The Orlando Magic suffered a major blow on Thursday, as the blossoming Paolo Banchero “has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique and is sidelined indefinitely,” per ESPN insider Shams Charania. Banchero, the top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, “will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks and (his) return to play will be based on how he responds to treatment.”
Just In: Orlando Magic superstar Paolo Banchero has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique and is sidelined indefinitely, sources tell ESPN. He will be re-evaluated in four-to-six weeks and return to play will be based on how he responds to treatment. pic.twitter.com/hq4qh7IONa
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 1, 2024
Banchero is currently averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game on 49.5 percent shooting from the field. His scoring average is the highest for a player that’s 21 years old or younger since LeBron James in 2005. In a win over the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 28, the Seattle native recorded an eye-popping stat line of 50 points, 13 rebounds, nine assists, two blocks, and one steal in 40 minutes.
Who Steps Up For Magic After Paolo Banchero Injury?
With Banchero out for at least the next month, who will step up?
Franz Wagner
2021 No. 8 pick Franz Wagner has been usurped by Banchero as the face of the franchise. However, that’s not because Wagner doesn’t have the goods — Banchero is just that good. Regardless of the team’s pecking order when healthy, Wagner has demonstrated the ability to take over games with his scoring while impacting the game in several other ways.
This season, Wagner is averaging 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game in a career-low 26.0 minutes per game. He’s straightened out his shooting, knocking down a career-high 39.3 percent of his threes. His numbers pale in comparison to Banchero’s from a productivity standpoint. Nonetheless, he still has the Magic’s second-highest scoring average this season.
He also has a similar skillset to Banchero in that he’s a long-limbed three-level scorer with playmaking instincts.
Anthony Black
2023 No. 6 pick Anthony Black could start in Banchero’s place. Though more of a guard than a wing, Black is a physical player at 6-foot-7 and 198 pounds. So, defensively, Black should be able to handle tough assignments against heftier players.
Offensively, Black’s court vision and feel can help him be a connector in the first unit. He isn’t nearly as skilled or confident as Banchero, hence his scoring average this season (8.4 points per game). However, when he’s aggressive, he can put a dent in the scoreboard.
Jalen Suggs
2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs is another player to watch. He’s already averaging a career-high 16.8 points per game, but the Magic may need him to give a little more. Though he generally gets his buckets in a different way than Banchero, he also knows how to put pressure on the interior.
After signing a rich contract extension with Orlando this season, there’s a natural pressure for him to perform at a higher level.
