The Orlando Magic are the quick risers within the East. The 47-win No. 5 seed final season was constructed round a lock-down protection and led by a younger core of Paolo Banchero and simply prolonged Franz Wagner. This summer time they added capturing with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (though they didn’t land the ground common level guard the playoffs made clear they want).
Nonetheless, simply how briskly a riser are they? Oddsmaker Draft Kings has Orlando with the seventh-longest odds to win the East. NBC Sports activities’ summer time NBA Energy Rankings had the Magic sixth within the convention.
That is not how the Magic see it, they anticipate a step ahead from final season. Banchero stated on ESPN’s First Take that the Magic must be thought of with Boston, Philadelphia, and New York on the high of the convention (hat tip NBA.com).
“Getting KCP goes to assist us lots. That is a man that is gained two championships within the final 5 seasons. He is been round a number of the best of all time. So, he is going to have the ability to come out and make an enormous distinction for us. We’re a extremely younger crew and getting that playoff expertise, a top-five seed final 12 months, plenty of momentum heading into subsequent season…
“We really feel like we’re proper there. We’re proper there with all these [teams]. I keep in mind final 12 months, we began the 12 months off as a top-two, top-three seed and everyone thought it was a fluke. All people thought we have been going to be a play-in crew and drop out the highest of the East. We completed sturdy and received the fifth seed and had an opportunity to essentially seize the 2 seed on the finish of the season. We have been proper there final 12 months.”
That is precisely what Orlando needs its chief to say.
Orlando must be higher this season, each due to KCP and the event of their younger gamers. Nonetheless, the highest of the East received higher as properly. Boston brings again the highest seven in its rotation from a title crew, New York added Mikal Bridges, Philadelphia added Paul George, and Cleveland is banking on new coach Kenny Atkinson getting extra out of the identical core, which is similar job Doc Rivers has in Milwaukee. Indiana and Miami have expertise and are nonetheless lurking.
All of which is to say, Orlando could also be higher this season and it won’t present up within the standings. That stated, with its protection, Orlando not solely must be a top-six crew (and keep away from the play-in) but additionally the concept of them getting dwelling courtroom within the first spherical will not be out of the query.
Orlando stays a crew on the rise, the one query is how large is their subsequent step this season.
