Watch Out, The Magic Are Finally Getting Healthy

Adam Koffler takes a look at the state of the Orlando Magic as they head into the second half of the 2024-25 NBA season. What heights could they reach?

The Orlando Magic are 23-18 at the halfway point of the 2024-25 season. They are 14-7 at home and 9-11 away from the Kia Center. Unbelievably, they sit as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference despite their "Big Three" of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs only playing five games together.

Some might call that "lucky," but those around the team regularly understand the impact head coach Jamahl Mosley has had. As of January 14, Mosley has the second-best odds (+1200) on FanDuel Sportsbook to win NBA Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season behind just Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson.

Banchero, who had been sidelined since Halloween with a torn oblique, recently made his long-awaited return to the lineup. Wagner, who suffered the same oblique injury, isn't too far behind. Neither is Suggs, who has missed the last five games with a lower back strain. Nobody wants to face a fully healthy Orlando Magic squad come playoff time, nobody.

Injury Brothers

Remarkably, Banchero and Wagner suffered the same, very rare, oblique injury this season. Banchero tore his oblique on Wednesday, October 30 vs. Chicago. Just over a month later, Wagner tore his in a game against Philadelphia.

It's an unbelievably tough break for a team set to make great strides this season. But that didn't deter anybody. Not the coaches, not the players, and certainly not Banchero and Wagner, who remained as active as ever on the sidelines.

Paolo Banchero said that watching and guiding his teammates from the sidelines as a de facto coach helped him improve his processing and see the game from that angle.

“My coaching career, I’m happy for it to be over. I wanna start playing again, but it was fun while it lasted.” pic.twitter.com/sZV4F3Hgp5

— Luke Scotchie (@lscotchie34) January 9, 2025

Magically, with Banchero out of the lineup, the Magic didn't skip a beat. Wagner turned up the volume and turned into an All-Star right in front of our eyes. He led the Magic to a 13-7 record before suffering his oblique injury. Wagner talked about it being a mentality shift for him [being the alpha on the floor without Banchero]. However, the numbers don't lie, as the fourth-year man from Michigan was well-prepared for this moment.

Franz Wagner is averaging 26.4/5.8/5.2 in his last five games

The only other guys to average 25/5/5 this season are Giannis, Jokic, Tatum, LaMelo, Paolo, Luka, & Shai

I asked him what he’d make of his play in the games w/o P so far

“It’s a mentality shift for me”

📹 @Magic_PR pic.twitter.com/2moq2AlPR9

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) November 13, 2024

Banchero made his return approximately 10 weeks after his injury. His injury designation changed from "torn oblique" to "return to competition reconditioning" after eight weeks. Being as it was the same injury for Wagner, many expected something similar in terms of a timeline.

However, he was upgraded to "return to competition reconditioning" himself on January 14, a mere five weeks after suffering his injury. That would mean Wagner's recovery timeline is about 2.5 weeks ahead of Banchero's.

Given it took Banchero about two weeks of reconditioning to rejoin the team, Wagner could be back as early as January 23 vs. Portland. However, a more realistic return date could be Saturday, January 25, vs. Detroit. At the very least, Wagner will make his return in January.

Status of the Rest of the Guys

Suggs has missed the last five games with a lower back strain he suffered against Toronto on January 3. But despite not yet practicing, he's making good progress, according to HC Mosley. There's no specific timetable for his return, but the fact that he was able to rejoin his teammates on the bench is a step in the right direction.

Jalen Suggs (back) is sitting on the Magic bench tonight (white hoodie)

Mosley was asked pre-game by @therealBeede about him not accompanying the team on the bench the last few games and he said that wasn’t what was best for Suggs’ back

Baby step in the right direction tonight pic.twitter.com/z93313Q3OC

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) January 12, 2025

Then Goga Bitadze suffered a right hip contusion vs. the Sixers on January 12. He didn't go through practice on January 14, but he's listed as questionable to play against the Bucks on January 15, just two days after suffering the injury. While he might not play, that's a good sign for his long-term prognosis.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (left knee strain) missed the team's last game, but he went through practice on January 14, and like Bitadze, is listed as questionable to face the Bucks. Again, decent news all things considered. It doesn't appear as if this is a long-term injury for KCP, either.

Tristan Da Silva had to abruptly leave Sunday's game vs. the Sixers with an illness. However, he's not listed on the team's injury report ahead of the game with the Bucks. That's a sigh of relief for Magic fans given the rookie's recent play. da Silva has scored in double figures in seven games without Wagner in the lineup. He's come up big on multiple occasions.

Another strong game from Tristan da Silva in the win:

🪄 25 PTS
🪄 5-7 3PT
🪄 2 STL

The @OrlandoMagic rookie keeps showing out 💪 pic.twitter.com/DUt2BJ8rxY

— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 4, 2025

Team Identity and Team Chemistry

As this team gets back to full health, there could be a small adjustment period of everyone finding their roles again. However, they have a team of high-IQ players and a coaching staff that is willing and able to make the necessary adjustments.

When Banchero missed time, Wagner stepped up in a big way. When Wagner went down, it was Suggs. When Suggs went down, Cole Anthony turned into Allen Iverson. When Wendell Carter Jr. missed time earlier in the year, Bitadze stepped up and became Baby Nikola Jokic. And in the midst of all of it, second-year guard Anthony Black has bloomed into a legitimate two-way player capable of leading the second unit.

This isn't by accident. All of these guys have bought into a brand of basketball that is truly different than anything else in the league.

As HC Mosley always says, "When you put on that Magic jersey, you're going to play a certain way." That way is defense first. Every player holds themself and everyone else accountable at all times on the defensive end of the floor. That's where it starts. If you aren't playing defense, you aren't going to get very many minutes for this Orlando team.

This team has an unshakeable identity and an unbreakable team chemistry. Just ask Suggs.

I asked Jalen Suggs about the unmatched team chemistry and brotherhood this team has

“Genuine would be the best way to describe it”

He elaborated by talking about the “authenticity in the building” and the “love everyone has for each other”

Can’t help but smile

📹 @Magic_PR https://t.co/pkYMuX4tso pic.twitter.com/AY7vBYNYWr

— Adam Koffler (@AdamKoffler) November 28, 2024

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