Orlando Magic

Even though an oblique injury has halted a phenomenal start to the season for Paolo Banchero, the returns for how the Orlando Magic were using their star forward have been extremely positive.

One veteran scout told ESPN's Brian Windhorst that the Magic's use of Banchero reminded the scout of how LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo have been used at their best.

"No one wants to be compared to LeBron or Giannis, but he's their size, he's got a comparable skill set and the Magic are using him the way those guys have been used," the scout said.

Banchero's 31.5 percent usage rate this season ranks 15th overall, but he is fourth among non-guards behind Antetokounmpo (33.7), Jaylen Brown (32.9) and Anthony Davis (31.3).

ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Thursday that Banchero was diagnosed with a torn right oblique that will keep him sidelined indefinitely. He will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks, with a return timeline determined based on how he responds to treatment.

After making the All-Star team and leading the Magic to their first playoff appearance in four years last season, Banchero looked like he leveled up again to start the 2024-25 campaign.

The 21-year-old averaged 29.0 points on 49.5 percent shooting, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game in five starts. He finished one assist shy of a 50-point triple-double in Orlando's 119-115 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday.

Banchero suffered the injury during Orlando's loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday, but he made it through all four quarters and finished with a game-high 31 points.

The most encouraging signs from Banchero have been his improvements as a passer and shooter. His 5.6 assists per game is the highest rate of his career, up slightly from the 5.4 mark he had last season.

While he's not yet a great shooter from three-point range, Banchero was connecting on 39.1 percent of his attempts before a 2-of-9 performance against the Bulls. He is also willing to keep shooting even if it's not falling, averaging a career-high 6.4 attempts from behind the arc.

Despite what will be the longest absence of his young NBA career so far, Banchero's ascent to becoming a true go-to superstar has offered the Magic their biggest reason for hope since the end of the Dwight Howard era.

Any comparison to James and Antetokounmpo speaks to how highly regarded Banchero already is and what his ceiling could be as he continues to get more experience.

As long as the Magic can get Banchero back in the lineup relatively soon, they could be one of the top challengers to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference this season based on how he was playing before the injury.

After an outstanding start to his third NBA campaign, Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero will have to miss some time.

The Magic announced Thursday that Banchero will be sidelined indefinitely because of a torn right oblique. He will be reevaluated in four to six weeks and will return to the court based on how he progresses in his treatment.

In his first game of the season, Banchero dropped 33 points and 11 boards in a win over the Miami Heat. A week later, he had 50 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists against the Indiana Pacers, becoming the second-youngest player to have at least 50 points, 10 rebounds and five assists—behind only LeBron James.

Banchero suffered the injury Wednesday when he had 31 points and seven rebounds in a loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Last season, Banchero put up 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, leading the Magic to a 47-35 record. It was Orlando's best season since 2011 when it won 52 games with Dwight Howard leading the way.

The Magic reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and just the third time in the last 12 years last season. Orlando came up just short of advancing to the second round as it lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.

This season, the Magic are 3-2 and have a matchup against the Cavs on Friday. With its star out, Orlando will need players like Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and others to step up.

Banchero, who is averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists through five games, seems prepared to take another big leap during the 2024-25 season, but unfortunately will have to put his year on hold as he rehabs.

After exploding for 50 points in Monday night's win over the Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic rising star Paolo Banchero compared the feeling to being in a video game.

When asked during an appearance on ESPN's NBA Today about receiving "MVP!" chants from the home crowd at the Kia Center, Banchero said, "It's a dream come true. I said before, it feels like when you're in 2K."

From the start of the game, it was clear that it was going to be a special night for Banchero. He had 37 points in the first half alone and finished the game with 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks and a steal as the Magic improved to 3-1 with a 119-115 victory.

Banchero had failed to score 20 points in back-to-back outings before his 50-point outburst on Monday. His consistency will be the key to Orlando's success this season.

Banchero and the Magic will look for another strong performance when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.

The Orlando Magic are quickly learning the cost of team success as they reportedly agreed to a five-year, $150.5 million rookie contract extension with guard Jalen Suggs on Monday, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

Suggs, who will earn $9.2 million for this season, was eligible to hit restricted free agency next summer.

The 23-year-old has made major strides between his rookie campaign in 2021-22 and now. Across 75 appearances this past year, he averaged 12.6 points and 2.7 assists in 27.0 minutes per contest. His field-goal (47.1) and three-point (39.7) percentages were both the highest of his career.

One of Suggs' best performances came in a 122-120 victory over the reigning champion Denver Nuggets on the road on Jan. 5. He finished with 27 points and shot 7-of-9 from beyond the arc.

Suggs' impact on the Magic goes beyond the box score.

