Paolo Banchero isn’t pretending the Orlando Magic’s playoff run felt complete.
Asked by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith whether the first-round series against the Detroit Pistons might have turned out differently if Franz Wagner had been healthy, Banchero didn’t dodge the question.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't," Paolo told Smith when asked if he thinks the Magic - Pistons first round playoff series would have a different outcome if the team had Franz Wagner available.
That answer says plenty about how Orlando views Wagner inside the building. Banchero made it clear that Wagner is more than just another talented wing next to him. He framed him as a central piece of the team’s identity, someone whose value stretches beyond scoring and defense into the quieter stuff that shapes a locker room.
Banchero had a LOT of good things to say about his running mate, Franz Wagner: pic.twitter.com/GeYhoR3WSw
The praise didn’t stop at the court. Banchero also pointed to Wagner as a necessary leader and a respected voice around the team, the kind of player whose presence changes more than a box score.
The numbers back up the idea that Wagner’s impact runs deep. Dunks and Three’s Estimated Plus-Minus paints Banchero as a strong all-around force in 2025-26, with a +1.4 EPM overall. That broke down to +0.9 on offense and +0.5 on defense.
Wagner’s profile was even louder in the same metric. In 2025-26, he posted a +3.7 EPM overall, landing in the 97th percentile. He checked in at +1.9 on offense and +1.9 on defense, both in the 92nd percentile.
The broader point is hard to miss: Orlando has two 6'10" big wings who can tilt a game on both ends. When they’re healthy and locked in, they give the Magic defense, downhill drives, paint touches, free throws, hustle plays, kickouts and points off turnovers. They’re the kind of pairing that can swing a game in a hurry.
Orlando has already shown flashes of what that looks like on the floor. With Sean Sweeney now in charge, the next step is figuring out how he pushes that frontcourt tandem even further and turns two strong pieces into something bigger than the sum of their parts.
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Sean Sweeney Just Sent A Strong Message About Orlando's Direction
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What stood out to him was how closely the two sides seemed to fit from the start, with the Magic looking for someone who understood what had already been built and what still needed to be added. Sweeney also acknowledged the realities around the roster, including the injury issues that have shaped outside perceptions of last season, but his focus was on the bigger picture. The message from the interview process was less about a quick fix than about a shared vision for what Orlando wants to become next. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Suggs Faces Mounting Pressure In Crucial Season For The Magic
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For Orlando, the path from good to elite is going to require more than just keeping him on the floor. The Magic are largely running it back, which puts extra weight on Suggs finding steadier 3-point shooting and growing as a playmaker, because his ability to balance those responsibilities may end up shaping how far this group can go. [Read more 🡒]
Magic End Summer League With A Win Fans Can Feel Good About
The Magic closed Summer League in Las Vegas with a win that should leave the organization feeling pretty good about the group it brought to the floor. Orlando beat Boston 103-97 in its fifth and final game, finishing the event 4-1 and showing enough depth to make the trip feel worthwhile. Malik Reneau, AuDiese Toney, Will Baker and Phillip Wheeler all had their moments, giving the roster a mix of scoring and energy that helped the team finish on a high note.
Reneau was the one who really changed the game after halftime, scoring 19 of his points in the second half as Orlando steadied itself against the Celtics. The Magic now turn the page toward training camp on Sept. 29, and while Summer League results rarely tell the whole story, this run gave them a few players worth watching closely once the real competition begins. [Read more 🡒]