Magic’s Paolo Banchero says Orlando should ‘easily’ be a high seed in loaded Eastern Conference

The Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero says his squad can match up with anyone in the Eastern Conference.

The Magic, who made the postseason for the first time since 2020, are on an upswing after going 47-35 for their best regular-season record since 2011.

“We feel like we are right there,” Banchero said Friday during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take.”

“We’re right there with all those teams. I remember last year we started off as a top-three, top-two seed, and everybody thought it was a fluke. Everybody thought we were going to be a play-in team and drop out the top of the East. But we finished strong and got the fifth seed, and had a chance to really grab the two seed at the end of the season.”

Banchero is one of the best young players in the NBA. In his second year in the league he became an All-Star. So when he looked around at the Eastern landscape, he sees his team should be in the mix with the likes of Boston and New York, the top two seeds of the 2024 playoffs.

“We were right there last year, and we got better this year, like I said. I got better, all of us got better. We got some new pieces that’s going to help a lot. We’re trying to make some noise. We should easily be a top-four, top-three team and have a chance to win the East.”

Is Banchero’s statement totally out there? Perhaps not.

The Magic eventually lost in the first round to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a grueling seven-game series. The young squad blew an 18-point lead in that game, an experience the Magic hope they can learn from. With an average age of 24.3, the Magic were the second youngest team in the playoffs.

So when they were presented with the opportunity to sign two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, they jumped at the chance. Caldwell-Pope brings championship experience and shooting, something the Magic sorely lacked last season. Orlando ranked 26th in the league in 3-point percentage and struggled creating from the perimeter in the Cleveland series.

Additionally, longtime NBA vet Cory Joseph also signed with Orlando. A champion with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, Joseph can be a valuable mentor to the younger…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-08-17 01:20:37

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