The Orlando Magic had their biggest moment in years when they picked up Paolo Banchero with their No. 1 draft pick in 2022. At 6-foot-10 and just 21 years old, Banchero quickly became the cornerstone that the Magic had been searching for — someone to usher in a new era in Orlando.
With a core of young and hungry players, including the Wagner brothers—Franz and Moritz—Jalen Suggs and Cole Anthony , Orlando climbed back on the NBA map. In the 2023–24 season, they finished as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, their highest finish since the 2010–11 season.
When the playoffs came around, they gave the Cleveland Cavaliers all they could handle, pushing the series to a nail-biting seven games before ultimately falling short. Even though they didn’t make it past the first round, the Magic's performance showed they’re no longer a team to be overlooked.
“Everybody thought we were going to be a play-in team and drop out of the top of the East,” Banchero said during an interview. “We finished strong and got the fifth seed... We were right there last year. We got better this year. I got better; all of us got better. We got some new pieces that are going to help a lot. We’re trying to make some noise. We should easily be a top-four, top-three team and have a chance to win the East.”
Building the magic
The Magic are inching closer to becoming a top team in the East, and one of the latest additions to help them get there is championship-caliber guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. KCP left the Denver Nuggets and signed with the Magic this off-season in a deal worth $66 million over three years, with a player option in the third year.
At 31, Caldwell-Pope has built a reputation as a premier role player on winning teams. He was the starting shooting guard during championship runs with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023. His experience and winning mentality are huge assets for the improving Magic squad.
Last season, the guard averaged 10.1 points for Denver while hitting nearly 41% from deep range. He has started and played every game in the last four seasons, a consistency that will be key going forward.
“Getting KCP is going to help us a lot,” added Banchero. “That’s a guy that’s won two championships in the last five seasons. He’s been around some of the greatest [players] of all-time. So, he’s going to be able to come out and make a huge difference for us… We should be good next year.”
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Trust the process
Ever since the Magic got Banchero, the team's been on a steady climb. No. 5’s first season saw the team rack up 12 more wins than the previous year before adding 13 more victories in 2023.
The addition of Caldwell-Pope to this rising squad signals that Orlando is serious about pushing its success even further. With young stars like Banchero and Wagner leading the charge, the Magic should hold their own in the East. KCP, a two-time NBA champion, brings invaluable experience and solid defense to a team that’s already on the brink of becoming a top contender in the conference.
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