The Orlando Magic are fighting for their playoff lives as the season draws to a close on Sunday.
Orlando’s final regular-season game, a home game against Milwaukee, is suddenly a must-win for the Magic. The Magic have lost three straight and six of 10. As a result, Orlando has fallen into a three-way tie with the Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers for the fifth-best record in the Eastern Conference at 46-35.
A loss to the Bucks by the Magic and wins by the 76ers and Pacers will send Orlando to the play-in tournament. Milwaukee, battling for the East’s No. 2 seed, leads, leads the season series with Orlando 2-1. Meanwhile, Indiana hosts Atlanta, and Philadelphia is home against Brooklyn.
If Orlando loses to Milwaukee, the Magic could fall to eighth. But for that to happen, Miami would have to defeat Toronto, which is likely. The Heat has the advantage over the Magic, winning the season series 3-1.
Orlando Magic Reportedly Plan To Vigorously Pursue Two Pacific Division Guards This Summer To Bolster Offense
Whether Orlando would like to finish their best regular season on a high note, the truth is the Magic are realistically at least a year away from competing with the conference’s top dawgs.
Orlando’s roster is the fourth-youngest in the NBA, at 24.3. Moreover, 11 of the 18 players—including ones on a two-way deal—have four years or less of NBA experience.
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are great building blocks for the Magic, as both players are versatile offensive players who can carry a team. Jalen Suggs is having a nice bounce back after a disappointing sophomore campaign and career season overall. Suggs is a fabulous defender and a good defender.
“Understanding that it starts with me, it starts with Franz, “Banchero recently told Yahoo’s Jake Fischer. “Just everyone understanding their role and how important their role is. We need everybody. There have been games where [Jonathan Isaac] has single-handedly shut down a guy, and it’s lifted us to get a win. There’s been times where I’ve had to score the last 18 points of the game just to keep us afloat. There’s been times where Franz took over. Where Jalen took over. We just need everybody.”
Cole Anthony and Moritz Wagner are quality backups.
Looking Ahead To The Offseason
However, Orlando is only 23rd in the league in offensive efficiency, the worst ranking among all 20 teams in the top 10 in both conferences. A major reason for the Magic’s inefficiency is that they are last in 3-pointers at 11.0 a game. The Magic are also 29th in the league in 3-point attempts and 24th in 3-point percentage at 35.2%.
Suggs leads the team with 2.1 3-pointers a game and 5.2 3-point attempts. He is second on the team in 3-point percentage at 39.9%, trailing only Joe Ingles, who converts 3-pointers at a 43.1% clip.
More significantly, the Magic’s guards average the fewest points per game among all backcourts in the NBA, 38.1. The Magic’s guards also attempt the fewest shots in the league. Their backcourt also ranks 28th in the league in 3-pointers made and 3-point attempts.
This is why the rival league executives say the Magic plan to go “all-in” for Klay Thompson and Malik Monk this summer. The Magic are projected to have at least $41 million in cap space, with a maximum of over $69 million.
“One of the worst-kept secrets in the league is that Orlando,” Tim Kawakami of The Athletic wrote this past week. “Loaded with young talent but not with shooters, might offer Klay a ton of money next summer.”
Orlando can maximize its cap room by releasing Isaac and Ingles. However, the Magic is more likely to keep Isaac and waive Ingles, freeing up $11 million and giving the Magic $52 million in cap room.
Can Orlando Get Thompson and/or Monk?
Yes. The Magic have plenty of money to spend. While Golden State has iterated that they would like to keep the core group together, Kawakami added, “[Warriors owner] Joe Lacob has said the Warriors want to get all the way out of the luxury tax next summer.”
So, for that to happen, the Warriors must spend wisely on Thompson and Chris Paul. The Warriors have six players under contract for 2025-26 and are $66.5 million below the luxury tax threshold. The Warriors could cut ties with Paul at the end of this season or re-sign him for just another season at below his current $30 million guarantee.
“Put bluntly, Klay is the only one of the big three who might end up more valuable to another team than what the Warriors want to pay him, added Kawakami.” The more durable he continues to be, the larger the contract he deserves. The Warriors should absolutely try to bring him back, and not just as a sentimental gesture. But Klay has seized control of this process. That’s because there are several more chapters left in his NBA story, and he’s got every right to be very proud about all of that.”
Thompson is making $43.3 million this season. However, the 34-year-old won’t get anywhere near that this summer. He may get around his cap number of $45 million though that will be over two or three seasons. Golden State will likely bow out of the bidding if that is the case.
Thompson is the type of player that the Magic needs. He is a veteran leader who can shoot the ball, whether off the bench or starting. Thompson also still moves well around screens, so he would provide the Magic with another option.
Since the all-star break, Thompson has averaged 18.6 points and 3.8 3-pointers, shooting 45.3% from the field and 40.7% from the 3-point line. Thompson’s assists are also up, as is his plus/minus compared to earlier in the year.
Monk will also be a free agent. Due to his age, the 26-year-old combo guard, who is having a career season, will likely have more suitors than Thompson. He is also in line for a considerable salary increase. However, he is exactly the type of player that the Magic needs, as he can create offense for himself and others. More importantly for the Magic, he is a “bucket-getter.”
Monk, a scorer, has improved in at least one area in his seven years in the NBA. Monk is out until at least the second round of the playoffs due to an MCL sprain he suffered at the beginning of the month.
Monl finishes the regular season, posting career-highs in points (15.4) and assists (5.1) while compiling a shooting slash line of .443/.350/.829. He scored in double-figures in 53 of his 72 appearances, scoring 20-plus points 25 times and topping the 30-point mark twice. Monk also produced two double-doubles this season.
