The NBA has packed up its bags from Las Vegas and gone unofficially quiet for the summer.
The Olympics have begun in Paris to give some NBA players the chance to play meaningful games. The schedule should come out sometime in early or mid-August. Training camps open at the end of September.
Those six weeks before the season starts will be long. It is the basketball desert as things go right now. But the contours of the 2025 season have begun to form.
Already everyone is trying to imagine which teams will rise to contender status. The Magic are absolutely in the mix for homecourt advantage as they prepare for an 82-game battle for positioning in the Eastern Conference.
As the teams left Las Vegas, the sportsbooks began dropping the over/unders to give our first unofficial predictions on the season.
Orlando is projected to land at 47.5 wins, matching last year’s win total and finishing fifth among the Eastern Conference’s teams. That is no surprise. But it does signal a belief that Orlando can at least match what it did last year.
That is not the only thing that is on the betting boards these days. Initial projections for all of the NBA awards are now on the board too.
Last year’s breakthrough to the playoffs got the Orlando Magic some notice from the awards voters. Jalen Suggs ended up on the All-Defensive Second Team. Coach Jamahl Mosley finished second to Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault for the NBA’s Coach of the Year Award.
To be sure, the Magic have entered the awards stage. And now that Orlando is expected to be a playoff team once again, they should find themselves in the running for awards.
Who are the candidates for each of the awards? And what are the oddsmakers predicting for the awards? That is a good question.
The Magic have a candidate now for each of the upcoming awards and they should be in the running from the Magic for this year’s slate of NBA awards.
Looking at this also gives us an idea of what national observers think of the Magic’s team and what could be in store this year.
Early odds for the Orlando Magic to win each 2025 NBA award
MVP: Paolo Banchero
Betting Favorite: Nikola Jokic (+360)
Magic Candidate: Paolo Banchero (+50,000)
Paolo Banchero just gets on the board for MVP consideration with long-shot odds to win the award. Five hundred-to-one odds is a pretty good return on investment if you believe Banchero is about to make a seismic leap in his game.
No one would be concerned that Banchero is not in the MVP conversation, although placing him in the same tier as Julius Randle, LaMelo Ball, and Cade Cunningham feels a bit insulting.
Banchero though turned in an MVP-like performance in the Orlando Magic’s playoff series. He averaged 27.0 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game and 4.0 assists per game while shooting 45.6 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from three.
If Banchero can mimic his playoff performances more often during the regular season, he will not only be a two-time All-Star but could be pushing to start (although it will be hard to break into a frontcourt that features Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo).
That is the level the Magic are clearly hoping Banchero can get to. His regular season was a solid improvement from his rookie year. He averaged 22.6 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 5.4 assists per game. But there is still plenty of room for growth.
As offseason discussions around Banchero have noted, the biggest area of improvement for Banchero is with his efficiency. He shot only 45.5 percent from the floor and 33.9 percent from three. His 54.6 percent true shooting percentage is heading in the right direction, but could still greatly improve.
To be sure, the difference between the Magic merely making the playoffs and becoming a title contender will be on Banchero developing into an MVP candidate. He showed hints of that in the playoffs. Everyone should be excited to see his next evolution.
But, at least for now, nobody sees him as an MVP candidate quite yet.
Franz Wagner may also get into the conversation for the Magic’s MVP. The advanced stats all love Wagner and his overall positive impact on the team—certainly more than Banchero who tends to play more with and against starters.
But this is about baby steps too. Wagner has to earn his first All-Star bid before we talk about awards.
Defensive Player of the Year: Jalen Suggs
Betting Favorite: Victor Wembanyama (-190)
Magic Candidates: Jalen Suggs (+7500), Jonathan Isaac (+10,000)
The Orlando Magic have made it abundantly clear their identity starts on the defensive end. The team finished third in defensive rating and that was their ticket to break through into the playoffs.
They spent their offseason doubling down on their defense.
They signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope as a perfect 3-and-D pairing to add to their defense. Caldwell-Pope was really pushing to be on the All-Defensive team last year too (he got 12 votes for the second team to his chagrin).
He has said repeatedly he believes the Magic now have one of the best defensive backcourts in the league. The Magic’s defense could be even more terrifying.
And that is because they have two additional all-defensive team candidates and the new guy they signed.
Jalen Suggs made the All-Defensive Second Team last year as one of the most hounding perimeter defenders in the league. It was not something always captured in stats. But Suggs set the tone for the team defensively in almost every fashion.
Everyone on the roster has seemingly described Suggs as “the head of the snake” of the team’s elite defense at one point or another. His willingness to pressure the ball and get physical really permeates to everyone on the roster.
The question of course is whether a guard can win the award anymore (acknowledging Marcus Smart won it two years ago). Four of the five members of the first team last year were rim-protecting bigs. Indeed, the top seven betting favorites are all rim-protecting bigs, led by the extreme favorite in second-year center Victor Wembanyama.
That is why for winning Defensive Player of the Year, the better bet might be Jonathan Isaac.