"He wears his emotion and his heart on his sleeve," head coach Jamahl Mosley told The Ringer's Michael Pina. "He's pure. There's so much love there. That's why this group is the way it is. Because he is how he is."

Teammate Cole Anthony called him "crazy... in all the best ways."

"His energy is contagious," Anthony said to Pina. "Especially [with] me coming off the bench, seeing him on that first line, play with such force and so much energy, it inspires me to do the same thing."

Orlando has already begun to extend some of its homegrown talent, but this is the time when the difficult conversations were likely to start.

Franz Wagner is another member of the 2021 draft class and inked a $224 million max contract. Wendell Carter Jr. already signed an extension that doesn't go into effect until 2026. Paolo Banchero will extension-eligible in 2025.

It's not too early to begin thinking about how the roster will look in another three or four years with an eye toward fulfilling possible Finals aspirations.

Smaller-market franchises have always had to be more prudent with their finances because they're rarely destinations for marquee free agents and trade candidates. Giving out one bad contract could set a team back years or slam a competitive window shut.

The more restrictive collective bargaining agreement has placed an even higher importance on managing the payroll. The Phoenix Suns wasted no time in becoming the poster child for the consequences of reckless spending.

When it came to Suggs, the question for the Magic was probably less about re-signing him and more about trying to land on the right dollar figure.

Preserving as much financial flexibility was important from Orlando's own cap perspective and when considering what could happen if general manager Anthony Parker is forced to act pragmatically.

In addition, for as much as it values Suggs right now, the front office may have wanted to ensure his new contract would be movable if the moment arrives when he has to be included in a trade for a bigger star who helps lift the organization over the top.

Jalen Suggs, shooting guard for the Orlando Magic, is reportedly seeking an average annual value of at least $30 million for a contract extension, according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Suggs, the former No. 5 overall pick out of Gonzaga, was drafted by Orlando in 2021 and is currently under a four-year, $29.96 million contract with the team.

The NBA is approaching its 15-man roster deadline for the 2024-25 season on Monday.

Suggs is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the upcoming season and the Magic's decision regarding his contract extension could significantly impact his choices during the offseason.

The 23-year-old averaged 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season for Orlando while shooting 40 percent from beyond the arc. The Magic finished the 2023-24 season with a 47-35 record, earning a playoff berth for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

Orlando and Suggs will kick off their season on Wednesday against the Miami Heat on the road.

After going through the preseason with the Orlando Magic, two-time Slam Dunk champion Mac McClung is staying with the team for the start of the regular season.

Per ESPN's Shams Charania, the Magic are converting McClung's deal to a two-way contract after he spent last season with their G League affiliate.

McClung was playing on an Exhibit 10 contract, so by converting it to a two-way contract the Magic get to keep him on their roster. He is eligible to be on their active list for up to 50 games during the regular season.

The Magic used McClung sparingly in the preseason. He appeared in two games for a total of 15 minutes, scoring eight points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field.

McClung is coming off a 2023-24 season with the Osceola Magic in which he was named G League MVP. The 25-year-old averaged 25.7 points on 50.9 percent shooting (39.6 percent from three), 6.6 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game in 27 starts.

Osceloa made the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, but lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals to the Long Island Nets.

McClung gained a cult following during the 2022-23 season when he signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of his appearance in the Slam Dunk Contest as part of All-Star weekend.

The Texas Tech alum stole the show by winning the event with 19 out of 20 perfect scores from the judges across his four dunks.

McClung was invited back to the Dunk Contest last season to defend his title. He became the fifth player in history to win the contest in back-to-back years, finishing ahead of Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.

Orlando now has two players on two-way contracts, with McClung joining Trevelin Queen. He didn't appear in a game with the NBA club last season.

The Magic will open the 2024-25 regular season against the Miami Heat on Oct. 23.

Wendell Carter Jr. is sticking with the Orlando Magic for at least a few more seasons.

The center inked a three-year, $59 million contract extension with the Magic on Monday, per ESPN's Shams Charania. The new deal, which runs through the 2028-29 season, is a maximum extension for Carter and he'll earn $82 million total with his existing contract, which expires after the 2025-26 season.

Orlando later confirmed the deal on social media:

ESPN's Bobby Marks broke down the details of Carter's new contract:

Carter spent the first three seasons of his career with the Chicago Bulls and has been with the Magic since the 2020-21 season. He put up 11 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season, which was a slight drop off from the 2023-24 season, when he averaged 15.2 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, though he also played more minutes that year.

The Magic have spent the offseason securing many of its key frontcourt members from a year ago, re-signing Goga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner and extending forward Jonathan Isaac.

Orlando is coming off its best season in over a decade, going 47-35 and reaching the postseason for the first time since 2020. The Magic, led by young stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games but ultimately couldn't get past the first round.

