NBA Power Rankings: Where Does Magic Stand?

The Orlando Magic has a lot of upside going into the NBA Draft. Where does the team stand in the latest power rankings?

Jeremy Brener | Jun 16, 2023

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Orlando Magic

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic has a chance to make a real splash this summer.

After improving by 12 wins in 2022-23, the Magic hopes to do something similar next season. If the team has another 12-win improvement, Orlando will have 46 wins, more than enough to be considered a playoff team.

Bleacher Report still thinks work needs to be done, however, placing the Magic No. 23 in its latest power rankings.

"The Orlando Magic have one of the game's most intriguing young cores, and that extends well beyond Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, who averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists," Bleacher Report writes. "Another 6'10" forward with some playmaking chops, Franz Wagner averaged 18.6 points and 3.5 assists. Wendell Carter Jr. has shown flashes of Al Horford-like versatility. Markelle Fultz is one of the best redemption stories in the league. And there still seems to be some untapped upside with Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs."

With one of the largest cap spaces in the league and two lottery picks in next week's draft, the Magic will have plenty of opportunities to move up the ladder this summer and throughout the season in hopes of ending a four-your postseason drought.

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Published Jun 16, 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.