Paolo Banchero (Image Credits: Imagn)

Paolo Banchero Picks Versatile Two-Way East Star as Ideal Teammate

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Kenny Nosay | Last updated Mar 31, 2026 1:32 AM ET

After the Orlando Magic were thoroughly embarrassed by the Toronto Raptors, it looks like Paolo Banchero is dead set on having one opposing foe as his ideal teammate.

And who’s that mystery player that Banchero truly wants? It’s none other than Raptors star Scottie Barnes. He’s not alone in that sentiment, either. Even some league executives would prefer Barnes over other, more established stars. Banchero explained further why he views the versatile Barnes as his perfect running mate on the basketball court.

“That’s a guy you would love to play with, just off the strength of how he contributes to his team. [Scottie Barnes] not really ever caught up in the scoring. He’s always trying to look to find others, guards at a high level, picks up full court,” Banchero said via The Athletic.

Paolo Banchero says Scottie Barnes is a player he would love to play with

“That’s a guy you would love to play with, just off the strength of how he contributes to his team. He’s not really ever caught up in the scoring. He’s always trying to look to find others, guards at a… pic.twitter.com/hNl4xnpFYS
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 30, 2026

“[Barnes] has always been a super impactful player in my eyes in terms of the stuff he does for the team. He’s just a winning player,” he added.

Admiring opposing players has now become a common sight across the NBA. But does that count as tampering? The rules are a bit murky, but Banchero seems to avoid the tampering rule because of the wording he used in praising Barnes.

Paolo Banchero at Odds With His Coach

If the 2025-2026 NBA regular season ended today, the Orlando Magic would finish eighth in the East. They will try their luck again in the play-in tournament, which is a disappointment given their lofty goals this season. A huge part of their issue stems from Paolo Banchero’s budding beef with his coach, Jamahl Mosley.

Jamahl Mosely and Paolo Banchero (Photo by Imagn Images)

“We have a guy on a $200 million contract and the head coach at open odds with each other. It’s not in the shadows anymore. It’s now wide out into the open,” according to a report from Brian Windhorst.

A star player and a head coach beefing will never produce a winning culture in the NBA. And with the league becoming more star-driven, Mosley might get booted out after the season, especially if the Magic falls short in the 2026 postseason.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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