Paolo Banchero Expects Magic to Make 'Deep' Run in 2026 NBA Playoffs
Having made an all-in trade to acquire Desmond Bane at the start of the offseason, Paolo Banchero's expectations for the Orlando Magic going into the 2025-26 season are sky high.
Speaking to The Athletic's Josh Robbins, Banchero explained why he believes the Magic will make a "deep" playoff run this season:
"I think we should be a deep playoff team. Hopefully, that means Finals. But if it's anything shorter than that, then Eastern Conference finals. I want to play deep into the playoffs. I think that we have a deep roster. It's easy to sit here and tell you this right now, but we've got to go out there and play the season and win those games when those games come. That's what I'm excited for. But honestly speaking—seeing our team, seeing the guys so far—it's early, but I think we have the type of team that can make a run to the Finals."
After years of floundering in the wilderness, the Magic kickstarted their rebuild during the 2020-21 season by trading Nikola Vučević, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon.
Their next three first-round draft picks produced Jalen Suggs (No. 5 overall in 2021), Franz Wagner (No. 8 in 2021) and Banchero (No. 1 in 2022). That group has been the driving force behind their climb back into the playoff mix, but they were still missing pieces to join the ranks of the Eastern Conference elites.
Specifically, offense and three-point shooting have been causing the Magic all sorts of problems. They haven't ranked higher than 21st in offensive rating since the 2011-12 season and haven't been in the top 10 since 2009-10.
Last season, the Magic ranked last in the NBA in three-pointers made per game (11.2) and three-point percentage (31.8). Their plan to solve both problems was acquiring Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies for a package that included four first-round draft picks and a pick swap.
Bane has averaged at least 18.2 points per game in each of the past four seasons and is a 41.0 percent three-point shooter in 313 career games.
It's a big move for a lot of reasons, not least of which because it means the Magic will have four players making at least $32.4 million starting with the 2026-27 season.
Banchero looks like a player who is on the cusp of joining the top-tier players in the East. His 2024-25 season was limited to 46 games due to an oblique injury, but set career-highs in scoring (25.9 points per game) and rebounding (7.5).
The Magic have made the playoffs in each of the last two seasons, losing in the first round both times. Their last postseason series win was during the 2009-10 season when they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals.
