The Orlando Magic have bigger names drawing the spotlight, but their season could hinge on a quieter piece of the puzzle.
Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs are the obvious headliners, and for good reason. But in a stronger Eastern Conference, Orlando’s room for error is slim, and that means the team needs more than star power to stay competitive.
Tristan da Silva fits right into that conversation.
He isn’t projected to start, but he still looks like a player who can carve out a major bench role. The Magic have reason to believe he can take another step, and that makes his health and availability a real issue this season.
The early signs have been encouraging. In three preseason games, da Silva is averaging 18 points per game while shooting 43.2% from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range, going 12-for-32 from deep.
That kind of shooting matters, especially from a forward. Orlando’s forward rotation needs spacing, and da Silva has already shown he can provide it. His 2025-26 regular season backs that up, as he hit 37.4% of his threes.
There was also clear progress last season. Compared to his rookie year, da Silva averaged more points per game and improved both his overall shooting and his accuracy from long distance. That points to a player who is still moving in the right direction offensively.
For the Magic, that growth has value beyond the box score. If da Silva is giving them solid minutes off the bench, it helps with a rotation that can’t ask Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to carry everything at once.
It also gives Orlando another option when injuries hit. Da Silva could be called on to start if needed, which only makes his availability more important.
He looks like a player who could benefit under Sean Sweeney, but that only matters if he stays on the floor.
That’s what makes da Silva such an interesting piece for Orlando. He could have a real impact, and he could keep expanding his game. The regular season should go a long way toward showing just how high that ceiling really is in Sweeney’s system.
In Other News...
Magic Face Two Big Questions After Preseason Finale
A preseason win over the Miami Heat gave Orlando one last chance to sort through its roster before opening night, and the evaluation period quickly turned into a decision-making stretch. With the regular season set to begin against the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 21, the Magic have already moved to trim the group, waiving Malaki Branham, JD Davison and Kevin Knox II as part of the final roster cuts.
The bigger concern now is health, after Franz Wagner, Jase Richardson and Noah Penda all left the game with different injury issues. Orlando still has time to settle things before the games start to count, but the final tune-up also underscored how much of the early-season picture depends on getting the rotation intact in the next few days. [Read more 🡒]
Magic's New Offense Is Clicking Just In Time For Real Test
The Magics preseason ended on a much cleaner offensive note, the kind of sign that can matter when a team is trying to define itself under a new coach. Orlando moved the ball better, spaced the floor more naturally and got a big night from Desmond Bane, who looked comfortable as one of the main engines of the attack in the finale.
Sean Sweeneys group now heads into the regular season with cautious optimism and a clearer sense of identity than it had a week or two ago. The larger question is whether the improved shooting and spacing from October can carry over when the games count and opponents start taking away the easy looks that were available in preseason. [Read more 🡒]
Magics New-Look Core Already Faces Pressure In Sean Sweeneys First Year
Sean Sweeney is stepping into a situation that already comes with some heat on it. After back-to-back play-in appearances and first-round playoff exits, the Magic are expected to keep moving forward with the new head coach in place for the 2026-27 season, and the bar is no longer just about getting back to the postseason. Orlando has tried to build a sturdier foundation, but in a crowded Eastern Conference, the margin for error is still thin.
The good news for the Magic is that there are reasons for optimism if the group can finally settle in together. Franz Wagners return is one of the factors that could lift the ceiling, but the bigger question is whether a reshaped core can click quickly enough to avoid another season spent fighting uphill. Even the floor of the projection leaves Orlando stuck near the play-in picture, which tells you how much pressure Sweeney and the roster are already carrying before the year really gets going. [Read more 🡒]