Expectations

[OrlandoMagic]

So what’s everyone’s expectations for the Magic this year? I personally would just like us to keep developing our young players as is. Focus on finding our core players. Start building around them next year through free agents. I’m expectation a plus 5-6 wins from last year total and I would say it’s a successful season for us…

[Nyce_1]

Health. Stay healthy and we're fighting for play-in spot. Add JI and that's upgraded to 8th/7th battle.

- shot improvement from Suggs
- WCj/Bamba play 72+ games each
- Fultz gets some MIP buzz
- Paolo shows flashes for why he went #1
- improvement from Mosely. Same growth I expect from year 2 Suggs & Franz, I expect just as much from coach. Better/quick substitutions, more creative ATOs, top 10 defense + top 18 offense.

[DiplomaticMagic]

I know it's a big IF but if Isaac is healthy and anything like his former self, and Banchero is as advertised, I'm thinking playoffs. At least the play-in.

[cedric76]

Healthy team+ play off

[jezzerinho]

My expectations are what I assume that the FO's expectations are, because what's the point in building yourself up for something different?!

So, a year of asset development and evaluation. So many of our players are at a low point in their value curve and this year will be about pushing them up that, either for our own benefit or to improve their trade value.

I don't think we'll tank hard, but Orlando will comfortably be a lottery pick team next June.

[drsd]

So what’s everyone’s expectations for the Magic this year?

[drsd]

If healthy, I see a 28-34 win roster. If the stars align (34+ wins), that means Orlando will be a late-season contender for the 10-seed. That would be an awesome outcome for me. Even just-missing the play-ins shows growth of the players and the team.

...

Another expectation: Orlando's: eFG% improves. That will come from more FT attempts per shot and a marginal improvement in 3-ball percentages.

[drsd]

Healthy team+

Yes Orlando should have health as a goal, but not in the cost of maximising alate performance. Orlando's trainers simply need to get better to keep the Magicians healthy. But the players themselves should/must play with abandon.

This roster will get wins by playing faster than opponents. That is the gift of youth.

..

[drsd]

LINK: there's a lot of hope for this team moving forward

“There’s a lot of what-ifs on this roster, if they crown and surface, there’s a real special situation coming forward here,” Spotrac founder Michael Ginnitti told 96.9 The Game's Brandon Kravitz.

There are several 'what-ifs' that work in the Magic's favor if the answer to any of these questions is yes ...

What if Markelle Fultz returns to form?

What if Jonathan Isaac can return to becoming a top-tier NBA defender?

What if Paolo Banchero becomes the best player in his draft class?

What if Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs continue to develop?

What if Wendell Carter Jr. continues to improve?

Now, the chance of every single one of those answers being 'yes,' is going to be difficult given the Magic's current luck and track record. However, if a few of those turn out to be true, the Magic's vision for the future could slowly become a reality sometime within the next couple of seasons.

[Ralof]

we have to begin to show progress,is very simple.

28-30 W showing general improvements and a decent season by Banchero could be considered a winning season.

most important:start to identify a proper core to build on.

another season like last one and is gonna be a mess,we already passed through that

[GelbeWand09]

- Bottom 6 record (by design) ~ 28-30 wins (top 15 defense / bottom 10 offense)
- frustrating but fun team that fights every night
- Banchero wins Rookie of the Year
- Improved Franz but counting stats wont change much because of his personality, adding Paolo & guards competing for shots.
- improved Suggs (finishing & hopefully shooting)
- RJ traded midseason
- Fultz still cant shoot 3's
- WCJ continues his way to become the new Al Horford
- Isaac? absolutely no clue. One of the biggest fans of pre injury Isaac the player but i expect nothing & even if he comes back, the
chance is big he doesnt have the mobility anymore. If we comes back 100%, i would add 5-8 wins

[p0peye]

we have to begin to show progress,is very simple.

28-30 W showing general improvements and a decent season by Banchero could be considered a winning season.

most important:start to identify a proper core to build on.

another season like last one and is gonna be a mess,we already passed through that

+1. This is what I expect (slight correction on wins, range IMO goes from 24 to 30) and anything beyond that are hopes.

[The Effect]

if PB, cole, fultz, Franzchise, wendell, suggs, okeke, harris\ross, bamba all stay RELATIVELY healthy (guys get hurt, but saying no serious injuries) and we dont have to resort to watching games where Iggy, MoW, Admiral and cannady are playing 20+ mins, then i will saying this is a playoff team......NOT A PLAY-IN seed either.

