The National Basketball Association is a few days 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 Acquisition
The lone new Magic player to join the roster is rather significant. On July 6, the Magic signed shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope of Thomaston, Georgia to a three-year deal worth $66 million.
Caldwell-Pope is joining his fifth NBA franchise after four seasons with the Detroit Pistons (2013 to 2017), four seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017 to 2021), one season with the Washington Wizards (2021 to 2022), and the last two seasons with the Denver Nuggets (2022 to 2024). A two-time NBA Finals champion (2020 with the Lakers and 2023 with the Nuggets), Caldwell-Pope will bring experience to one of the most rising teams in the entire league. Last season in Denver, Caldwell-Pope averaged 10.1 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game, 2.4 assists per game, and 1.3 assists per game. He had a field goal percentage of .460, three-point percentage of .406, and a free throw percentage of .894.
Fantasy Stars
Despite the fact that there are great expectations for the Magic this season, they do not have a player ranked in the top 10 at any fantasy basketball position.
Projected Finish
The Magic won the Southeast Division last year at 47 wins and 35 losses. There is a possibility they could win 50 games this year and repeat as divisional champs if the nucleus meets expectations and stay healthy. Six Magic players reached double digits in scoring a year ago, and it is clear that the identity of this club is based on teamwork.
