The Magic’s most pressing need this offseason is adding shooting. Reliable volume shooters are incredibly important in today’s NBA, and we saw the Magic struggle when they didn’t.
So, that’s something they need to fix this summer, but there’s more. Paolo Banchero already mentioned in an interview with the Washington Post that he would love to have a table preparer on the team. Banchero is a great passer, but he doesn’t want to be the team’s point guard at all times. Sometimes someone needs to give you an easy shot too.
And yet, recent speculation suggested the Magic are more focused on finding shooting guards and leaving the starting point guard job to Jalen Suggs. With Markelle Fultz likely on his way out, the Magic could lose the only “true” point guard on the roster and that could end up being a problem.
In the playoffs, it seemed like the Magic could really use someone to orchestrate the offense and groom the core players. Too often, the team simply put the ball in Banchero’s hands and hoped he could score. Next time, the Magic will be more experienced and older, and maybe things will look different.
At the same time, they probably won’t, and the Magic should definitely get playmaking help. That doesn’t necessarily mean they have to add a ball-dominant star point guard like Trae Young. That could change the team dynamic too much, but there are intermediate options.
Even if they want to leave the starting job to Suggs, the Magic should look to add a backup point guard, someone who offers more playmaking than Cole Anthony and Anthony Black, or a combo guard like Malik Monk or D’Angelo Russell. Both could add a scoring punch, stretch the floor and make plays for their teammates. Other options, like Klay Thompson, for example, could offer the top two, but not a go-to play.
After all, there’s no guarantee Banchero will be as healthy as he was in 2023-24. Without his play, the Magic’s offense could crumble when facing a strong defense.