Isaac is often touted as the best per-minute defender in the league. He did not qualify to make the All-Defensive team last year but there is every indication that he would have had a real shot at making the second team at least if he were.
The Magic had a 102.1 defensive rating with Isaac on the floor—their overall average was 110.8. He averaged 1.9 stocks per game in 15.8 minutes per game and opponents shot just 52.7 percent at the rim against him, according to Second Spectrum. Only one other non-center who played at least 15 minutes per game and appeared in 50 games was better than him in that mark (the Denver Nuggets’ Peyton Watson).
Everyone who watches Isaac understands the defensive impact he can have. And the Magic are hoping they can further unleash him this year with some of his injury past behind him.
Orlando may not win the Defensive Player of the Year because they lack the headline-making rim protector who usually wins it. But the Magic should again be a top defensive team and a team that will have at least three players in the hunt to make the All-Defensive team again.
Rookie of the Year: Tristan da Silva
Betting Favorite: Zach Edey (+600)
Magic Candidate: Tristan da Silva (+5,000)
The Orlando Magic have only one rookie on their roster this season. But Tristan da Silva is already turning heads with how he fits in.
Da Silva was one of the most well-regarded rookies at Summer League after he averaged 17.7 points per game, 5.0 rebounds per game and 3.0 assists per game. He shot 10 for 17 from three and looked very comfortable within the Magic’s Summer League offense.
Da Silva was advertised as a player who fit in and made the right plays and movements to get open. Everything da Silva did in Summer League feels like it will translate to the regular season.
Da Silva was a revelation as a senior at Colorado last year, averaging 16.0 points per game and shooting 39.5 percent from three. The fact he was a senior and a bit of a late bloomer allowed him to fall to No. 18.
The Magic were certainly pretty happy about that prospect.
In a draft class that lacks any clear-cut star or runaway winner before the season begins, this could be a wide-open Rookie of the Year race too.
That is clear by the favorite, former Purdue big man and Memphis Grizzlies center Zach Edey. Edey was impressive in his limited Summer League minutes. And he comes with name recognition after spending four years at Purdue and winning the national player of the year award twice.
The arguments that have Edey as the favorite to win the award though are the same arguments that could get da Silva into the Rookie of the Year conversation.
Like Edey, da Silva is a four-year college player who will play a key role for a playoff team. Da Silva should be in the spotlight and in some marquee games as a rookie.
That is all anyone could ask for, especially if he has to make up any raw number deficits he might face to Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard or Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis or top picks like Washington Wizards forward Alexandre Sarr or Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher.
Da Silva may very well be in the running for the award if everything goes right.
Most Improved Player: Paolo Banchero
Betting Favorite: Victor Wembanyama (+850)
Magic Candidate: Paolo Banchero (+2,000), Franz Wagner (+4,000), Jalen Suggs (+5,000), Jonathan Isaac (+10,000)
It is always hard to get a grip on what the Most Improve Player award is supposed to be.
Is it supposed to be for a player who surpassed expectations and reclaimed some lost talent due to injury or disappointment? Is it supposed to be for a player who went from merely good to great or great to superstar?
This award has a fudgy definition. But as the board at FanDuel clearly shows, the Magic have candidates that can cover the whole gamut of what this award means.
The betting favorite among Magic players is Paolo Banchero who could go from All-Star player to All-NBA candidate quite easily. The expectation and hope is that he reaches a level similar to what he showed in the playoffs.
To do that, Banchero is going to have to quiet the criticisms that he is something of an empty-stats player. He will have to be a more efficient player. But that is achievable as his run in the playoffs showed. If Banchero makes more sound decisions.
The player more likely to make a major leap this season is Franz Wagner.
By all accounts, Wagner had a career season after averaging career-bests with 19.7 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game and 3.7 assists per game. But all anyone could focus on was his poor 3-point shooting—28.1 percent in 2024 after shooting 36.1 percent in 2023. And that culminated in a frustrating 1-for-15 performance in Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It would not take very much for Wagner to put up some gaudy scoring numbers.
If he had merely made 35 percent of his threes last year, he would have made roughly 23 more 3-pointers and averaged 20.1 points per game.
If Wagner improves in the same way everyone expects Banchero to improve, Wagner could be due for a big season just on that improvement alone. It is the biggest thing everyone is focused on with Wagner ahead of the season.
Jalen Suggs could also be due for another leap. The Magic are looking for a consistent third scorer. And if he elevates his game to that level and a near-All-Star level, that could boost the Magic’s playoff hopes. Suggs will take over point guard duties too and that could elevate his game and importance too.
And then, of course, there is Jonathan Isaac.
Isaac was playing last year still under some injury restrictions. He was limited in his minutes to a little more than 15 per game and he sat out in back to backs. If Orlando releases some of those injury restrictions, Isaac could be due for an impactful year on both ends of the floor.
Essentially, this is as much a team award as it is an individual award. If the Magic move from surefire Playoff team to budding conference contender, it will be because some player made a sizable leap. Whichever player that is could win Most Improved Player very soon.
