• Franz Wagner Health

Franz said at media day that he is healthy. As we all know this is the first summer he's had for a long time not playing with the german national team. This dude is rested and physcially in a good place. Last season we got 34 games at 30 mpg from Franz in the regular season. In his first 4 seasons he averaged 72 games per season at 32+mpg. Franz is an elite impact wing on both sides of the ball. If he is reasonably health we are going to get more than double the minutes out of him this season and this immediately lifts our floor immensely. In the games he did play last season he had a bounce back from the 3 point line at 34.5%. A full healthy summer to work on his body and mechanics are all you can ask for and we know he has the touch to become a reliable shooter based on his free throws (85% career) and godly touch around the rim. Franz being reliable as a spot up shooter would lift this teams ceiling by a lot

• Paolo Banchero Breakout

By all accounts Paolo had a disappointing season. He started the season extremely slow and pulled his groin 12 games in and missed his only 10 games of the season as a result. Despite being able to play every game going forward, he was clearly lacking in conditioning and explosiveness. Coming back from injury in December he dropped a putrid 19ppg on 51.2 TS% in 12 games. From there over the season he bounced back from a scoring perspective as he seemed to be rounding into better physical shape. Post all star break he was dropping 24/8/5 on 58 TS%. He ended the season with career highs in rebounds, FG%, FT%, and TS%. He had a 24 game stretch in january-february where he shot 38% from 3, and also had notable shooting outbursts in the pistons series. He still has potential to become a more credible jumpshooter if he gets his consistency dialed in. This season we have every reason to believe that he is in great shape and is coming in with a point to prove. This guy is an all nba player if his body is right. Even in his 'down' year last season he put up amazing stats. Where he fell short was his conditioning, defense, and leadership. We know he had beef with Mose as well which manifested itself in lazy play and terrible demeanor. He has his new coach that he wanted and now its time for him to prove it. I have faith that we will see the best version of Paolo in 26/27.

• Desmond Bane Unleashed

Bane was the magics best, most consistent, and most important player last season, but not neccesarily in the way you'd expect. He came into camp talking about getting up career high attempts from deep to fill the magics dramatic shooting hole. What actually happened is he dominated off the bounce instead of as a spot up guy. Franz being hurt and Paolo not being at his best played a big factor here, forcing bane to take the role of primary creator often. This led to him ending up with his lowest 3pa per game since he was a rookie. There were other factors too, everyone was trying to figure out how to play together and his teammates often failed to find him in his sweetspots. This season if franz and paolo are at the top of their games bane should be feasting on open looks in transition and off the weak side when franz and paolo attack the rim. Bane getting more 3pa will loosen up the offense for everyone.

• Jalen Suggs finally healthy

Its easy to forget that coming into 25/26 suggs hadn't hooped for 9 months and wasn't even cleared for contact at the start of training camp coming off a knee surgery that no nba player had ever had before. The deck was heavily stacked against jalen. Taking those circumstances into account last season was a tremendous success in the growth and development of suggs. First and foremost he proved the knee injury was not catostophic, he had insane bounce, he is still one of the most athletic guards in the league. This alone is a massive win. His biggest absence last season was 3 weeks in january for an mcl contusion in the knee that wasn't operated on. Most important of all, despite his terrible series against the pistons he finished the season healthy, allowing him a full summer to work on his body and game. He didn't just prove his health last season he also made strides in his game. In his first full season as a point guard he notched a career high in assists while lowering his turnover numbers from 24/25. People forget that outside of his rookie year where they tried to make him a superstar lead guard suggs has never been a full time pg until 24/25 and only got 35 games in that role before his knee injury ended his season. The guy is still learning the position and is showing clear signs of growth despite the often frustrating decision making weve all complained about. He also finished with a career best TS% despite only shooting 34% from 3. With franz and paolo healthy he will be taking way lets shots off the bounce and can play the role he is meant to play as an off ball tertiary creator and spot up shooter. Suggs became a great FT shooter the last two seasons and his catch and shoot numbers are good enough to credibly space the floor for franz and paolo. He has also dramatically improved his handle, and with his explosive first step has developed the ability to beat his man on the perimeter and get down hill to create shots. He also showed the ability to create good off the bounce looks from 3, but didn't shoot them well enough. I'm sure hes been in the lab working on his balance and shot prep for those looks because him having that would unlock a lot for us.

