The Orlando Magic entered this season with real expectations-ones that felt justified given the state of the Eastern Conference and the bold moves made in the front office. But as the trade deadline passed, team president Jeff Weltman didn’t sugarcoat where things stand.
“I don’t like the state of the team right now,” Weltman told reporters. “I would imagine the fans are frustrated by the way we’re playing, and I’m frustrated with them.”
That frustration is rooted in a season that’s fallen short of its early promise. Injuries have played a major role-Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs have all missed time. And while the Magic sit at 26-24, good for seventh in the East, they haven’t looked like the team that was expected to take a leap.
Let’s rewind for a second. Earlier this season, the Magic made a blockbuster move, sending Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and four unprotected first-round picks to Memphis in exchange for Desmond Bane.
That’s not a small swing-it’s the kind of trade a team makes when it believes it’s ready to contend. Weltman called Bane “the perfect fit,” and said the expectation at the time was to win a championship.
But with injuries piling up, the full vision has yet to materialize. The starting five of Suggs, Bane, Wagner, Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. has only logged 117 minutes together all season.
The good news? In those limited minutes, the group has posted a +18 net rating-sixth-best in the league.
That’s elite-level production, even if the sample size is small.
Weltman remains hopeful that once the team gets healthy, the pieces will finally click.
“I’m hoping once we get our guys back and get this group together again, I can tell you there is belief in this team and there is a care factor,” he said. “We just have to get back pointed in the right direction.”
But it hasn’t just been injuries complicating matters. Financially, the Magic were over the luxury tax threshold and had to make moves to get under.
That led to the trade of Tyus Jones and two second-round picks to the Hornets on February 5. It was a cost-cutting move, plain and simple.
With two roster spots to fill, the Magic added veteran point guard Jevon Carter for the rest of the season. The final spot is expected to go to either Colin Castleton or Jamal Cain, both currently on two-way deals.
Weltman didn’t dodge accountability for where the team stands.
“It starts with me and ends with me,” he said. “I’m not happy with it.
I understand the fans’ frustration. We’ve got to do better.”
There’s also been off-court noise. In late January, a report suggested tension between Banchero and head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Banchero quickly denied the rumor, focusing instead on the team’s need to win games. Weltman addressed Mosley’s status directly, saying, “Jamahl has our full support, and Jamahl is our coach for the rest of the season.”
He acknowledged the outside chatter but emphasized that turning things around is a collective effort.
It’s worth noting that Weltman himself is in the final year of his contract. There’s no extension in place, which adds another layer of urgency to the final stretch of the season-for both him and Mosley.
Still, despite all the setbacks, Weltman’s message was clear: this team isn’t giving up on its goals.
“I remain optimistic about the rest of the season,” he said. “And I think that it’s on us to turn it around.”
The Magic’s path forward isn’t easy, but if they can get healthy and find rhythm with their core five, there’s still time to make noise in the East. The belief is there. Now it’s about execution.