Where Orlando Magic Players Rank in HoopsHype's NBA Top 30 Positions; Paolo is No. 3 PF

HoopsHype has published its annual rankings of the top 30 players at each of the five positions ahead of the 2024-25 season. Here's where the Orlando Magic's players check in at each position.

Apr 27, 2024: Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) and forward Paolo Banchero (5) celebrate after a basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third quarter during game four of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Kia Center. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Each season, HoopsHype publishes rankings of the top 30 players at each position throughout the NBA. As of Saturday, all of the rankings have been released, which means we can check in on where the Orlando Magic have players positioned in the rankings.

Without further ado:

PG: Jalen Suggs, No. 25

Apr 25, 2024; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) defends Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) during the second quarter of game three of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Kia Center. / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

2023-24 (75 games): 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.4 steals per game. 47.1 FG%, 39.7% 3PT.

• All-Defensive Second Team
• 8th in Most Improved Player voting
• 10th in Defensive Player of the Year voting

Jalen Suggs still waits for a new contract extension as September rolls around, but his breakout season a year ago lands him in the top 30 for the first time ahead of this year.

Selected in the top five of the 2021 draft that also yielded Franz Wagner (more on him later) for the Magic, Suggs looks to be a key contributor for the future as a solid third option of the youthful core hoping to build off of last year's foundation and make the playoffs a regular occurrence for Orlando.

The players immediately around him:

No. 23: D'Angelo Russell
No. 24: Immanuel Quickley
No. 25: Jalen Suggs
No. 26: Marcus Smart
No. 27 Mike Conley

Click here for the full list.

SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, No. 22

Apr 27, 2024; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dribbles against Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) during the third quarter in game four of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. / Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports

2023-24 (76 games): 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals per game. 46.0 FG%, 40.6 3PT%.

• 2x NBA Champion (2020, 2023)

Arriving by way of free agent signing this summer from Denver, the Magic's new 3-year, $66-million man is already being lauded as one of the best moves of the summer. Just ask Wendell Carter Jr.

That's because the NBA's second-best defense struggled to score the ball again last year, and KCP's addition should aid Orlando's efforts to put the ball in the basket while maintaining such a staunch defensive identity. Caldwell-Pope was the right combination of veteran experience, floor spacing and defensive perimeter prowess that Orlando sought out, and is an upgrade over Gary Harris at the starting two-spot.

The players immediately around him:

No. 20: Klay Thompson
No. 21: Jordan Clarkson
No. 22: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
No. 23: Jordan Poole
No. 24: Jaden Ivey

The full list.

SF: Franz Wagner, No. 10

May 3, 2024; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) reacts to a call during the second quarter of game six of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Kia Center. / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

2023-24 (72 games): 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.4 blocks per game. 48.2 FG%, 28.1 3PT%.

• All-Rookie Team (2021-22)

Wagner is the Magic's solidified No. 2 option alongside Paolo Banchero (who we'll get to in a moment), but there's no mistaking the question about his game: Can he figure out his three-point shot?

Shooting a dismal 28.2% from deep last year was a steep drop-off from his first two seasons, and forced some to question whether he'll be worth the 5-year max rookie scale extension the Magic awarded him over the summer. But as a two-way rising star with plenty of positional size, he fits exactly what Orlando desires from its best players – even with the shoddy three-point accuracy, although they'd surely appreciate an uptick and return to form in that area.

The Magic believe in the forward trajectory of its young core, and Wagner is inarguably one of the key members of it. Thus, the contract is a vote of confidence that the best of Wagner is still yet to come. Even so, what he's shown thus far lands him a top-10 spot in this year's rankings.

The five players immediately around him:

No.8: Demar DeRozan
No. 9: Brandon Ingram
No. 10: Franz Wagner
No. 11: Mikal Bridges
No. 12: OG Anunoby

The full list,

PF: Paolo Banchero, No. 3

Apr 30, 2024; Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero (5) dunks during the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers in game five of the first round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. / Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

2023-24 (80 games): 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks per game. 45.5 FG%, 33.9 3PT%.

• Rookie of the Year (2023)
• All-Rookie Team
• 1x All-Star (2024)

The Magic's No. 1 overall pick in 2022 came in with lofty expectations as the face of Orlando's franchise going forward. Since then, he's done nothing but deliver as he enters his third season in the NBA.

The 6-10, 250-pound versatile forward is one of the game's brightest young stars who shined in his postseason debut last year, and is on the cusp of budding superstardom and potential All-NBA consideration in year three. He does it all – scores, playmakes, defends and is available nearly every single night.

His positioning this high in the rankings has the potential to be even higher as he accelerates toward his ceiling, A big season for Orlando as a whole certainly starts with another fantastic year from Banchero.

The five players immediately around him:

No. 1: Giannis Antetokounmpo
No. 2 Zion Williamson
No. 3: Paolo Banchero
No. 4: Pascal Siakam
No. 5: Karl-Anthony Towns

The full list.

C: Wendell Carter Jr., No. 29

Apr 7, 2024; Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) walks up court after a call during the second quarter against the Chicago Bulls at KIA Center. / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

2023-24 (55 games): 11.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.5 blocks per game. 52.5 FG%, 37.4 3PT%.

Carter Jr. heads into the 2024-25 season on the fringe of the top 30, a season in which he hopes to be his most productive – and healthiest – yet.

Entering his seventh season, he's still just 25 years old. He's a solid center with experience and a nice offensive game, but there are questions of whether there's still more of his game to develop or if his best has already been laid out before us. Alongside Goga Bitadze and Moritz Wagner, the former Duke Blue Devil enters his fourth complete season with the Magic as the starting five and a key member of Orlando's frontcourt rotation.

The five players immediately around him:

No. 26: Ivica Zubac
No. 27: Jalen Duren
No. 28: Al Horford
No. 29: Wendell Carter Jr.
No. 30: Steven Adams

The full list.

Related Stories on the Orlando Magic

• BANCHERO'S NEW JORDAN LOGO: The Orlando Magic's young superstar has a new 'P5' logo with Jordan Brand. SEE IT
• CARTER'S LOVE FOR FLIGHT INSPIRES NEXT GEN: Through his A Platform Squared foundation, Wendell Carter Jr. passes along his love for flight as a possible career path for diverse youth. CLICK HERE
• KCP OFFSEASON'S BEST SIGNING?: Here's why Wendell Carter Jr. believes his Magic made the NBA's best move this summer by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. CLICK HERE
• 'I'M HEALTHY': Inside the journey that's had Wendell Carter Jr. take all the mental & physical steps to find relief from an injury-riddled past. CLICK HERE

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