Clutch Player of the Year: Paolo Banchero
Betting Favorite: Stephen Curry (+1100)
Magic Candidate: Paolo Banchero (+3,500), Franz Wagner (+10,000)
No award is more anecdotal than the Clutch Player of the Year Award. It is something you feel more than something you can back with evidence.
Last year’s Clutch Player of the Year was Stephen Curry. And that was for good reason since he led the league in clutch scoring with 189 total points and 45.7 percent shooting from three. The Orlando Magic felt that clutch scoring in their loss to the Golden State Warriors in March when Curry put the Magic to sleep late.
Orlando though has plenty of stories it can tell about its clutch exploits. Paolo Banchero, it turned out, is one of the most clutch players in the league.
He finished the season 14th in total clutch points with 98. He hit late game-winning baskets against the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons. He hit late critical shots in losses to the Sacramento Kings and Atlanta Hawks. Banchero had his share of clutch moments too in the Magic’s series with the Cavaliers, hitting a big and-one to push the Magic’s lead to five in their do-or-die Game 6.
Banchero, like in all areas, needs to improve his efficiency. He had a league-high 15 turnovers in clutch minutes too. And Banchero made only 37.8 percent of his shots. That only speaks to how much the Magic leaned on the second-year player to carry them through the season. They gave him the keys late in games and lived with the consequences.
Like so many other areas, the Magic just want to see him refine his game and that will not only boost him but the team.
To be sure, the Magic are going to lean on Banchero and his decision-making late in game.
It helps too that they have another player who can finish games off too.
Franz Wagner had his share of clutch moments too, including a game-winning and-one in the In-Season Tournament game against the Bulls in November. His most infamous clutch moment will be his blocked layup at the end of Game 5. But Wagner scored 50 points in clutch situations.
Like Banchero, he needs to be more efficient. He made only 1 of 17 3-pointers in clutch situations and 36.6 percent of his shots overall.
This is an area where these two young players clearly still have to grow.
Coach of the Year: Jamahl Mosley
Betting Favorite: Ime Udoka & Tom Thibodeau (+850)
Magic Candidate: Jamahl Mosley (+1500)
A lot of the credit for the Orlando Magic’s success last year rightfully went to Jamahl Mosley.
The fact that Mosley was the Magic’s best shot at winning an award last year was a testament to the work Mosley did building the team up over the years to get them to the playoffs. Everyone who was around the Magic could feel how together that team was.
Making the playoffs was the culmination of three years together, as Moe Wagner put it repeatedly throughout the season. Mosely was the guiding force for that all year.
Often though the Coach of the Year Award goes to the team that exceeds expectations. That is why Mark Daigneault leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the 1-seed in the Western Conference earned him the award. Just like it was Mosley leading the Magic into the Playoffs proper earne dhim consideration for his.
The question then is how do the Magic exceed expectations this year?
Like with so many of these awards, it is ultimately about team success. That will determine what kinds of awards the Magic will be up for and can win.
For Mosley to win Coach of the Year this time around, he not only has to have his team match what they did last year. To win the award, the Magic have to break through into that contender tier that everyone has them sitting below.
That will not be easy to do, of course. That is a bigger challenge than going from 34 wins to 47 wins as they did last year. Measuring success this season will be more difficult beyond getting to the second round of the playoffs or earning homecourt advantage.
How they manage this season and the new challenges ahead will be one of Mosley’s most difficult tasks. Doing so should put him back on top of mind for Coach of the Year again.
Sixth Man of the Year: Cole Anthony
Betting Favorite: Malik Monk (+500)
Magic Candidate: Cole Anthony (+5,000)
While a lot of the Orlando Magic’s depth chart seems to be figured out, who the team’s “Sixth Man” is might be a bit more difficult. It might be something done more by committee this time around.
There is no definitionally sixth man on the team.
In terms of scoring —often how the Sixth Man of the Year is awarded—the sixth man is Cole Anthony at 11.6 points per game (fourth on the team overall). Some might argue it is Moe Wagner with his consistent scoring and edge that he brings to those bench group.
In terms of impact, it is probably Jonathan Isaac. He may take a turn at going for sixth man with his defensive impact and improved offensive showing in more minutes (he averaged 6.8 points per game overall).
In terms of potential for growth, second-year players Anthony Black or Jett Howard could take a meaningful step forward. Or even rookie Tristan da Silva could fill in gaps and make a major impact for the team.
But on the board, it is Cole Anthony. And Anthony was one of the few players last year who did not seem to take a step forward last year. It was a rough season for Anthony.
Anthony shot just 43.5 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from three. He was the main creator off the bench next to Franz Wagner, but he struggled to get to the basket at times and settled for mid-range jumper.
Was there something to that? He suffered a thigh bruise during the season and seemed to lose some of his lift on his jumper.
Anthony would probably be the first to admit he did not meet his expectations for the season. Scoring is the big reason he was in the NBA and that was just inconsistent throughout the season.
That could mean Anthony is due a bounceback season. Anthony’s scoring potential makes him a classic Sixth Man of the Year candidate. The question is whether he takes that step up this year or not.
