The Magic are almost back.
Orlando opens training camp Tuesday and will meet with the media Monday at the AdventHealth Training Center to set up the franchise’s 37th season of basketball.
Expectations are high for Jamahl Mosley’s squad after a summer of changes that stretched across the roster, the coaching staff, the front office and even the uniforms the players wear on the court.
With expensive extensions in hand, Orlando’s core trio of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs will be joined by newcomer Desmond Bane as the four look to help guide the Magic back to the postseason for a third straight season.
But the Magic don’t want to just make the playoffs. They want to advance after two consecutive first-round exits.
Before then, however, there are key questions that need answering as training camp gets underway.
Where do things stand with Jalen Suggs and Moe Wagner?
Suggs and Wagner both saw their 2024-25 seasons come to an end much earlier than they envisioned because of left knee injuries. Wagner suffered a torn left ACL in late December and Suggs played only one game after Jan. 3 before he underwent arthroscopic surgery in early March to remove a cartilage fragment from his left knee.
On a recent appearance of “The Sixth Man Show” podcast, Suggs provided an update on his rehab, but it only raised more questions than answers.
“The knee has been a process,” Suggs said last week. “I’ve loved the growth, I’ve loved all that this summer has had in store for me. This is definitely the hardest summer that I’ve had so far. … The knee is coming along but I’m just really getting to work on minute muscles and really detailed parts about my body that just have been overlooked up to this point. So it’s been great. Camp and the return will come in time, in [God’s] time, but our process is really working and I love the spot that we’re in right now.”
Although the team has shared photos on social media of Suggs working out at the AdventHealth Training Center throughout the summer, clarity around his health and timeline ought to come Monday.
The same goes for Wagner, who shared in German on his “Kannst Du So Nicht Sagen” podcast in early July that his doctors were pleased with his recovery.
What will the bench rotation look like after moves?
If Suggs or Wagner aren’t ready for the start of the season, the ripple effect would be felt down the roster.
But even if they are ready, the Magic will still have to adjust to major changes to their rotation following the departures of Cole Anthony (Bucks), Gary Harris (Bucks), Cory Joseph (free agent) and Caleb Houstan (Hawks).
The arrival of Bane and veteran point guard Tyus Jones as well as the development of younger players such as Anthony Black, Tristan da Silva and Jett Howard should help make up for the difference.
As for filling in for Wagner, it would be expected for Goga Bitadze to take on a larger role with the second unit. Bitadze has served as a spot starter in the past and offers a strong rim presence on both ends of the court.
What impact will the rookies have on the rotation?
The past two drafts, the Magic weren’t expecting their rookies to see significant playing time from the jump but that changed quickly for Black and da Silva due to injuries to teammates in front of them on the depth chart.
The same could happen with rookie Jase Richardson. Although Black is expected to serve as an important piece of Orlando’s second unit, Mosley in the past has promoted a member of the third unit to the starting lineup so to avoid breaking up his regular rotation.
If Suggs doesn’t return in time, Richardson — a 6-foot-1 guard who shot 41.2% on 3-pointers in one season at Michigan State — could see the court sooner than expected.
Where fellow rookie Noah Penda fits into the picture remains to be seen. Penda showcased his versatility on both sides of the ball at Las Vegas Summer League, but he’ll have to adjust to NBA competition and beat out those in front of him to earn playing time.
Who earns Orlando’s final two-way spot?
The Magic signed forward Jamal Cain and center Orlando Robinson on two-way contracts earlier this summer, and there are candidates to fill the third spot.
That includes guard Reece Beekman, center Colin Castleton, forward Justin Minaya, guard Lester Quinones and guard Alex Morales, who will join Orlando for training camp on Exhibit 10 contracts. With only one two-way spot open, the majority of these players will likely end up with the Osceola Magic, the club’s G League affiliate, in order to earn a bonus worth up to $85,300 if they remain there for at least 60 days.
Beekman, Castleton, Minaya and Quinones all bring some NBA experience with them to camp, with Castleton being the most familiar with the franchise after spending part of last season with Osceola.
Morales has been a mainstay on Osceola’s club the last three years while appearing in 94 G League games.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
