Philip Rossman-Reich here, the host of the daily Locked On Magic podcast, with your daily Locked On Magic newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Magic and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Orlando Magic had a banner 2024 calendar year
Apr 27, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) reacts after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter during game four of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports | Nathan Ray Seebeck/Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
As the Orlando Magic began play in the 2024 calendar year, they were still ambitious with their goals for the season but the vision was fading. Their nine-game win streak ended early in December and injuries were starting to slow this young team down. It felt like they were tailing off as they headed out West to celebrate the beginning of a new year.
The Magic still looked like a playoff team, but they showed their inexperience.
Their first win of 2024 revealed what they were made of and that this was a team to reckon with. This year would be a banner year for this young team, and one that everyone would remember.
That first win, of course, was Paolo Banchero’s triple-double leading an undermanned Magic team to an upset victory over the Denver Nuggets. It was a clarifying night that showed this team what was possible. As they started to get healthier, their ascendance looked more inevitable.
From that win until the Magic’s final win of 2024 – a stunning 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter behind a 22-4 run over the Brooklyn Nets again undermanned with injuries – the Magic made it clear to the league that they had arrived.
Orlando is not merely a coming storm and an up-and-coming team, they are a force making waves in the league now. And this calendar year was a sign of the Magic’s arrival.
From their celebratory regular-season ending win over the Milwaukee Bucks that clinched their spot in the Playoff field to their revelatory Playoff showing as they pushed the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games, the Magic made themselves the team of the now.
That Playoff series especially seemed to be a confidence-building moment for the Magic. Orlando fell behind 0-2 and looked every bit the playoff debutante. But the Magic rallied to even the series and with their backs against the wall pulled out a memorable Game 6 victory to send the home crowd happy.
Orlando ultimately lost the series, but the statement was made. The Magic were not an easy out. And the confidence coming from making the postseason and nearly advancing to the second round lingered into the offseason.
The Magic did not let things lie with their first playoff appearance. They declared their ambitions to boldly make the second round and get homecourt advantage. And even with injuries to both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, they remain fourth in the Eastern Conference and 20-14 this season.
The Magic are still on track to accomplish their goals in the 2025 season.
But the next calendar year will see changes once again. If 2024 was about arrival, then 2025 is about showing their staying power and that they are truly a future title contender.
The Magic have yet to prove this point.
They still have the fewest wins among the East’s top 10 teams against teams with records better than .500, the same as it was in the 2024 season. Orlando has stumbled on national TV regular season games, going winless in the four they have played so far this season.
Nobody is taking the Magic seriously as a title contender. In the Eastern Conference title tiers, the Magic are sitting alone behind the power trio of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and New York Knicks.
The next 12 months will likely see the Magic continue to establish themselves as current and future Eastern Conference powers, especially as Banchero and Wagner return to the lineup. But they will also have to ask themselves how to reach the next level.
There is a lot of work to do in the next 12 months.
The previous 12 months though were a banner year for the Magic. 2024 will go down as a banner calendar year for the Magic. One that made Orlando’s path to a title far clearer than it has been in more than a decade.
The NBA’s next generation of stars is already here
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) and guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the first half at Crypto.com Arena. | Kirby Lee/Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here’s something that will read like a riddle: When do you know the future has arrived?
Fitting, on the eve of a new year, to have one foot in the future and one eye still cast over the shoulder, looking back at the past. I value New Year’s Eve for this liminal space it lends, the opportunity to pause and consider the year that was and the one to come without a sense yet of its pressures. In-between spaces like this are rare in life, and if or when you find them, are nice not to rush out of.
Basketball has its liminal spaces too, though they’re a bit more rare. The time right after the Draft, when the next season’s rookies-to-be have their teams but no hulking expectations. The brief stretch between the regular season and the playoffs is another — the brackets set, but no competition commenced. It’s easier to tell in these situations when the future arrives, when the liminal space shuts.
But back to the riddle. Under the surface of this season’s NBA discourse, there’s been a persistent hum. With the inevitable aging of the game’s superstars comes the question of who’s next?
What confuses me is that I’ve mainly seen it asked in worry and incredulity, the implication being that there’s no one obvious, or ready, to fill those well-worn shoes. All it takes is a cursory glance at the season’s standings, now firmly set as we shift past the quarter mark, to see that the future is here — and it’s been humming for a while now.
The top four teams in the East and West all boast talent, skill, and star-power. Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns are the most established in terms of their fan familiarity, but Darius Garland, Paolo Banchero, Jalen Williams, and Jalen Green are already on their way to being as regularly recited — and that’s really it.
When the skill and flare of an NBA athlete proves to have staying power, to dazzle consistently, the rest comes down to name recognition, which comes through repetition.
We’ve been saying the same big names for a long time now. LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo — their names conjure stats and highlight reels in our heads.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
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Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball Roundup: Morant’s Injury, Waiver Wire Trends, and Monday’s Game Recaps
Dec 27, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) reacts after a screen by New Orleans Pelicans center Daniel Theis (10) during the third quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton/Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
As we enter the final week of 2024 for fantasy basketball, there’s plenty to discuss. Let’s dive into the latest injury updates, waiver wire trends, and recap Monday’s action.
Ja Morant’s Injury Update
The Memphis Grizzlies received some concerning news about Ja Morant. He’s been diagnosed with a right AC joint sprain in the same shoulder that was reconstructed last season. The team is considering him week-to-week, which typically means a minimum absence of one week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it stretches to two or three weeks.
The Grizzlies’ injury report is staggering. In addition to Morant, Marcus Smart is out for multiple weeks, Santi Aldama is week-to-week, and several others are sidelined. This situation could lead to increased opportunities for players like Scotty Pippen Jr. and John Konchar.
Waiver Wire Trends
Looking at the most added players over the last 48 hours, Scoot Henderson tops the list. With the Portland Trail Blazers dealing with injuries, Henderson could see increased minutes. However, I’m skeptical about consistent 30-minute outings for him.
Other notable additions include Scottie Pippen Jr., Justin Champagnie, and Keon Johnson. While Pippen seems like a clear add given the Grizzlies’ injury woes, I’m less convinced about Johnson’s role with the Brooklyn Nets.
On the drop list, Larry Nance Jr. leads the pack due to his broken hand. Brandin Podziemski and Royce O’Neale are also seeing significant drops, which aligns with my expectations.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Magic podcasts.
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