Freedom Found: The Evolution of Magic Square Lists

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A magic square is a mathematical concept that refers to a square grid of numbers, usually integers, arranged in such a way that the sum of the numbers in each vertical, horizontal, and diagonal line is the same. This concept has fascinated mathematicians, philosophers, and artists throughout history. The idea of magic squares dates back thousands of years, with evidence of their existence found in ancient Chinese, Indian, and Egyptian cultures. These cultures believed that magic squares possessed mystical properties and were often associated with religious or spiritual meanings. In mathematics, a magic square is typically represented as an n x n grid, where n is the number of cells in each row or column. The most common magic square is the 3x3 grid, also known as the Lo Shu magic square, which is believed to have been discovered in ancient China around 2800 BC.


The Magic have plenty of young players beyond Banchero and Wagner who could either be building blocks of their own or sweeteners in a blockbuster trade. Center Wendell Carter Jr., who just turned 24 in mid-April, is fresh off averaging a career-high 15.2 points per game and is signed to a team-friendly contract that descends in value over each of the next three seasons. Guards Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs are both still on their rookie-scale deals, although Anthony will become eligible for an extension on July 1.

Given how much success the Magic have had in recent years at getting players to agree to non-max extensions Carter, Isaac and Fultz all took far less than they were eligible to receive it wouldn t be a surprise if they came to terms on a deal with Anthony, too. The Magic have plenty of young players beyond Banchero and Wagner who could either be building blocks of their own or sweeteners in a blockbuster trade.

Orlando Magic superstar suite

The most common magic square is the 3x3 grid, also known as the Lo Shu magic square, which is believed to have been discovered in ancient China around 2800 BC. The Lo Shu magic square consists of the numbers 1 to 9 arranged in such a way that the sum of each row, column, and diagonal is 15. This property makes it a magic square.

The Orlando Magic Are The NBA’s Sleeping Giant In The East

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: (Left to right) Franz Wagner #22, Wendell Carter Jr. #34, Paolo . [+] Banchero #5, and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Orlando Magic react during the first half of a game against the Miami Heat at Amway Center on March 11, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Ever since sending Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team blockbuster in 2012, the Orlando Magic have made only two postseason appearances and won two playoff games. They've had the NBA's worst win-loss percentage (.350) over that span, fueled by a league-high seven seasons with fewer than 30 victories.

The Magic finally appear to be nearing the end of their rebuild, though. Armed with a roster teeming with young talent, two fresh lottery picks and plenty of financial flexibility, they're lurking as perhaps the biggest sleeping giant in the Eastern Conference.

During the 2023 NBA draft lottery, the Magic landed both the No. 6 pick (their own) and the No. 11 pick (via the Chicago Bulls). While that put them out of range for generational prospect Victor Wembanyama, they selected Anthony Black at No. 6 and Jett Howard at No. 11 to add two more young, high-upside players to their core.

In Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick of the 2022 NBA draft, the Magic already have their go-to guy. Banchero averaged a team-high 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 three-pointers per game en route to the Rookie of the Year award this past season, although he’ll need to improve his efficiency (42.7% overall and 29.8% from three-point range) moving forward.

Perhaps the most encouraging part of Banchero's rookie season was the way he asserted himself as a three-level scorer right away. He's one of only four rookies over the past two decades to draw at least seven free-throw attempts per game, joining Zion Williamson, Joel Embiid and Blake Griffin. Those three have combined for 14 All-Star Game nods over that span, and Banchero is likely to add to that total in the coming years

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Banchero is by no means marooned in Orlando, though. In Franz Wagner, he has a textbook sidekick.

The 2021 No. 8 overall pick bumped up all of his per-game averages between his rookie and sophomore seasons, going from 15.2 points on 46.8% shooting, 4.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.2 three-pointers to 18.6 points on 48.5% shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 threes. He might not have the same superstar ceiling as Banchero, but multiple All-Star nods may be in his future as well.

Beyond those two, the Magic have a ton of flexibility. Between Jonathan Isaac ($7.6 million guaranteed of his $17.4 million salary), Markelle Fultz ($2 million guaranteed of his $17 million salary) and Gary Harris ($13 million fully non-guaranteed), Orlando has nearly $38 million in expiring and/or non-guaranteed contracts to offer to other team in trades. Depending on what else the Magic were willing to offer, that could put them in the conversation for a legitimate star.

Fultz quietly put together a career year last season after a turbulent start to his NBA career. His per-game averages of 14.0 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds hardly stand out for a No. 1 overall pick, but even stringing together consistent nights after two injury-plagued seasons was a major step forward for him. Fultz just turned 25 in late May, so there's reason to believe he could continue improving and come closer to resembling his former self.

Although the Magic could waive Fultz to clear out additional cap space if needed, they're far more likely to guarantee the remainder of his contract. They'd have to guarantee the salaries of Fultz, Isaac and Harris to use their full contracts for salary-matching purposes anyway, and they'll have to make the decision on Fultz and Harris by June 30 at the latest. (The rest of Isaac's 2023-24 salary won't be fully guaranteed until Jan. 10.)

