We’re officially into the crazy part of the NBA offseason, where free agency signings are announced in the middle of the night like emergency warnings. It can feel like information overload, especially when the developments elicit a wide range of emotions from different parts of the basketball community.
Lost in all of the chaos of this offseason, though, is the wheeling and dealing the Orlando Magic have done thus far. Much of it stemmed from the end of the Magic’s 2023-2024 campaign, where Orlando lost a seven-game series to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs introduced themselves to a national audience with strong performances, yet that was unfortunately not enough.
The Magic certainly rued the missed chances and thus approached this offseason with two objectives in mind: reload and retain. Orlando didn’t do a heavy reload compared to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Golden State Warriors, but that shouldn’t downplay its importance to the Magic.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who was signed by Orlando to a 3-year, $66-million contract, was a sought-after player thanks to his ability to knock down 3-pointers and defend the opponent’s best player. The fact that the Magic were able to get him was a great coup, although the more or less $50 million cap space they had entering free agency was certainly a factor as well. Nonetheless, Caldwell-Pope brings much-needed perimeter defense and championship experience, things Orlando will need to take the leap.
Meanwhile, Tristan da Silva was a solid pick for the Magic at 18th overall. The Brazilian-German worked on his game throughout his four-year career at the University of Colorado, with his 3-point shooting (career 38.6 percent from behind the 3-point line) and decent defense offering some promise of two-way abilities that Orlando doesn’t mind having too much of.
The Magic also sent Antonio Reeves, the 47th overall pick, to the New Orleans Pelicans for two second-round pick swaps in 2030 and 2031. This could pay off down the road in the form of those picks being utilized or for a trade that could change Orlando;s fortunes.
Making the postseason was some measure of success for the Magic, and they were wise to bring back and solidify the core that got them there. Resigning Jonathan Isaac (five years, $84 million), Mo Wagner (two years, $22 million), Goga Bitadze (three years, $25 million), and Gary Harris (two years, $15 million) brought back not just depth, but also valuable veterans who stepped up in different parts of the season. Wagner played in a career-high 80 games in the regular season, helping Bitadze pick up the slack left by their injured frontcourt mates. Isaac continues to have the potential to be a great defensive anchor (if he stays healthy), while Harris provides a solid veteran presence for the younger players on Orlando’s roster.
The upcoming NBA summer league tournaments should be interesting for Magic fans who want to see more from incoming sophomores Anthony Black and Jett Howard, both of whom only played a handful of minutes despite being lottery picks. Them taking the leap would be very much welcome, but realistically, Orlando would want them to be able to respond with solid performances when called upon.
Meanwhile, both Franz and Mo Wagner will try to lead Germany to an Olympic gold medal after a successful 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup stint, while Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley and Suggs will join the USA Select Team. Banchero was with Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but some rest after playing basketball nonstop should do well for him and Orlando. Caleb Houstan could also be in the mix for Team Canada.
With the Magic currently having Caldwell-Pope, Suggs, Harris, Black, Howard, Franz Wagner, Markelle Fultz, and Cole Anthony the perimeter rotation is as deep as it has ever been. It seems that this has become the recent trend that has stemmed from the Boston Celtics’ recent run to their 18th NBA championship. Not everyone, though, will be able to take to the court, and we could be seeing some either buried in the depth chart or on another team later on.
That being said, are the Orlando Magic done retooling their roster? We’ll know the answer to that in a couple of months, but we’re already seeing how serious the Magic are this early into the offseason. They’re wasting no time building on what was to them a successful campaign with an unfortunate ending.
