Ballhandlers/playmakers — Offense initiators
Paolo Banchero
6-10, F
Last season: Named consensus second-team All-American and the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year in his lone season at Duke earlier than being drafted with the No. 1 general decide in June’s draft.
Best season: N/A — rookie
Fit: Be an offensive hub, creating photographs for himself and others from a number of areas on the ground — the posts, elbows, mid-range and past the arc.
Wendell Carter Jr.
6-10, C
Last season: The No. 7 decide within the 2018 draft had a breakout season in his first full yr with Orlando.
Best season: 2021-22; averaged a number of profession highs, together with factors (15), rebounds (10.5) and assists (2.8).
Fit: Serve as an offensive hub from the posts and elbows, catch lobs and be the defensive anchor who can play in a wide range of schemes because the beginning huge.
Markelle Fultz
6-4, G
Last season: Averaged 10.8 factors and 5.5 assists in 20 minutes (18 video games) after getting back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Best season: 2019-20; averaged 12.1 factors and 5.1 assists in his healthiest season (72 video games) since being drafted with the No. 1 decide in 2017.
Fit: Will seemingly be a starter because the group’s most conventional level guard.
Jalen Suggs
6-5, G
Last season: The No. 5 decide within the 2021 draft had an up-and-down rookie season partially due to thumb and ankle accidents that restricted him to 48 video games.
Best season: N/A — second-year participant.
Fit: Will battle for a beginning spot within the backcourt and be tasked with initiating the offense as soon as he returns from the left knee capsule sprain and bone bruise he suffered throughout the preseason.
Franz Wagner
6-10, F
Last season: The No. 8 decide in final yr’s draft was named to the All-Rookie first group and completed fourth (two third-place votes) within the voting for Rookie of the Year that was awarded to Toronto Raptors ahead Scottie Barnes.
Best season: N/A — second-year participant.
Fit: Thrived as a cutter and spot-up shooter. Will be leaned much more as a scorer and playmaker, particularly within the pick-and-roll in his second season to create offense.
Scorers – Self-creating bucket-getters
Cole Anthony
6-3, G
Last season: Got off to a sizzling begin, averaging 20 factors, 6 rebounds and 5.8 assists by means of his first 24 video games earlier than his manufacturing and effectivity dipped partially due to ankle accidents.
Best season: 2021-22; main the Magic in factors (16.3) and assists (5.7) whereas being third in rebounds (5.4).
Fit: Won’t be tasked with creating as a lot as final season. Vying for beginning position due to accidents to Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs.
Kevon Harris
6-6, G
Last season: Played for Raptors 905, the Toronto Raptors G League affiliate, after going undrafted in 2020. Signed a two-way contract with the Magic in July.
Best season: N/A — rookie
Fit: Bucket-getter who’ll have restricted time with Orlando however will seemingly see extra alternatives with the group’s G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic.
Terrence Ross
6-7, G/F
Last season: His discipline aim (39.7%) and 3-point accuracy (29.2%) have been profession lows and his position diminished towards season’s finish in gentle of the Magic prioritizing their youthful gamers within the rotation.
Best season: 2018-19; grew to become the primary participant to make 200 3-pointers with out beginning a recreation.
Fit: Will be a spot starter for a group that’s brief on guards due to accidents to Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs.
Specialists — 3 and/or D
Mo Bamba
7-0, C
Last season: Tied for the league’s fifth-most blocks per recreation (1.7) amongst certified gamers within the last season of his rookie scale contract earlier than re-signing with the Magic as a free agent.
Best season: 2021-22; averaged career-highs throughout the board in his first yr as a full-time starter, together with factors (10.6), rebounds (8.1), 3-point accuracy (38.1%) and video games performed (71).
Fit: Stretch the ground offensively whereas defending the rim on the opposite finish because the lead backup huge man.
Gary Harris
6-4, G
Last season: His healthiest season in a number of years, showing in 61 video games, probably the most he’s performed in 4 years.
Best season: 2017-18; averaged a career-high 17.5 factors however hasn’t matched the scoring manufacturing since due to accidents.
Fit: A veteran 3-and-D wing who may step into the beginning lineup as soon as he returns from his knee damage.
Caleb Houstan
6-8, F
Last season: The 2021 McDonald’s All-American and consensus 5-star out of Montverde Academy averaged 10.1 factors (35.5% on 3s) in his lone season at Michigan. Drafted at No. 32 within the second spherical in June.
Best season: N/A — rookie
Fit: A 3-and-D wing who could possibly be within the rotation from Day One.
Jonathan Isaac
6-10, F
Last season: Has missed the final two seasons and hasn’t performed since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Aug. 2, 2020. Had proper hamstring surgical procedure in March.
Best season: 2019-20; considered one of three gamers to common a minimum of 2 blocks and 1 steal however knee accidents derailed his season.
Fit: Multi-positional defender who’s able to making an All-Defensive group — however might want to return to taking part in first.
Admiral Schofield
6-5, F
Last season: Signed a number of 10-day offers with Orlando from the group’s G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, earlier than signing a two-way contract in early January.
Best season: 2021-22; averaged his most factors (3.8), minutes (12.3) and video games performed (38) since being the 2019 draft’s forty second decide.
Fit: A 3-and-D ahead who’ll have restricted time with Orlando however will seemingly see extra alternatives with Lakeland as a part of his two-way deal.
Moe Wagner
6-11, C
Last season: Carved out position as a floor-spacing, energetic huge man in his first full season in Orlando.
Best season: 2021-22; averaged 9 factors and three.7 rebounds in a career-high 63 video games.
Fit: End-of-the-bench huge who’ll seemingly fill in for Mo Bamba or Bol Bol within the rotation in the event that they’re not taking part in effectively.
Utility gamers — Check a number of containers
Bol Bol
7-2, F
Last season: Limited to 14 video games (proper foot surgical procedure) with the Denver Nuggets. Traded to the Boston Celtics in January earlier than being acquired by the Magic in February.
Best season: 2019-20 as a rookie; averaged career-highs in factors (5.7) and rebounds (2.7) in 12.4 minutes (7 video games) within the “bubble” however has struggled to get taking part in time since then.
Fit: Stretch the ground, assault closeouts and used his size/dimension to be a disruptor all around the flooring defensively as a reserve ahead.
R.J. Hampton
6-6, G
Last season: A backup guard who often stepped into the beginning lineup due to accidents.
Best season: 2021-22; scored 7.6 factors and made 35% of his 3s.
Fit: Will run the offense because the backup level guard to begin the season due to accidents to Markelle Fultz and Jalen Suggs.
Chuma Okeke
6-8, F
Last season: Had a rocky begin after lacking the start of the season with a bruised proper hip earlier than discovering his footing in his last 43 video games (9.4 factors on 35.2% taking pictures on 3s, 5.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1.5 steals).
Best season: 2020-21 as a rookie; shot 34.8% on 3s and was relied on extra as a playmaker for others.
Fit: All-around backup ahead who’ll be utilized in a wide range of methods offensively — particularly as a spacer from past the arc — and guard in opposition to larger wings/forwards.
Coaching employees
Head coach Jamahl Mosley
Assistant coach Lionel Chalmers
Assistant coach Nate Tibbetts
Assistant coach Dale Osbourne
Assistant coach Bret Brielmaier
Assistant coach Jesse Mermuys
Assistant coach Dylan Murphy
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