The Magic have plenty of young players beyond Banchero and Wagner who could either be building blocks of their own or sweeteners in a blockbuster trade. Center Wendell Carter Jr., who just turned 24 in mid-April, is fresh off averaging a career-high 15.2 points per game and is signed to a team-friendly contract that descends in value over each of the next three seasons. Guards Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs are both still on their rookie-scale deals, although Anthony will become eligible for an extension on July 1.

Given how much success the Magic have had in recent years at getting players to agree to non-max extensions—Carter, Isaac and Fultz all took far less than they were eligible to receive—it wouldn't be a surprise if they came to terms on a deal with Anthony, too. He thrived as more of a sparkplug sixth man this past season after mostly starting during his first two years in Orlando, which likely puts his annual contract value in the low-to-mid teens.

The Magic also have breakout big man Bol Bol under contract for one more season at a paltry $2.2 million. Bol was one of the early front-runners for Most Improved Player this past year before Orlando bumped him out of the starting lineup at the beginning of January. He averaged 12.3 points on 58.3% shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in only 27.5 minutes per game across 32 starts, which could pique the interest of rebuilding teams around the league.

Because Bol's contract is so small, the Magic would have to package him with one of their larger salaries to receive anything of real value in return via trade. However, any team that acquired him in a trade would also receive his Bird rights, which would allow them to offer him up to his max salary as a free agent next summer even if they're already over the salary cap.

The Magic already have two star-caliber talents in place between Banchero and Wagner, plenty of other young, high-upside players and the financial flexibility to go swinging for a big star either via trade or free agency. They owe zero of their own draft picks to any other team, but they're owed a top-five-protected first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in 2025 along with at least six additional second-round picks from a number of teams over the next five years.

They’re also ready to get back into playoff contention.

“We want to move the team forward,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman told reporters Monday. “We want to play better basketball. We want to make better decisions, we want to have our awareness and maturity level really start to elevate itself and become more of a veteran team.

“That said, not at the expense of doing what we’re doing. Which is growing a team organically with young, talented, high-character players and trying to maintain as much flexibility through the process as possible. Another way of saying: no skipping steps.”

A handful of other teams around the NBA might be able to outbid the Magic if a megastar such as Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Joel Embiid ever hits the trade market, but they'll have a leg up over most suitors. Now comes the hard part of turning their sky-high potential into actualized championship contention over the coming years.

Although the Magic could waive Fultz to clear out additional cap space if needed, they're far more likely to guarantee the remainder of his contract. They'd have to guarantee the salaries of Fultz, Isaac and Harris to use their full contracts for salary-matching purposes anyway, and they'll have to make the decision on Fultz and Harris by June 30 at the latest. (The rest of Isaac's 2023-24 salary won't be fully guaranteed until Jan. 10.)
Magic square lisht of freedom

This magic square has been studied extensively for its various patterns and symmetries. Magic squares are not limited to 3x3 grids. They can be constructed for any odd number of cells, such as 5x5 or 7x7 grids. The method for creating magic squares of different sizes involves specific algorithms and patterns that mathematicians have developed over time. Apart from their mathematical significance, magic squares have also been used in art, architecture, and puzzles. Artists have incorporated magic squares into their paintings, while architects have designed buildings based on the principles of magic squares. Magic square puzzles, such as Sudoku, have gained widespread popularity in recent years. In conclusion, magic squares are fascinating mathematical objects that have captivated minds for centuries. Their unique properties and patterns continue to inspire mathematicians, artists, and enthusiasts alike. The study of magic squares provides valuable insights into number theory, symmetry, and problem-solving techniques. Whether through equations or aesthetics, the magic square remains an enduring symbol of order and balance..

Reviews for "Embracing Freedom through the Magic of Square Lists"

1. Emma - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Magic Square List of Freedom". The plot felt incredibly disjointed and hard to follow, with random twists and turns that didn't make sense. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with them or care about their journey. Additionally, the writing style was poor, with clunky dialogue and awkward descriptions. Overall, I found this book to be a confusing and unsatisfying read.
2. John - 2/5 - "Magic Square List of Freedom" was a letdown for me. The pacing was all over the place, veering between slow sections with unnecessary details and rushed moments that left me wanting more explanation. The worldbuilding felt incomplete and lacking in depth, making it hard to fully immerse myself in the story. The writing itself was also mediocre, with repetitive phrases and a lack of originality. I was expecting much more from this book, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
3. Sarah - 3/5 - While "Magic Square List of Freedom" had potential, it ultimately didn't deliver for me. The concept was intriguing, but the execution felt lacking. The plot seemed scattered, with multiple subplots that didn't fully come together, leaving loose ends. The characterization was also weak, with the main characters feeling one-dimensional and forgettable. Furthermore, the writing style was overly descriptive, dragging down the pace and making it a struggle to get through. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and not as captivating as I had hoped.
4. Mike - 2/5 - I was unimpressed with "Magic Square List of Freedom". The story felt clichéd and predictable, lacking any unique twists or surprises. The dialogue was stilted and unnatural, making it challenging to engage with the characters. Additionally, I felt that the pacing was off, with certain sections dragging on while others were rushed. The writing style, while not terrible, failed to captivate me and make me care about the story or its outcome. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to others looking for a satisfying read.

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