Until then the ceiling of this team is capped

In the Tatum less east with Embiid being semi retired, yes.

If Franz and Paolo show some internal growth with their perimeter shooting they will most definitely be very dangerous. I don’t trust A black as their primary guard of the bench I think they should look to get another guard piece as well to help that rotation. Still need more shooting but they are definitely a dangerous team.

Just one concern I have for them is their core role players ability to stay healthy guys like Suggs, Carter jr and Isaac are injury prone so they definitely need solid depth behind those players.

A Contender is a team that I can see make the Finals. Considering the state of the East, especially with an injured Tatum in addition to the cost saving moves that the Celtics are expected to make, I can see a path for the Magic to make it. Hardly anyone expected the Pacers to make it this far but the East is in theory as wide open as it's ever been.

ECF dark horse

anything less than 2nd round would be a disappointment

I thought they were already really good when healthy. They could definitely make a Finals run.

East top teams next year:

1. Indy
2. Cleveland
3. NYK
4. Orlando

Raps in 4 wrote:I thought they were already really good when healhhy. They could definitely make a Finals run.

East top teams next year:

1. Indy
2. Cleveland
3. NYK
4. Orlando

Detroit can make another internal growth

Let me remind everyone Orlando still had one of the top defenses in the league despite their best defenders being out.

The dealt with multiple serious injuries and still managed to make the playoffs (before injuries they were looking like an easy top-3 team).

They didn’t lose any depth/impact players and upgraded one of the starting positions from one of the worst SG in the league to one of the best.

It’s hard to imagine anything less than a top-3 maybe top-2 record pending health.

durantbird wrote:

Raps in 4 wrote:I thought they were already really good when healhhy. They could definitely make a Finals run.

East top teams next year:

1. Indy
2. Cleveland
3. NYK
4. Orlando

Detroit can make another internal growth

And if PHI keeps Embiid and he stays healthy, I have PHI above ORL as well

It looks like the poll is giving us a big middle finger haha.

durantbird wrote:

Raps in 4 wrote:I thought they were already really good when healhhy. They could definitely make a Finals run.

East top teams next year:

1. Indy
2. Cleveland
3. NYK
4. Orlando

Detroit can make another internal growth

True but Paolo, Franz and Suggs are 22, 23 and 24 years old while Cade and Ivey are both 23. I'd say it wouldn't be a stretch to see both teams make internal growth.

Who the hell voted for no playoffs???

Are they predicting crazier injuries than the Magic endured this past season?

Orlando Magic when healthy is already a good team. Very good defense too. With the addition of a guard, Bane, should help offensively. They also play in a weak division (Southeast: Orlando, Miami, Charlotte, Washington), they should won that easily, maybe 50 wins. I think they'll be a contender. 2nd round or even ECFs.
NBA Finals?? Well. With luck and health, who knows.

Indiana Pacers are probably the favorites to come out the East again next season if they stay healthy. They are very good, deep, well coached. Great team chemistry.
Cavs will be up there as well.

Boston with Tatum injured/recovering, may fall back a bit next season. They are too 3 ball reliant a times as well.
Sixers have to stay healthy. Same for the Hawks.
Knicks are in limbo. Question marks. Uncertain. They need a new coach. Might fall back a bit, too.
Pistons on the upswing.
Bucks are getting old, uncertain. Does Dame come back from Achilles tendon injury? Does Giannis stay or leave Milwaukee?

All this also depends on where the FAs go, trades, draft picks, etc.

If I had to take a guess for next season? Pacers and Cavs will probably be the favorites. Orlando could be a final 4 in the East. A dark horse.
Boston will probably be down next season. Same for NY Knicks, they may fall back a lil, coaching change.

thelead wrote:Who the hell voted for no playoffs???

Are they predicting crazier injuries than the Magic endured this past season?

Yes, that's weird.

Orlando should be a playoff team next season for sure if no major injuries.

The calculus of Tatum missing the year and the Celtics falling off a cliff...

I kinda think JT is going to come back in the 2nd half of the season and be all rested and good to go. And the Celtics will still be the Celtics in the playoffs. Just to throw out that possibility since folks seem to assume he's out for a full year or more. There's been no official indication of that.

Marvin Martian wrote:1st round exit. Bane is a good shooter but he can't shoot the ball for Paolo and Franz. Already in the trade thread, people are making excuses for their future disappointments by claiming that they need a "PG".

What ORL really needs is a franchise player that can shoot and score at a league average efficiency. Until then the ceiling of this team is capped

I agree with the analysis as all 3 of Suggs, Franz and Paolo were horrible from distance last season. They all put up a decent amount of attempts but if they have any hopes of making an extended post-season run they're going to have to shoot at least league average.

With that said they're 22, 23 and 24 years old and at least Franz and Suggs have already shot league average or better in seasons prior. If they can replicate that then they have a shot imo.