When the Magic signed Paolo Banchero to a five-year, $239 million rookie max extension over the summer, Orlando not only secured the future of one of the league’s rising stars but the franchise also continued to invest in its core roster pieces.
The year prior, the Magic signed Franz Wagner to a five-year, $224 million maximum rookie extension and Jalen Suggs to a five-year, $150.5 million rookie contract extension.
The future total salary of the team only increased when Orlando dealt with Memphis to acquire Desmond Bane — a 27-year-old shooting guard who is entering the second year of his five-year, $207 million max contract extension.
Setting realistic expectations for such a team can be difficult entering the marathon that is an 82-game NBA season tacked on by a postseason that can last through June. But not for Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman.
“The best thing about Paolo is that’s an easy answer,” Weltman said this week. “We’ve got to win. We’re paying these guys because we want to win. And Paolo knows that. If you were to ask him, it’s an easy answer.
“A lot of our core guys are under contract for many years and they have the internal drive to win, even if that means sacrifice,” Weltman added. “They’re going to work, they’re going to make each other better, but if it means sacrificing, they’ll do whatever it takes to win. We can talk about shooting percentages or this or that, ultimately they all know that we’re all going to be judged on winning.”
Banchero is on the same page as Weltman.
The 6-foot-10 forward, who will turn 23 in November, understands the external expectations that come with signing such a contract like the one he did.
“Expectations from the outside are one thing, but internally you should expect a lot out of yourself as a player and a team,” said Banchero, who already has the third-most 40-plus point games in Magic history with six in just three seasons.
Banchero is also appreciative of the moves the front office made to bolster Orlando’s roster. Not only did the Magic trade for Bane, they also signed veteran guard Tyus Jones and drafted rookies Jase Richardson and Noah Penda.
“I’m definitely happy with the moves the organization made,” Banchero said. “[They] brought in two great, experienced players in here and drafted two great rookies. So, [I’m] just excited to get to work with the group and get on the court and start building that chemistry.”
Although he averaged career-highs of 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.8 rebounds per game last season, Banchero only played in 46 games due to a torn left abdominal muscle that took two-plus months to rehabilitate.
This summer, he spent time focusing on his 3-point shooting (his percentage dropped slightly from 33.9% as a sophomore to 32% last year) and finishing around the rim.
Banchero also reverted to his old ways of training over the offseason.
“Heading to my third year, I tried something a little different in terms of the way I trained and how hard I pushed my body,” he said. “Not saying that was the cause of my injury, but I think it did play a part. So, for me coming into my fourth year, I just wanted to get back to doing what I know and listening to my body, how I usually do rather than trying to do something new or different.”
Healthy again with high expectations in front of him, Banchero is hoping the work he put in translates to success on the court. It’s why the Magic invested in their star when the sides put pen to paper in early July.
“It means the world to me, just considering my first three years and spending so much time here and being a part of this organization,” he said of his contract extension. “To sign a second deal and lock in the future here is an amazing feeling.”
But similar to Weltman, Banchero knows winning is the only thing that matters for the Magic after the financial commitments they made the past two summers.
“I just know I’m going to go out there every day and work as hard as I can to reach all of those goals,” Banchero said. “Those goals grow every single year. What my goals were two years ago weren’t the same as they are now.
“I understand that’s going to take more work and more focus, but I’m ready for it.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
