Paolo Banchero believes in the Magic: “We’re Finals-caliber”
The Orlando Magic have been one of the most active teams in the offseason, and as a result, expectations have risen. Here’s what Paolo Banchero had to say.
Progress is evident year after year in Orlando, thanks to the front office strategies that continue to pay off. Naturally, expectations for the team are growing as well.
After being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for two consecutive years, the Florida team strengthened its roster in the past offseason, notably acquiring Desmond Bane, one of the league’s best shooters, and signing Tyus Jones, one of the most versatile and underrated guards in the NBA.
The goal is clear: improve the roster by addressing its obvious weaknesses. The Magic finished last season as the worst team in three-point shooting percentage, but with the addition of two sharpshooters like Bane and Jones – both shooting around 40% from beyond the arc last season – a significant improvement is expected.
Additionally, over the summer, the Magic secured their star, Paolo Banchero, with a five-year, $240 million contract extension. The former Duke Blue Devil has shown strong faith in the franchise’s project and expressed excitement about the Magic’s offseason moves:
I think they’re going to be fantastic, they’ll do great things, not just on the court but off it too, for the kind of people they are and the kind of influence they can have in a room… Both are experienced players, and they know how to play. They have great court sense, they know when to make a play, when to shoot, and when to attack the basket
Paolo Banchero
One of the main challenges the Magic could face this season is injuries. Last year, both Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero dealt with a right oblique strain that kept them off the court for over two and a half months, forcing them to return in less-than-optimal condition. If the Magic can avoid injuries this season, expectations will be sky-high, both for individual players and, above all, for the team as a whole.
“I think the sky is the limit. We’ve had our playoff experiences, losing in the first round for two years. We’ve added players with important playoff experience and from good teams… I want to go all the way in the playoffs, and we have a deep enough roster to try. We have the kind of team that can reach the Finals
Paolo Banchero
As the Magic star confidently states, the Florida team has all the pieces in place for a strong season and the potential to improve on last year’s results.