• Anthony Black Arrives on the Scene

AB is a stud and I can't wait to see what he does this season. His growth as a rim attacker was stunning to see last season, his finishing in those scenarios left a lot to be desired. He is so big and athletic that will his new found handle and dribble moves he can get to the rim at will. I expect him to come back a better finisher this summer, and boy the sky is the limit for this kid. His size and athleticism make him a prototype modern nba player. He doubled his 3 point attempts this season and also increased his %. He also suffered from the same thing that suggs did where he was shooting off the bounce more than you'd want since we were so badly lacking shot creation last season. His production last season was outstanding and the only way is up. He is easily one of the best 6th men in the league going forward which gives us a lot of back court depth. I cant wait to see us try the suggs/bane/AB/Franz/Paolo lineup. 5 guys who can all dribble pass and shoot would be fun to watch. TBD if paolo can hold up defensively at center but his increased rebounding production gives hope that he could play this role at times against smaller opposing centers.

Alot went wrong for us last season on an individual and team wide level. Despite that the lineups of suggs/bane/tds/paolo/wcj was +10.8 net rating and suggs/bane/AB/paolo/wcj was +6.9. Our actual starting 5 of suggs/bane/franz/paolo/wcj was +11.6. We were spanking the pistons before franz went down. We collapsed in epic fashion at all levels of the roster. The team is young and will learn from their mistakes. The team is hungry to get better and prove they can do more. We have an innovative young coach who is installing a culture of accountability and discipline that we had been lacking.

This isn't a guarantee that the season will be great, we know all too well how much injury luck can derail a campaign. All this is just to say that the circumstances to breakout as a team exist. This team has lots of talent and just needs a chance to be healthy and click.

I tried to find where to watch preseason games but they were not showing up on Directv guides. Any suggestions what stations are broadcasting the preseason games?

Also, will most home and away games be broadcast on local stations (9 and27)? I’m starting to get nervous I will need multiple pay channels. Thank you! Go Magic!

Do you think they’ll eventually have to move off one of them? What’s your views on both.

Just curious, since it’s October! Personally, I’m a Dodger fan (I’ve lived in LA my entire adult life) but interested to hear who everyone else supports!

With the new NBA season quickly approaching, everyone is extremely optimistic about the Orlando Magic and how successful they can be this year. However, I am not feeling as confident as all the other fans. For starters, the Magic are still the same offensive team that cannot shoot consistently from outside the 3-point line. More than likely those struggles will continue again this season.

Secondly, with the NBA cracking down on all of the tanking there will be less games where opponents are trying to lose. There will be more competitive games. And finally, let us not forget about the injuries. Training camp just started and already Black and Penda are out with an ankle sprain and a hamstring strain respectively. Given recent history chances are pretty high that both Franz and Paolo will be on the injured last at some point this year.

With all of this being said, I have the Magic winning anywhere between 36 and 46 games this season. They will win around 46 games if everyone stays healthy during the season. If Franz and Paolo are both out for extended periods again it could be a total disaster this year.

I am just trying to keep it real here. Let us keep the expectation levels at a respectable level regarding this Magic team. We have seen this movie before everyone. And two other things I forgot to mention, we didn't make any significant upgrades to the roster in the offseason, and we brought in a defensive minded coach for an offensive challenged team. I hate to say it, but it may very well be the same old same old once again.

Just sharing this in case you missed it. Stan the Man has handles.

Hey, I’m curious if anyone could potentially get an extra magnetic schedule and mail it to me? I’m a huge fan, from South Dakota but now in Minneapolis. I’d be willing to pay for it and pay for shipping if needed! Just moved into my first place and I need some decor on my fridge. Please, and thank you in advance.

Maybe I'm just blind, but idk.

I have been watching the Magic since the first season in 89. I had faith in shaq and penny and friends, but shaq left too early then penny got hurt. That downfall was definately not nick's fault ... they were up 20. They were just young (and yes i understand they lowballed shaq). We had an opportunity with TMac and Grant i would take everytime. That's a championship waiting to happen without the GH injury, even forgetting about the Tim opportunity. Then dwight and company - oh for the layup that should have gone.

This team has me more excited then any since shaq and penny. They are still young, still hungrey, and none of the major players have hit their prime.

There have been injuruies the last last couple of years that derailed the m to an extent. But still plus 500 missing some of their best players. But no career altering injuries.

The east on paper got stronger, but did they? I do not believe in philly (too many egos), the the celtics got worse, miami ... toranto - not a believer. Same with cavs and detroit.

Nicks. Well i think we were kicking the shit out of them the 1st part of last season till they took out franz.

Too much recency bias in this sub. We are in good shape. I dont think franz or paulo are in the always injured category.

Oh and we need a point guard? Maybe. But it would be hard for me to take suggs out of the starting lineup. Too many positive intangibles. And still young and learning.

I do miss terry catlidge, for nostalgia sake.

The season hasn’t even started yet 🥲