The National Basketball Association is just under two weeks away, and it is once again time to preview every NBA franchise. I will be covering the teams in the Eastern Conference and my colleague, Joel Beatton, will feature teams in the Western Conference. Today we are featuring the Orlando Magic.
Key Acquisitions
The Orlando Magic decided to take a chance on veteran forward Joe Ingles in the offseason. The native of Adelaide, Australia signed a two-year deal worth $22 million on July 7. Last season with the Milwaukee Bucks, Ingles averaged 6.9 points per game, 3.3 assists per game, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He also had a field goal percentage of .435, three-point percentage of .409, and a free throw percentage of .857.
The Magic also had two picks in the top 11 in the 2023 NBA Draft. With the sixth pick, they selected guard Anthony Black of Las Colinas, Texas out of the University of Arkansas, and with the 11th pick, selected small forward Jett Howard of Chicago, Illinois out of the University of Michigan. Jett Howard is the son of former NBA power forward and 1996 All-Star Juwan Howard.
Fantasy Stars
The Magic do not have a single player ranked in the top 10 in any position in fantasy basketball in 2022-23.
Projected Finish
In the Southeast Division, there are two respectable teams, and three teams in a definite rebuild. The Magic are in the latter category, along with the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards. However, there are definite signs of encouragement for Orlando. Power forward Paolo Banchero, the first overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, was the 2022-23 NBA Rookie of the Year, after averaging exactly 20 points per game last season. Meanwhile, Franz and Moritz Wagner are coming off an excellent summer as the brothers made a significant contribution to leading Germany to an unexpected World Cup gold medal in the Philippines. Progress should be made, and a third place spot for Orlando in 2023-24 is reachable.
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