The Biggest Question the Magic Still Hasn't Answered This Offseason

The Orlando Magic are entering the Sean Sweeney era, coming off of three consecutive playoff appearances but no series wins to show for it.

The Magic didn't do much this offseason, other than hiring Sweeney, who is replacing Jamahl Mosley after he spent the last five seasons at the helm. It's bold for the Magic to keep their roster relatively the same, with only Nikola Vucevic replacing Moe Wagner in the main rotation. The Magic won't be able to answer this question until the season starts, but it remains the overarching quandry facing the franchise.

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Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero reacts in the first half against the Detroit Pistons. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It's been over 16 years since the Magic last played in the second round of the playoffs, dating back to the Dwight Howard era. While Orlando has come close in the last three years (reaching Game 7 in the first round in 2024 and 2026), they haven't had enough to make it to the next stage of their development.

The core the team has built since 2021 is officially reaching full maturation. Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are all on their second contracts, and Desmond Bane is also making a lot of money at nearly $40 million for the upcoming season.

The Magic are putting a lot of trust and money in their top four players, which is bold for a franchise that hasn't gotten out of the first round in nearly two decades.

Player	2026-27 Salary
Franz Wagner	$41.7 million
Paolo Banchero	$41.2 million
Desmond Bane	$39.4 million
Jalen Suggs	$32.4 million
TOTAL	$154.9 million

The Magic's top four players are making a combined $155 million. The team is also likely going to pay over $32 million in taxes, so the franchise is doing what it needs to do in order to field a competitive roster.

It's bold considering the fact that they have not won any playoff series together, but that is how confident the organization is in this core. Injuries have played a role in their failures in the past, and last season saw both Wagner and Suggs missing considerable time with their respective injuries.

Orlando hopes that a healthier roster and a new voice in Sweeney are enough to compete in a crowded Eastern Conference that has several teams that have significantly upgraded. The Philadelphia 76ers traded for Jaylen Brown and signed LeBron James, while the Toronto Raptors are working to finalize a deal for Kawhi Leonard. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat added Giannis Antetokounmpo in the summer's biggest blockbuster so far.

Other teams like the Atlanta Hawks (trading for Lu Dort) and the Charlotte Hornets (trading for Naz Reid) have made smaller marginal moves to improve their supporting cast, but the Magic are sticking to their guns and riding it out with this core.

If it doesn't work out this year, there's a good chance the Magic will look to make some trades to save some money as they try to rework the puzzle to try and build a championship roster, which means the stakes couldn't be higher this season for Orlando.

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