As the Orlando Magic prepare for the 2026-27 NBA season, the spotlight naturally falls on the biggest names in the rotation. Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs are the players expected to carry the load.
But if the Magic are going to get where they want to go, the reserve group has to deliver too. Jamal Cain is part of that conversation.
Cain is heading into his fifth NBA season and his second with Orlando, and he enters the year with a more secure footing than he had before. After spending his first four seasons on two-way contracts, he had his deal converted to a standard contract last season. That came after he carved out a productive role in ways that showed up on the floor and in the details that don’t always make the box score.
There’s a real opportunity here for Cain to show he can be part of the solution again. Orlando will need him to bring the same edge he flashed last season, and maybe a little more.
Cain’s path has been a gradual climb. He’s 27, and the story of his career has been built on effort and persistence.
He never coasted on talent or acted like he’d already arrived. He kept working to earn every step forward.
That mindset matters for a player like Cain, especially in a role where every possession can swing the game. He’s listed at 6-foot-7 and under 200 pounds, so he’s not a physically imposing forward in the traditional sense.
But he plays bigger than that frame suggests. He’ll crash the glass, chase loose balls and bring the kind of activity the Magic tend to value.
There’s also some real utility in his shooting. Cain can stretch the floor well enough to matter, and his career three-point mark sits at 38%, a little above that number.
Still, there’s a clear next step he has to find. Age is part of the equation. He’s not one of the younger prospects on the roster, and that means the runway isn’t as long as it is for players just entering their 20s.
The biggest reminder of what Cain can do - and what still needs cleaning up - came in the playoffs after Franz went down. Cain started three of the seven games, and while his energy and effort were useful, his offense never really came along. He struggled badly as a shooter and as a scoring threat.
That’s the balance with Cain. The hustle is there.
The toughness is there. The Magic know he can bring those things.
The question now is whether he can turn that into steadier production when the pressure rises.
In Other News...
Magic Just Made A Development Move Fans Should Care About
Ronnie Burrells arrival as head coach of the Magics G League affiliate is the kind of development move that can matter long after the summer headlines fade. For Orlando, the G League pipeline has become an important part of the organizations broader identity, and adding a new voice to guide that group gives the franchise another chance to align its young players, system and teaching habits from top to bottom.
The move comes at a time when several teams are reshaping their developmental infrastructure, with coaching staffs shifting across the league and player development taking on even greater importance. Orlando has made no secret of how much it values that side of the operation, and Burrells hire is another signal that the Magic want their prospects getting the same message whether they are in Orlando or down with the affiliate. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Pipeline Just Took A Turn Fans Should Watch Closely
The Magics player-development pipeline has a new voice at the top, with Ronnie Burrell hired as head coach of the Osceola Magic. Burrell brings previous NBA assistant coaching experience and arrives with real credibility in the G League after being named the leagues coach of the year in 2023, giving Orlandos affiliate a veteran hand as it continues to serve as a proving ground for the organization.
Burrell replaces Dylan Murphy, who left to join the University of Michigan staff, and the move keeps the focus on how Orlando wants its development arm to function going forward. The Osceola Magic are set to open their 2026-27 season on Nov. 8, so the next steps for Burrell will come into view quickly as he starts shaping the roster and the routines that help determine who gets the call up next. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Fans Face A Big Viewing Change This Season
Magic fans who have gotten used to chasing games across a patchwork of cable and streaming options are going to have a new home to learn this season. The Magic have announced DAZN as their exclusive direct-to-consumer streaming partner for the 2026-27 season, giving viewers live and on-demand access to preseason and regular-season games that are not picked up nationally.
The arrangement also keeps the broadcast booth familiar, with Dante Marchitelli set to handle lead play-by-play and Jeff Turner returning as analyst. DAZN will offer several subscription plans, along with discounts for season ticket holders and a free seven-day trial in the Magics broadcast territory, which should make the transition a little easier for fans who want to follow the team game by game. [Read more 🡒]