The NBA Draft is an annual event where teams have the opportunity to select new players to join their rosters. In 2023, the Orlando Magic had the opportunity to participate in the draft. The Magic, a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida, were looking to add some young talent to their roster. Heading into the draft, the Magic had high hopes of finding a player who could make an immediate impact on their team. They had a few areas they were looking to address, including improving their overall shooting and adding some depth to their frontcourt. With their first-round pick, the Magic selected a promising shooting guard from a top college program.
One positive for the Magic next season will be the return of Jonathan Isaac. Isaac managed just 11 games in the 2022-23 season due to a right hamstring injury. The 25-year-old forward underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn left adductor muscle in March of 2023.
After winning an Eastern Conference-worst 22 games in 2021-22, Orlando jumped up to 34-48 last season and look to have a nice young core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Markelle Fultz. This season, they begin by playing a handful of Western Conference teams, including the Rockets, Blazers, Lakers twice , Clippers, Jazz and Mavs, followed by six east teams Hawks, Bucks, Nets, Bulls twice , Pacers, Raptors.
With their first-round pick, the Magic selected a promising shooting guard from a top college program. This young player had a reputation for being a sharpshooter and was touted as a potential future star in the league. The Magic were excited about his potential to help improve their shooting and bring some much-needed scoring to their lineup.
NBA schedule release: Orlando Magic's must-see games in 2023-24
Mar 31, 2023; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dribbles against the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
On Thursday, the NBA announced its 2023-24 regular-season schedule, which includes the league's new In-Season Tournament. Below are the Magic's most interesting matchups, including all four games of tourney group play in the new NBA Cup.
Orlando Magic's must-see games
- Wednesday, Oct. 25: Rockets at Magic – The new season begins
- Saturday, Nov. 4: Lakers at Magic – LeBron and AD make their lone appearance
- Tuesday, Nov. 14: Magic at Nets – In-Season Tournament opener
- Friday, Nov. 17: Magic at Bulls – In-Season Tournament group game No. 2
- Tuesday, Nov. 21: Raptors at Magic – In-Season Tournament group game No. 3
- Wednesday, Nov. 22: Nuggets at Magic – Nikola Jokic and the defending champs come to town
- Friday, Nov. 24: Celtics at Magic – In-Season Tournament group play finale
- Friday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 17: Magic at Celtics – Two-game series in Boston against the East’s betting favorites
- Sunday, Dec. 31: Magic at Suns – First look at Phoenix’s new Big Three
- Tuesday, Jan. 2: Magic at Warriors – The new year begins in San Francisco
- Wednesday, Jan. 31: Magic at Spurs – Paolo Banchero vs. Victor Wembanyama in matchup of last two No. 1 picks
- Thursday, Feb. 8: Spurs at Magic – Wemby visits Orlando for the first time
- Tuesday, Feb. 13: Thunder at Magic – Two of the NBA’s up-and-coming teams meet on the national stage
- Sunday, March 17: Raptors at Magic – Eight-game homestand begins
- Wednesday, March 27: Warriors at Magic – Steph Curry and the Dubs come to town
- Sunday, April 14: Bucks at Magic – Season finale with playoff implications?
Analysis
Sandeep Chandok: The Magic went 34-48 last season, falling six games short of the Play-In Tournament. This season, they begin by playing a handful of Western Conference teams, including the Rockets, Blazers, Lakers (twice), Clippers, Jazz and Mavs, followed by six east teams – Hawks, Bucks, Nets, Bulls (twice), Pacers, Raptors. Nikola Jokic visits Orlando with his defending champion Nuggets on Nov. 22, and in mid-December, the Magic play the Celtics, an East betting favorite, in a back-to-back in TD Garden. Jan. 31 will be a battle between the last two No. 1 picks: Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama. In late March, the Splash Bros will try to put the splash in Splash Mountain when the Warriors pull up to Amway Center.
Joe Lago: The Magic begin the season's second half with a three-game road trip. They then have 13 of their next 17 contests at Amway Center. That favorable stretch features an eight-game homestead from March 17 to April 1 against the Raptors, Hornets, Pelicans, Kings, Warriors, Clippers, Grizzlies and Blazers.
Black is a 6-foot-7 forward that fits right into the Magic's lineup. He is a highly skilled guard who can run the offense with great playmaking and ball-handling. Black averaged 12.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. He shot 45.3 percent from the field and 30.1 percent from behind the arc.
In the later rounds of the draft, the Magic focused on adding depth to their frontcourt. They selected a power forward who was known for his rebounding and defensive abilities. This player had the potential to provide the team with some much-needed toughness and energy off the bench. Overall, the 2023 NBA Draft was an opportunity for the Orlando Magic to add some young talent to their roster. They focused on addressing their shooting and frontcourt needs and selected players who had the potential to make an impact. Only time will tell how these draft picks will pan out, but the Magic are hopeful that they have found some valuable additions to their team..
Reviews for "Orlando Magic's Draft Night: Highlights and Analysis of Their Picks"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to attend the NBS Draft 2023 for the Orlando Magic, but it ended up being quite disappointing. The organization seemed unprepared and disorganized throughout the event. The seating arrangements were poorly planned, and many attendees had trouble finding their assigned seats. The draft itself felt lackluster, with a lack of energy and excitement in the room. Overall, it was not the experience I was hoping for.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - Attending the NBS Draft 2023 for the Orlando Magic was a total waste of time. The event was poorly managed and lacked any sort of engaging content. The organization failed to create an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement. The draft selections were announced with little enthusiasm, leaving the audience feeling underwhelmed. The overall experience was quite disappointing, and I would not recommend attending future drafts by the Orlando Magic.