The Orlando Magic opened their 2026-27 preseason with a 122-118 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum, and the first look at Sean Sweeney’s team gave an early hint at how he may try to get Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner going together.
The clearest answer on that front was Wagner handling the offense early. On the Magic’s first two possessions, they ran Spain pick-and-rolls with Wagner as the main ballhandler and Banchero as the first screener, and both sequences ended with Wendell Carter Jr. baskets.
There were other stretches where Banchero worked off the ball while Wagner created, with both players looking to attack downhill. Wagner didn’t force much, but the offense was smoother.
In 14 minutes, he posted six points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Wednesday also gave Josh Richardson an expanded role with Anthony Black and Jalen Suggs both out. Richardson started over Jevon Carter, which raised some obvious questions about where he stands in the rotation, whether the move was matchup-driven against Orlando’s three stars, or whether Sweeney simply wanted to see how the second-year guard would respond.
The night itself was pretty quiet for Richardson. He played 23 minutes and finished with three points on two shot attempts, plus three rebounds and three assists.
Sweeney had him press full court after made baskets and on dead-ball situations, but Richardson got a little too aggressive at times and picked up three fouls. He also didn’t hunt his own offense on the ball, choosing instead to keep things moving with passes and paint touches.
In the middle of all the injury absences, Sweeney also leaned on two-way forward Alex Morales. He logged 9 first-half minutes and finished with 24:27 overall, spending time with the regular rotation pieces.
The shot wasn’t there - he missed both free throws and both 3-point tries - but he brought energy throughout the night. One of his two field goals came on an offensive rebound, and he finished with five rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal.
Morales turns 29 in November and has appeared in just four career games, but he showed enough activity to suggest there may be something there for Sweeney to keep working with.
Jamal Cain made the strongest individual case of the night. With this coaching staff, the preseason is a major opportunity for him to carve out a real role, and he took a good step in that direction. Cain scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 22 minutes, added two rebounds and hit three 3-pointers.
He ran hard, competed on the glass, defended with purpose and gave Orlando a lift whenever he was on the floor. It was only one preseason game, and plenty can change from here, but Cain clearly made an impression in the opener.
In Other News...
Magics New Look Already Gives Fans Something To Watch
Sean Sweeneys first game on the Orlando sideline gave fans an early look at how different this preseason can feel, and the 122-118 win over Memphis had plenty of small details worth tracking. Jase Richardson got the start because Jalen Suggs was ill, Paolo Banchero was already up to 11 points by halftime, and Tristan da Silva brought scoring punch off the bench as the Magic leaned on a mix of established talent and new possibilities.
Desmond Banes first game back at FedExForum since being traded to Orlando added another layer to a matchup that already carried a little extra edge. Preseason results rarely mean much on their own, but this one offered the kind of lineup twists and personnel changes that can keep a fan base engaged, especially when the group looks a little different and the rotation questions are still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Zach Edey Reaches A Big Grizzlies Checkpoint After Long Absence
Zach Edey is set to rejoin the Memphis Grizzlies for their upcoming preseason game against the Orlando Magic, a notable step after he missed time following two left ankle procedures. For the Grizzlies, getting the center back on the floor even in a preseason setting offers another chance to gauge where he stands physically and how quickly he can fit back into the rotation work the team wants to sort out before the games start to count.
Orlando will be dealing with a different kind of preseason challenge, with several players sidelined because of illness, injury or personal reasons. The matchup also comes as Memphis continues to use the exhibition slate to build rhythm, and point guard Ty Jerome said preseason is a chance for the team to evaluate performance and keep sharpening details, even if the results themselves are not the main point yet. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Morales Is Giving The Magic A Reason To Trust Him
Alex Morales kept showing up in the places that matter most for a two-way player, and the preseason win over the Memphis Grizzlies gave Orlando another look at why the organization has taken notice. He was active on the offensive glass, stayed involved in possessions and found ways to help the Magic without needing the ball in his hands much, which is often the formula for players fighting to earn trust in this spot.
Coach Sean Sweeney singled out the kind of value Morales brings when the box score does not always capture the full picture. For Orlando, those energy plays and extra possessions matter, especially in a preseason setting where role players are trying to prove they can keep the standard high. Morales did enough in Memphis to make that case a little stronger, and he left the impression of someone who understands exactly what is being asked of him. [Read more 🡒]