Top Magic News
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Magic's Jett Howard: Drops 19 points in start
Howard logged 19 points (6-10 FG, 3-7 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three assists and two steals across 29 minutes of Wednesday's 107-97 preseason loss to the Spurs.
Orlando gave Howard an extended look Wednesday, and he delivered a game-high 19 points on 60 percent shooting. Howard spent most of the 2023 campaign in the G League, appearing in merely 18 NBA games and averaging 3.7 minutes per contest. Not many opportunities have opened for Howard entering Year 2, but he could push for a spot in the rotation if he continues to perform well.
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Magic's Wendell Carter: Inactive Wednesday
Carter (ankle) is out for Wednesday's preseason game versus San Antonio.
Carter's next opportunity to suit up for preseason action comes Oct. 18 versus Philadelphia, as Friday's game against New Orleans has been canceled due to inclement weather in the area. Orlando will likely exercise an abundance of precaution with the 25-year-old ramping up in advance of the regular season.
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Magic's Jalen Suggs: Won't see heavy minutes
Suggs is "expected to play around 16 minutes" in Wednesday's preseason duel versus San Antonio, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Suggs will operate on a limited workload alongside Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. Each player is expected to see approximately 16-to-20 minutes of action Wednesday, per coach Jamahl Mosely.
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Magic's Paolo Banchero: Minutes limited Wednesday
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said that Banchero would play "around 16" minutes during Wednesday's preseason game against the Spurs, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Banchero played 22 minutes in Orlando's preseason opener, and he'll have his workload trimmed further Wednesday. Entering his third NBA season, Banchero is a budding superstar, so it's not surprising to see the Magic be a little cautious. Banchero appeared in 80 regular-season games last season, averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
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Magic's Franz Wagner: Workload to be limited Wednesday
Wagner is "expected to play around 16 minutes" during Wednesday's preseason game against San Antonio, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs are each expected to fall in the 16-to-20 minute range Wednesday. Wagner provided eight points (2-8 FG, 4-6 FT), three rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes during Orlando's preseason opener Monday.
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Magic's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: Not starting Wednesday
Caldwell-Pope won't start Wednesday's preseason game against the Spurs.
Caldwell-Pope made his Magic debut Monday, posting two points and two rebounds in 17 minutes as a starter. He's not starting the second preseason contest, and he may be getting a vet rest day, though Orlando hasn't ruled him out for the contest yet.
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Magic's Jett Howard: Starting nod Wednesday
Howard is in the starting lineup for Wednesday's preseason game against San Antonio.
Howard delivered five points (2-8 FG) and three rebounds in 12 minutes during Orlando's preseason opener, so the second-year swingman will look to build on that performance. He is joined by Jalen Suggs in Orlando's starting backcourt Wednesday.
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Magic's Goga Bitadze: Starting sans Carter
Bitadze will start Wednesday's preseason game against the Spurs.
With Wendell Carter (ankle) likely sidelined for a few games, Bitadze gets first crack as the starting center. Moritz Wagner should also see increased minutes for as long as Carter is unavailable.
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Magic's Wendell Carter: Considered day-to-day
Carter is considered day-to-day after getting confirmation he suffered a sprained left ankle during Monday's preseason loss to the Pelicans, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Carter has struggled to stay healthy, playing more than 60 regular-season games only once during his six-year career. However, it seems he avoided a serious injury after appearing visibly frustrated while getting helped off the court Monday. The Magic have three preseason games left until they open the regular season against the Heat on Oct. 23.
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Magic's Cole Anthony: Productive off bench Monday
Anthony delivered 11 points (3-8 FG, 0-4 3Pt, 5-5 FT), two rebounds, two assists and a steal across 14 minutes off the bench in Monday's 106-104 preseason loss to the Pelicans.
Anthony didn't need a lot of minutes to make an impact off the bench in the preseason opener, and while his three-point shooting wasn't good, he still ended as one of three Orlando players with double-digit points. Anthony is expected to open the regular season as Jalen Suggs' primary backup at point guard, but that role shouldn't translate to a lot of fantasy upside outside of very deep formats and dynasty leagues.
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Magic's Paolo Banchero: Leads Orlando in scoring
Banchero finished with 15 points (5-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 4-6 FT), three rebounds and two assists across 22 minutes in Monday's 106-104 preseason loss to the Pelicans.
