The Orlando Magic have become the talk of the NBA’s Eastern Conference heading into the 2025-26 season, riding a wave of optimism, bold new acquisitions, and a league-wide vote of confidence that’s hard to ignore. After a campaign marred by injuries, the Magic have retooled and reimagined their roster—most notably with the addition of sharpshooting guard Desmond Bane—and now stand on the brink of what fans hope will be a breakthrough year.
It’s not just the Magic’s faithful who are buzzing. According to the NBA’s annual general manager survey, Orlando was named the most improved team entering the new season, snagging an impressive 47% of the vote—well ahead of the Atlanta Hawks and Philadelphia 76ers, who tied for second with 20% each. That’s a strong endorsement from the league’s top decision-makers, and it’s easy to see why. The Magic’s front office, led by head coach Jamahl Mosley, has addressed glaring weaknesses and brought in reinforcements that complement their young core.
Desmond Bane, acquired from the Memphis Grizzlies, has been singled out as the most underrated offseason addition, earning 17% of GMs’ votes. He also finished second in the category for acquisition expected to make the biggest impact, just behind Houston’s Kevin Durant. That’s rarefied air for the 26-year-old guard, who last season averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting a robust 48.4% from the field and 39.2% from deep. Bane’s career 41% three-point shooting mark is exactly what the doctor ordered for a Magic squad that struggled mightily from beyond the arc last year.
“Desmond’s shooting and physicality are a perfect fit for what we’re building here,” Paolo Banchero, Orlando’s All-Star forward, has said repeatedly. Banchero, who battled through a torn oblique last season, still managed to average 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. His partner-in-crime, Franz Wagner, was also derailed by a similar injury but put up 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists before his season was cut short in December. The Magic’s injury woes didn’t stop there—Jalen Suggs underwent knee surgery in March, and Moritz Wagner tore his ACL, forcing Orlando to dig deep into its bench and test its depth almost nightly.
Despite finishing with a 41-41 record and bowing out to the Boston Celtics in five games during the first round of last year’s playoffs, the Magic’s resilience and growth under adversity didn’t go unnoticed. “The way we battled through injuries and kept improving, it says a lot about our group,” Banchero remarked after the season. That sentiment was echoed by league executives, who now view Orlando as a legitimate threat in the East.
The Magic’s offseason wasn’t just about landing Bane. The team also signed veteran point guard Tyus Jones to a one-year deal, adding stability and leadership to the second unit. Jones, fresh off a season with the Phoenix Suns where he averaged 10.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 41.4% from three, is expected to bring poise and tempo control—two things the Magic sorely lacked when injuries struck last year.
As the Magic’s depth chart takes shape, the formation of a new “Big Three” is the headline act. Bane joins Banchero and Wagner, giving Orlando a potent mix of scoring, playmaking, and defensive versatility. Fantasy basketball projections place Bane in Tier 3 among shooting guards, noting his elite free-throw percentage, three-point shooting, and all-around production. The only caveat? Bane’s injury history—he’s played more than 70 games just once in five NBA seasons. The Magic will be hoping that a fresh start in Orlando, combined with careful load management, will keep him on the court when it matters most.
Of course, Orlando’s rise isn’t happening in a vacuum. The Eastern Conference is shaping up to be a battleground, with the Cleveland Cavaliers projected to lead the pack, and the New York Knicks not far behind. Projections have the Magic pegged at around 49.9 wins—just shy of Cleveland’s mark—while the Knicks are expected to finish with 48 to 50 wins following a season where they outperformed expectations. The Knicks, however, are facing their own set of challenges, including health concerns and a coaching change that could impact player minutes and chemistry.
The Indiana Pacers, another team in the mix, are projected at 45.9 wins despite losing star playmaker Tyrese Haliburton. Their focus will be on leveraging depth to stay competitive, but without Haliburton’s magic touch, they’ll need to find new ways to generate offense and keep up with the conference’s elite.
For Orlando, the early season will be crucial. The Magic open their campaign on October 22 at the Kia Center against the Miami Heat—a matchup that will provide an immediate litmus test for their revamped roster. Team health and chemistry will be the ultimate X-factors. If Banchero, Wagner, and Bane can stay on the floor together, Orlando’s offensive firepower and improved perimeter shooting could vault them into the conference’s upper echelon.
League executives have already taken notice, ranking the Magic as the third-best team in the East in the GM survey, behind only Cleveland and New York. That’s a significant jump in perception for a franchise that, just a year ago, was viewed as a plucky underdog. Now, with expectations soaring, the pressure is on to deliver.
But what about the rest of the league? The Magic’s transformation, from injury-plagued also-rans to projected contenders, has set a new standard for what’s possible with smart roster construction and a bit of good fortune. The front office’s willingness to address weaknesses, coupled with the development of young stars and savvy veteran signings, has created a sense of momentum that’s palpable both inside and outside the locker room.
“We’re not satisfied with just making the playoffs,” head coach Jamahl Mosley stated during training camp. “Our goal is to compete at the highest level and give ourselves a shot at something special.” That confidence is infectious, and with the season about to tip off, Magic fans have every reason to believe that the long wait for a return to prominence may finally be coming to an end.
As the 2025-26 NBA season approaches, all eyes will be on Orlando to see if they can turn projections into reality. With a healthy roster, a retooled backcourt, and a chip on their shoulder, the Magic are poised to make noise in an Eastern Conference that’s as competitive as ever. The journey begins against the Heat, and if the early indicators are any sign, Orlando could be in for its most exciting season in years.
