Magic’s Paolo Banchero: ‘We’re Right There’ In East Contention

Without a doubt, the Orlando Magic are a team on the rise. They proved as much last season, surprising their way to the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference and taking the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.

Now comes the next step — and that would be to be in the mix for East contention.

According to big man Paolo Banchero, the Magic are close.

 “We’re right there with all those (elite teams in the East),” Banchero said on ESPN, via Dan Savage of Magic.com. “I remember last year, we started the year off as a top-two, top-three seed and everybody thought it was a fluke. Everybody thought we were going to be a play-in team and drop out the top of the East. We finished strong and got the fifth seed and had a chance to really grab the two seed at the end of the season.

“We were right there last year. We got better this year. I got better; all of us got better. We got 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 East.”

Along with Banchero, the Magic feature the likes of forward Franz Wagner, guard Jalen Suggs, center Wendell Carter Jr., and newcomer Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — who won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, and with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

“Getting KCP is going to help us a lot,” Banchero said. “That’s a guy that’s won two championships in the last five seasons. He’s been around some of the greatest (players) of all-time. So, he’s going to be able to come out and make a huge difference for us. (Also), we’re a really young team and getting that playoff experience (and) a top-five seed last year (gives us) a lot of momentum heading into next season. Everybody is going to (be) a year better, a year stronger, and more developed. We should be good next year.”