THE Orlando Magic‘s Paolo Banchero says his team can compete with anyone in the Eastern Conference.
The Magic, who reached the playoffs for the first time since 2020, are in fine form after posting a 47-35 record for their best regular-season record since 2011.
“We feel like we’re there” Banchero said Friday during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take.”” . “
“We’re on the same level as all those teams. I remember last year we started in the top three, top two, and everybody thought it was a fluke. Everybody thought we were going to be a qualifying team and lose the lead in the Eastern Conference. But we finished strong and got fifth, and we had a chance to really take second place at the end of the season.”
Banchero is one of the best young players in the NBA. In his second year in the league, he became an All-Star. So when he looked around the landscape in the East, he saw that his team should be in the running with players like Boston and New York, the top two seeds in the 2024 playoffs.
“We were there last year and we got better this year, like I said. I got better, we all got better. We have some new pieces that are going to help a lot. We’re trying to make some noise. We should easily be a top-four, top-three team and have a chance to win the Eastern Conference.”
Is Banchero’s statement completely false? Maybe not.
The Magic ultimately lost in the first round to the The Cleveland Cavaliers in a grueling seven-game series. The young team blew an 18-point lead in that game, an experience the Magic hopes to learn from. With an average age of 24.3, the Magic were the second-youngest team in the playoffs.
So when they were presented with the opportunity to sign the two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-PapeThey jumped at the chance. Caldwell-Pope brings championship experience and shooting, something the Magic sorely lacked last season. Orlando ranked 26th in the league in three-point percentage and struggled to create from the perimeter in the series against Cleveland.
Additionally, a long-time NBA veteran Cory Joseph also signed with Orlando. A champion with the San Antonio Spurs In 2014, Joseph can be a valuable mentor to the team’s young guards like Jalen suggests And Cole Anthony.
Outside of free agent additions, Orlando re-signed several of its rotation players like forward Jonathan Isaac and rising star Franz Wagner. He also wrote Tristan Da Silvaa 6-foot-8 forward from Colorado who figures to get minutes thanks to his high IQ and shooting from distance.
How did the Magic’s offseason compare to the rest of the East?
Considering some of the moves made by other Eastern teams, Orlando’s seem marginal at best.
THE The Philadelphia 76ers have reshuffled their roster in free agency, signing veterans such as Paul George, Eric Gordon, Caleb Martin And Reggie Jacksonall players who have extensive playoff experience and, in Jackson’s case, an NBA championship. George was one of the biggest acquisitions in free agencyHe has scored 20.8 points per game for his career and will be the third option on Philly’s roster behind the All-Star duo of Tyrese Maxey And Joel Embiidgiving Philadelphia an incredibly formidable team and arguably Boston’s number one threat in the conference.
The Knicks, coming off a season as the second seed in the East, have also improved. Mikal Bridges27, is coming off a season averaging 20 points per night and is recognized as one of the best perimeter defenders in the game. Beyond that, the chemistry between him and the other former Villanova Wildcats on the team can only help.
I also re-sign OG Anunoby should pay dividends for the Knicks. Having him with Bridges will undoubtedly vindicate the idea that the Knicks have the best defense in basketball.
Apart from these teams, the Milwaukee Bucks with good health Damian Lillard and Giannis Antentokunmpo will always be formidable. Likewise, the Indiana Pacers are also another young team that will be a year better after a playoff run. The same goes for the Cavaliers, who can take comfort in knowing that Donovan Mitchell commits to them for the long term.
So while Banchero and the Magic have certainly improved, it remains to be seen how far they can go in what’s shaping up to be the deepest the East has been in quite some time.
