The Orlando Magic are shifting into a more aggressive roster-building phase this offseason following their first-round playoff exit, according to Hardwood Paroxysm.
Orlando is targeting multiple scorers, particularly guards to boost their backcourt, using up to $25 million in combined salary to make potential trades happen.
“Orlando is indeed shifting its approach, as it sounded like in their postseason pressers, towards making major upgrades,” the report stated.
Sources believe the team is looking to package around $25 million in salary for various players to give their offense the jump it needs. This makes sense because with Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero already in place, any addition making above that would likely demand the ball too much.
## Magic Eyeing Star Guards
The Magic have been linked to guards like Darius Garland, Trae Young, and Anfernee Simons in multiple reports. Even adding just one of these players would help fix Orlando’s shooting woes.
Orlando made NBA history this season for all the wrong reasons. They became the first team since the 2016-17 Oklahoma City Thunder to rank dead last in 3-point percentage and still make the playoffs.
Garland, just 25 years old, averaged 20.6 points per game on a career-best 47.2% shooting from the field and a sizzling 40.1% from beyond the arc in 75 games with the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
Young put up 24.2 points per game with the Atlanta Hawks while shooting 41.1% from the floor and 34% from deep in 76 games. The four-time All-Star also dished out a career-high 11.6 assists per game. He turns 27 in September.
Simons, who turns 26 this Sunday, averaged 19.3 points in 70 games with the Portland Trail Blazers. He shot 42.6% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.
## Injury Woes Derailed Last Season
Orlando limped to a 41-41 record last season with injuries plaguing their roster.
Both Banchero and Franz Wagner missed significant time with torn obliques, while Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner suffered season-ending injuries earlier in the year.
The Magic’s top four scorers — Banchero, Suggs, Franz Wagner, and Moritz Wagner — all missed at least 20 games each.
Here’s the most telling stat: The team’s core trio of Banchero, Suggs, and Franz Wagner played just six games together all season. That’s only 3% of Orlando’s possessions, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Since 2021, the Magic have mainly built through the draft. Twelve players on this year’s team have now been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
Their biggest addition last summer was veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. Orlando currently has a league-high nine players they drafted themselves, with only two players (Wendell Carter Jr. and Gary Harris) acquired through trades.
## Financial Challenges Ahead
This offseason could look very different for the young Magic squad.
According to Marks, Orlando is facing some serious financial constraints. With Franz Wagner’s and Suggs’ extensions kicking in, the team is projected to be $19 million over the luxury tax, $11 million over the first apron, and just $1 million short of the second apron. These projections already include their two first-round rookie contracts.
The Magic also have $24 million tied up in team options. They have until June 29 to decide on Moritz Wagner ($11 million), Harris ($7.5 million), Caleb Houstan ($3.5 million), and Cory Joseph ($2.1 million).
Orlando currently holds the No. 16 and No. 25 picks in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft.
