Knicks-Magic: 5 Burning Questions With an Orlando Expert

All Knicks sat down with an Orlando Magic expert as the New York Knicks head to Central Florida.

The final road to the NBA All-Star break ... as well as the looming trade deadline ... begin for the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. Like many New Yorkers before them, the Knicks (29-26) will abscond for Florida, as they hit up Orlando to battle the surging Magic (7 p.m. ET, MSG). 

This marks the second time that the Knicks and Magic (22-32) have faced off this season, with New York previously prevailing on Oct. 24 by a 115-102 final. 

In anticipation of Tuesday's game, the first half of a brief New York road trip that wraps in Philadelphia on Friday, All Knicks sat down with Orlando expert Jeremy Brener, the editor-in-chief at The Magic Insider to clue fans in on what to expect ...

Q: Since a 5-20 start, the Magic have gone 17-12 and are within striking distance of the Eastern Conference's Play-In Tournament. What's been the difference for the team since the dreary early stages? 

A: This team is finally healthy. The turnaround coincided right around the time Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony returned from injury after the first month of the season. They do a good job setting the tone and allow Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to create as well. There are no egos on this team and each player holds one another accountable. That foundation has been established since the beginning of the season, but now that they've actually been able to play with one another, it shows in the record.

Q: Where has top pick Paolo Banchero made the most progress thus far in his rookie season? 

A: Banchero is an all-around guy. He's a scorer first, but he also is a facilitator, a good passer for a big man, and crashes the glass. He's everything you want in a player of his size. Arguably the biggest area of improvement he's had is his ability to draw fouls and go to the free throw line. He's a smart player on top of all his abilities, which really sets him apart from the rest of the rookie pack. He knows his body and how to use it, and that has made him a fringe All-Star in just his rookie year.

Q: The Magic's most attractive trade deadline is either Terrence Ross or Mo Bamba. What would they each bring to a contending team?

A: Both players bring outside shooting to the table. Bamba is able to provide more spacing as a big man who can shoot on the perimeter, but Ross is probably the better shooter of the two. Both of them are making a little over $10 million in the final year of their contracts, so the price is virtually the same. However, Bamba is under a nonguaranteed deal for next season, giving him possibly more value for other teams. The Magic also know that it can keep him and possibly deal him in the offseason.

Q: What has Jonathan Isaac brought to the team in his first appearances in over two years?

A: Defense, defense, and more defense. Isaac is still getting acclimated to the NBA speed and hasn't played more than 12 minutes in any of his six games so far, but it's better than nothing.

He's been the first player off the bench for the Magic in each game he's appeared in, so I'd expect him to do the same tonight and pick up the defensive assignment on Julius Randle when both are out there on the court.

Q: Who wins tonight and why?

A: The Magic went 3-1 on its latest road trip and has a better track record at home. The Knicks are a strong team and they should challenge the Magic tonight, but I like Orlando's chances to win. Magic 120, Knicks 113

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