Orlando made a splash this offseason by adding a solid role player in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The championship-winning veteran paired with a roster full of young talent could lead to an even bigger jump for the Magic this season.

Carter's first few years in Orlando were marked by struggles, but he's been a key part in turning the franchise around. Now committed to the Magic until at least 2029, he could see Orlando finally flourish.

Paolo Banchero spent the offseason focusing on his conditioning after leading the Orlando Magic to the team's first playoff appearance since 2020.

Following a narrow loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 of the first round, Banchero told David Aldridge of The Athletic that his goal was to prepare for a longer postseason run.

What I realized in the playoffs is that it takes you being in tip-top, elite shape to make a full run. After that Game 7, I was all the way spent. … In my head, I'm like, Cleveland's going to play Boston in two days. If I feel like this [after the first round], how would I be able to shake back for another series, another two or three more series if I want to go all the way? It made me realize that I have to get in better shape, so that was my whole summer. I worked on my body three or four days a week — sometimes lifting, sometimes agility, some days conditioning. Just trying to get in the best shape heading into this season. And obviously, as the season goes on and on, just trying to stay consistent with my habits, and once you get to the playoffs, just having that second wind.

The Seattle native went back home to get in better shape during the summer, as he spent time with his personal trainer on a local slope known as "Heart Attack Hill."

Banchero was the offensive engine for an Orlando team that thrived in slow, defensive battles. The Magic finished the 2023-24 season with the fourth-slowest pace and the third-best defensive rating in the association (via NBA.com).

After winning Rookie of the Year in 2023, he followed it up by making the first All-Star appearance of his career last year. Banchero averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from three.

He improved even further in the playoffs, recording 27.0 points and 8.6 rebounds each night on 45.6/40.0/75.5 shooting splits against Cleveland.

Banchero also averaged 37.4 minutes per game during the series, which appeared to take a physical toll on him. While he dropped 38 points in Game 7, he shot just 10-28 in the loss.

His training has impressed Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley, who has raved about his offseason work ethic.

"The work that Paolo [Banchero] has put in this summer is on a different level," Mosley told Steve Aschburner of NBA.com.

Banchero will be returning to a Magic team that has playoff aspirations. Franz Wagner should be Orlando's second-leading scorer once again after averaging a career-high 19.7 points per game last season.

Cole Anthony is expected to continue operating as the team's sixth man, while Jalen Suggs earned his first All-Defensive nod following his 2023-24 campaign. The Magic also made a splash in free agency, improving their spacing by signing shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year contract worth $66 million.

With heightened expectations for Orlando entering the regular season, Banchero understood the preparation needed to lead the team on a longer playoff run.

Paolo Banchero is an All-Star power forward for the Orlando Magic, but there was a time when he was bringing guard-like skills to the court.

That time was in seventh grade.

Banchero responded to a seventh-grade mixtape of some of his old highlights on Tuesday by saying he was a "combo guard with a back to the basket game" since he hadn't grown into his current 6'10" frame:

While he is a big man in the NBA now, that guard skill set is still apparent at times even at the game's highest level.

He can create matchup problems for opposing defenses with his ability to break down defenders off the dribble if necessary. He can also create space on the outside and connected on 33.9 percent of his three-point attempts last season.

The perimeter shooting was part of a breakout second year in the NBA, as he was named an All-Star and averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while leading the Magic to the playoffs.

At just 21 years old, there is no reason to expect anything but improvement in the immediate future for Banchero with even more experience at the NBA level.

That is a major reason why expectations are relatively high for Orlando heading into the 2024-25 campaign. He headlines a young and promising rotation that includes Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. and should again compete for a playoff spot.

Orlando also added some veteran leadership this offseason when it signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who brings championship experience and another outside shooter.

He might even serve in the combo-guard role that seventh-grade Banchero clearly perfected.

Mac McClung could be shining on NBA courts in 2024-25.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that McClung had agreed to a "partially guaranteed" contract with the Orlando Magic.

McClung will get an opportunity to compete for a roster spot in Orlando. He spent the 2023-24 season with the Osceola Magic, winning the G-League MVP. He is also notably the back-to-back NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion.

McClung last played in the NBA in the 2022-23 season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He has only played in four total NBA games in his career, averaging 8.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

He was a force to be reckoned with in the G-League in 2023-24, averaging 24.7 points, 6.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds in 28 regular season games. This was the best output he has had since beginning his pro career in 2021-22.

Orlando was a strong team in 2023-24, going 47-35 and earning the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Magic would lose to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games in the first round, but the foundation built around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner appears to be strong.

McClung will hope to contribute to that and solidify himself as a true NBA player with this opportunity in Orlando.