Magic Starting 5: Orlando Star Franz Wagner Best of 2021 Draft?

The Magic Insider lists five of the biggest NBA storylines in addition to relevant Orlando Magic news and analysis.

Jeremy Brener | Mar 31, 2023

Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

In this story:

Orlando Magic

1. FRANZ WAGNER: BEST SECOND-YEAR PLAYER?

"His consistency has been well-appreciated in the Magic lineup and he'll be looked at as a source for offense, defense and leadership both on and off the court as Orlando trudges along in its rebuild, that is accelerated large in part to Wagner's development through his first two seasons."

2. PAOLO DESTINED TO BE A STAR?

"Though inefficient shooting 42.6 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from the three-point line, Banchero has been a dynamic scorer for the Magic out of the gates. He's had 38 games with at least 20 points. How he gets his share of the offense is what impresses most."

3. JULIUS RANDLE OUT FOR KNICKS

The New York Knicks will be without Julius Randle for at least two weeks with a sprained ankle, according to The Athletic.

That means Randle won't play for the rest of the regular season, but could be back in time to play in the first round of the playoffs, which start Apr. 15.

4. FRIDAY NIGHT'S GAMES

5. NEXT MAGIC GAME

The Magic will head back out on the road tonight against the Washington Wizards at 7:00 p.m. You can watch in-market on Bally Sports Florida or out-of-market on NBA League Pass.

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Published Mar 31, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.