Orlando with Bane - Contender?

[Ambrose]

They play in the West, brother.

That 2023 Warriors team would curb stomp the current Magic in a 7 game series.

As long as Mosley is the Magic head coach, their offense is going to be putrid.

You can add all the Bane and KCP archetypes that ya want. It's not going to make Mosley magically learn about pace and space lol

Magic dead last in pace and dead last in 3pt % in 2024-25... That's a scheme and philosophy issue, not a personnel issue.

Before you say he can't make the shots for the team, they were 27th in 3pt attempts and 27th in offensive rating too.

Do you only post to argue?

I just don't agree with poorly thought out takes.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

You didn't even address the main one

[ropjhk]

Second round team with the potential to grow into something greater. This is a step forward for Orlando but I don't think Bane is the final piece.

[NYPiston]

I thought Orlando would bounce back to a 45-50 win team even before the Bane addition. The Banchero and Wagner injuries then long return back to 100% after injury derailed their season then the late Suggs injury being the final blow so I thought a healthy Orlando team would bounce back season anyway, add in a much needed shooter and I can see them being top 4 in the east easy.

After Cleveland, Knicks and Pacers the east is a jumbled mess. Orlando could easily be that 4th team or even better although something tells me that Boston will still find a way to be strong depending on how they navigate the cap this offseason.
Long story short, I think Orlando has a shot to get out of the east if all comes together. This is the weakest the conference has been in a while, it's there to be had.

[web123888]

Lol no, not even close. Look at the offenses that made it deep the last few years (Pacers, Celtics, Knicks). Then compare that to the anemic Magic offense.

Good point. The Magic should have the exact same offense as last year with the addition of Bane, Suggs and Moe Wagner.

Suggs stinks. Wagner is nothing special either. Magic ceiling is a playoffs team in a very weak conference. They aren't making the Finals or even threatening to...ever.

[hardenASG13]

Lol no, not even close. Look at the offenses that made it deep the last few years (Pacers, Celtics, Knicks). Then compare that to the anemic Magic offense.

Good point. The Magic should have the exact same offense as last year with the addition of Bane, Suggs and Moe Wagner.

Suggs stinks. Wagner is nothing special either. Magic ceiling is a playoffs team in a very weak conference. They aren't making the Finals or even threatening to...ever.

I don't know about that. Wagner was one of the best bench players in the league before his injury. Suggs im not sure about, but he seems serviceable at worst. He may be underperforming predraft expectations, but he doesnt stink.

[oldncreaky]

Good point. The Magic should have the exact same offense as last year with the addition of Bane, Suggs and Moe Wagner.

Suggs stinks. Wagner is nothing special either. Magic ceiling is a playoffs team in a very weak conference. They aren't making the Finals or even threatening to...ever.

I don't know about that. Wagner was one of the best bench players in the league before his injury. Suggs im not sure about, but he seems serviceable at worst. He may be underperforming predraft expectations, but he doesnt stink.

Not an ORL fan, but IMO Suggs is severely underrated, and the team's record with and without him supports that idea

I still think they need a PG good enough to close if they want to win close games or do anything in the playoffs, but I think they're dangerous because of their D

[shmoosicle]

I think the trade for Bane plus better health next season probably gets them another 5-8 wins, a high 40 win team that can make the 2nd round. Which is nice progress for them and I could see them potentially making the conference final. The picks they gave up were a lot though.

People are forgetting that the Magic were 47-35 the year before when healthy. Add Bane and the continued progression of Paolo, Suggs, & Franz and that team could win 50+ games IF healthy. The big issue is health. Not worried about Franz and Paolo's health as their injuries were somewhat flukes, but Suggs is the guy that really needs to stay healthy along with Moe Wagner. I could see them going 52-30.

That's fair yeah, my estimate is definitely on the low side and I can see them winning over 50.

[jowglenn]

I don't know if they're a bona fide contender but they're definitely aiming to plant themselves in the top 4 of the East; Assuming the Celtics are in a one-year holding pattern due to the Tatum injury, you've got the Pacers, Knicks, and Cavs as the clear top 3 of the conference; then it's an open field. Maybe the Bucks have a bounce-back season, even with Dame out injured, but I don't see it.

Clearly Orlando sees the addition of Bane as their version of the Pacers' Siakam trade. A young up-and-coming team getting a serious veteran-in-his-prime addition without losing any of their key rotation pieces. Obviously it worked for the Pacers - the ECF last year and the Finals this year.

I wouldn't rule out anything. If they can stay healthy and everything gels, they're right up there with the other Eastern Conference contenders.

[Pointgod]

People are using contender way too loosely. That’s being said the Magic should be a top 4 seed next season barring multiple major injuries. Just too much talent on offense and defense for it to not work.

[jbk1234]

I need to see what the Celtics end up doing this summer. I have the Magic as a second round out, but that could get lowered to a first round out in a 4/5 matchup.

Bane is not a PG and I have real questions about the ability of that backcourt to handle ball pressure or even force the defense into a rotation.