Banchero was one of two Magic starters who surpassed the 20-minute plateau in this preseason opener, and it was clear from the jump that he was going to be the team's primary threat on offense. That shouldn't be surprising, as Banchero is coming off a career-best season in 2023-24 in which he averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 35.0 minutes across 80 regular-season appearances. Banchero should continue to see steady minutes in the preseason ahead of the regular-season opener against the Heat on Oct. 23.
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Magic's Jalen Suggs: Woeful shooting in preseason loss
Suggs delivered 11 points (3-10 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists and a steal across 22 minutes in Monday's 106-104 preseason loss to the Pelicans.
Suggs had his first crack at being the Magic's point guard and had a decent showing while being among the players who logged more minutes for Orlando. Even though his shooting numbers were subpar, it's worth noting that Suggs made a career-best 47.1 percent of his shots from the field in 2023-24. Expect him to continue seeing reps as the point guard role ahead of the regular-season opener against the Heat on Oct. 23.
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Magic's Wendell Carter: Inks three-year extension
Carter (ankle) agreed to a three-year, $59 million contract extension with the Magic on Monday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Carter is expected to play a sizable role this season in Orlando's frontcourt, and this deal confirms the confidence the team has in the 25-year-old. The Duke product is looking to bounce this season after a down 2023-24 campaign, during which he averaged 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.2 made threes in 55 regular-season appearances.
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Magic's Wendell Carter: Undergoing imaging on ankle
Coach Jamahl Mosley told reporters following Monday's preseason game against the Pelicans that Carter will get imaging on his left ankle ahead of Wednesday's exhibition contest against the Spurs, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Carter sprained his left ankle during Monday's preseason game, and he was visibly frustrated as he was helped to the locker room. It seems unlikely that Carter will play Wednesday, and the imaging on his ankle will determine his availability for the rest of the preseason.
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Magic's Wendell Carter: Suffers ankle sprain
Carter suffered a sprained left ankle during Monday's preseason game against the Pelicans and was unable to return, Dan Savage of the Magic's official site reports. Carter finished with four points (2-3 FG, 0-1 3Pt), six rebounds and one steal in 20 minutes.
Carter needed help to get to the locker room and was visibly frustrated about the injury. Carter has had some tough luck with injuries in the past, so this is something for fantasy managers to watch closely. It wouldn't be surprising to see Carter miss Wednesday's preseason contest against the Spurs even if this is just a minor issue.
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Magic's Jett Howard: Orlando picks up option
Orlando exercised its third-year team option for the 2025-26 season on Howard's contract Friday, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Howard will likely return to the Magic next year after the club extended him for his third season. The 21-year-old rarely saw the floor in his rookie season, during which he averaged 1.6 points across 3.7 minutes per game in 18 regular-season appearances. Howard will likely struggle to find consistent minutes once again, buried behind Anthony Black, Caleb Houstan and Gary Harris on the bench.
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Magic's Paolo Banchero: Fourth-year option picked up
The Magic announced Friday that they picked up Banchero's fourth-year team option for 2025-26.
Banchero has quickly established himself as one of the best young players in the league after averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 35.0 minutes across 80 regular-season appearances in 2023-24. Banchero is one of the cornerstone pieces of the Magic alongside Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs.
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Magic's Anthony Black: Team option picked up
Orlando exercised its third-year team option for the 2025-26 season on Black's contract Friday, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Black will likely be returning to Orlando next season after the club extended him for his third year. The 20-year-old played a decent amount during his rookie season and averaged 4.6 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists across 16.9 minutes per game in 69 regular-season appearances (33 starts). However, Black may struggle to find similar playing time with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope joining the club this season.
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Magic's Wendell Carter: Practices Tuesday
Carter (hand) practiced Tuesday, Philip Rossman-Reich of OrlandoMagicDaily.com reports.
Carter underwent surgery in May to stabilize the third metacarpal in his left hand, but as expected, he'll be available to start the 2024-25 campaign. The big man was wearing a wrap around his left hand during Tuesday's practice, so there may still be limitations early on, but Carter's full participation is encouraging at this point in the preseason.
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2023 Team Statistical Rankings
PTS/G | OPP PTS/G | |
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Team |
110.5 (24th) |
108.4 (3rd) |
Injuries
Player | Injury |
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W. Carter Jr. C Wendell Carter Jr. C | Ankle |
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