This team has serious top end talent, just need to stay healthy and get some chemistry

[Black and Blue]

I have no hopes for wins at all. To me the only way this season is a failure is if we still don't know what we have in some of these guys at season's end. This is the "show you belong on this roster long term" season for the Magic IMO.

I do think there will be more wins just by less injuries/incremental development, but who will be the guys driving it I honestly have no clue. You identify those people, you've done your job setting up the team to be more active in building a contender in subsequent years.

[Dub_Sax]

if PB, cole, fultz, Franzchise, wendell, suggs, okeke, harris\ross, bamba all stay RELATIVELY healthy (guys get hurt, but saying no serious injuries) and we dont have to resort to watching games where Iggy, MoW, Admiral and cannady are playing 20+ mins, then i will saying this is a playoff team......NOT A PLAY-IN seed either.

This team has serious top end talent, just need to stay healthy and get some chemistry

So I'm expecting the top 6 in playoff rankings from this past season will make the playoffs again next season.. so, of teams 7 thru 10, which one(s) will the Magic be better than?

7. BKN
8. ATL
9. CLE
10. CHA

Initially, I would say bkn and/or cha, but that's pending the returning players from kd and ki trades and how the bridges fiasco plays out, respectively.



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[anothermagicfan]

I expect to have a really fun team to watch that will showcase the future of the team and not tank. Obviously health is incredibly important to that. A few key injuries and we could very well be in the same old same old again. Let's hope not.

On the other what if we come out of the gate as hot as he'll and are the surprise of the league and win 15 of our first 20?

There are surprises every year.

Remember when Dwight went to the Lakers and that super team flopped. Plenty of examples of teams that were supposed to be the best and sucked. Plenty of other examples of teams that were supposed to suck that made noise by winning.

So with that said I expect the Orlando magic to be the surprise of the league. PB gonna be good. Franz and WCJ gonna be solid. Harris is gonna be ok. RJ is gonna find his place. Coles gonna have his moments. Same with bamba. Suggs is going to play excellent defense, foul less and turn the ball over less and shoot a little better-still plenty of room for growth. Isaac's gonna come back and be good enough that the haters are going to stop talking s*** about him. Fultz is going to remind everyone why he was a #1 overall pick by having the absolute best year of his career. Ross is gonna get traded for something at some point. Bol bol and cannaday are going to spend the year in Lakeland. And last but certainly not least is chuma. Chumas gonna be an Allstar.
We're going to be fighting for home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs and just miss it by a few games. Then the youthfulness and inexperienc will rear it's ugly head and we'll all be so proud of our first round exit and this time next year our outlook for this team will be far more exciting.

[Rainwater]

I expect 4 to 6 game increase in wins while developing the young guys. Still Hoping they tank for another top pick.

[zaymon]

I expect fighting for the playoffs. A lot depends on Isaac and rotation Mosley uses. For exemple if he will play Hampton over Harris we will be in high lottery once again.
I dont think we are worse than Hornets or Cleveland. We could even challenge Raptors.
Fultz/Harris/Wagner/Banchero/Carter is actually young but not that young.
24/27/20/19/23
Wagner actually plays like veteran and Paolo seems to be in the same mold.
I like how our roster is build. No weak links defensively.

[jonbob17]

I expect us to be in the mix for the play in spot. I don't see the FO blatantly tanking unless there are injuries to key players during the season. The last couple years have taught me that under the new rules the mid lottery is rewarded more so than the bottom of the barrel. They are going to let these kids play and see what happens.

I expect Paolo to be ROY, and Suggs to make huge improvements. JI, I really have no idea. If he returns to 2019-20 form, I think this team will be pretty good. At the same time, if he isn't the same menace, then his value is much much lower, and he's just a 3D rotation guy.

I'd like Cole to focus on only taking better shots. If he can increase his efficiency, he can be a very valuable piece of our 2nd unit.

Fultz, I am done thinking he is going to be a 3 point shooter. I want to see him draw more fouls, and do his damage at the line.

Okeke needs to get it together. Leave every oz of effort on the court defensively and knock down some 3s. It might be tough for him to earn minutes if everyone is healthy.

Bamba get better. He still has a chance to be special, but that window is closing fast. I'd bet against it, but would love to see him prove me wrong.

[OrlandoSaban]

If we are healthy, I expect us to make a splash