Former Orlando Magic guard Jason Williams has a bold take on his old team: he thinks Orlando will finish with a better record than the Philadelphia 76ers next season.
That idea may have sounded far-fetched a year ago, but the landscape has shifted. Philadelphia has since added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, and that has changed the bar the Magic have to clear if Williams’ prediction is going to hold up.
For Orlando to get there, the path starts with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. The Magic’s two best weapons are still young and haven’t reached their prime, but they need to stay healthy and take another step forward.
When both are right, they can give Orlando a dangerous pairing. The issue is that there have already been questions about how the two fit together, and who is most affected when one of them is off the floor.
If the Magic are going to outplay Philadelphia, they have to push through those limitations both as a duo and as individual players.
The supporting cast also has to do more. Orlando’s bench was rough last season, and outside of Anthony Black, the second unit didn’t provide much help.
That put extra strain on the starters and made every weakness harder to hide whenever injuries hit. Bringing back Nikola Vucevic was a solid offseason move, but not every other decision inspires the same confidence.
And it’s not just the bench. The Magic need Wendell Carter Jr. at his best to form a strong frontcourt combination with Vucevic.
Jalen Suggs has to give them elite defense while still being dependable enough with the ball. Black, meanwhile, has to keep trending up as a sixth man and show he deserves an extension.
Health may be the biggest obstacle of all. That problem matters for Philadelphia too, especially with Joel Embiid’s availability always a concern, but the 76ers have enough depth to survive some wear and tear.
Orlando does not. Injuries have already hit the Magic hard in recent seasons, and unlike Philadelphia, they don’t have the talent cushion to absorb a major loss.
If the Magic are going to beat the 76ers in the standings, they need health to break their way.
In Other News...
Jalen Suggs Suddenly Faces Real Pressure In Orlandos New Backcourt
The Magics decision to bring in Desmond Bane changed the shape of their backcourt almost overnight, and it also sharpened the conversation around Jalen Suggs. Orlando made the move to better support its young core of Suggs, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but in doing so it added another established option to a group that already had plenty of mouths to feed. For a team trying to take a real step forward, the fit is obvious. For Suggs, it also means the margin for error is getting thinner.
That pressure is amplified by what happened in the playoffs, where Suggs again had trouble finding his offensive rhythm and his recent injury history has kept him from building steady momentum. Orlando has invested in his energy, defense and long-term upside, but the next season now carries a different kind of weight. If his play does not rise with the new expectations, the Magic may eventually have to make harder choices about the backcourt they are assembling. [Read more 🡒]
Paolo Banchero Is Still Orlando's Biggest Contender Question
The Magic came into the 2026 season carrying real expectations after adding Desmond Bane, but the year still ended in frustration after a first-round playoff series slipped away despite a 3-1 lead. In the aftermath, the conversation in Orlando has circled back to Paolo Banchero, who remains the franchise centerpiece even as the scrutiny around him gets louder.
Banchero averaged 22.2 points per game and set career highs in rebounds and assists, which is why the debate is less about production than fit and efficiency. For a team trying to take the next step, the bigger question is whether Orlando can get the version of Banchero that matches its ambitions, or whether his game still needs to evolve before the Magic can truly move beyond being a promising but unfinished contender. [Read more 🡒]
Franz Wagner Holds The Key To Orlandos Offensive Ceiling
Franz Wagner has already shown why the Magic keep coming back to him when the offense needs a lift. With Paolo Banchero out at times, Wagner has had to function as more than a secondary scorer, and the 23-year-old has handled those stretches in a way that reinforces how much Orlando values his all-around game. His blend of size, skill and flexibility gives the Magic a different gear, especially when they need someone who can create, organize and carry possessions without the roster having to change its entire shape.
The bigger question for Orlando is less about whether Wagner can help and more about how high the ceiling goes if he keeps climbing. His injury history, including a torn oblique and a high ankle sprain, has been part of the backdrop, and it only adds to the importance of keeping him on the floor and in rhythm. If Wagner keeps developing into the kind of star-level partner the Magic envisioned next to Banchero, their offense has a chance to become far more than just functional. [Read more 🡒]