Paolo Banchero must improve efficiency after $239 million payday

The Orlando Magic are positioning themselves for a period of sustained success. The franchise has been rebuilding in recent years but has shifted gears this summer. The addition of Desmond Bane will undoubtedly improve the franchise's chances in a wide-open Eastern Conference.

However, it was the move Orlando made on July 7 that was their biggest of the summer. The franchise signed Paolo Banchero to a rookie max extension, committing $239 million to the Duke product over five years. 

The Magic are paying Banchero based on the player he can become rather than the player he is now. It's a future-proof deal that the front office likely hopes will look like a steal three years from now. For that to happen, Banchero must improve his overall efficiency. 

This past season, he shot 32 percent from deep, 67 percent at the rim and 42 percent from mid-range. All of those numbers were below the 50th percentile for his position. In fact, his overall effective field goal percentage, which adjusts to include the value of three-point shots, was just 50 percent, putting him in the bottom 11 percent of players at his position. 

While there's an argument that Banchero's shot selection and scoring struggles are a product of his role, the fact remains that he must start converting his looks at a higher clip. That means being smarter with the shots he takes and developing other aspects of his game. Scoring chances will appear if he becomes a better passer or if he emerges as a lock-down defender. 

When teams have other aspects to worry about, they can't take away your entire offense. And if Banchero is going to become the superstar many believe he can, rounding out his game is just as important as improving his efficiency. They go hand-in-hand. 

If he stays the player he is right now, and continues to be a high-volume chucker despite the additional spacing around him, Orlando will be forced to start asking some tough questions in a couple of years. The Magic have shown their hand with this contract extension; now it's time for Banchero to ensure the cards they're showing are what's needed to win the entire pot.