Latest news with #FranzWagner
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orlando Magic decline Mo Wagner and Caleb Houstan's player options
The Orlando Magic are declining the $11 million team option for Center Moritz Wagner and the $2.1 million option for guard Caleb Houstan, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The Magic retain both players' Bird rights, meaning they can re-sign both as free agents. Advertisement Wagner suffered a torn ACL in his left knee in December and was limited to 30 games. Before the injury, Wagner was off to a career-best start to the season, averaging 12.9 points while shooting 56.2% from the field. The brother of Magic star Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner, was selected with the 25th pick in the 2018 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. After three different stops in his first three seasons, he was waived toward the end of the 2020-21 season and picked up by Orlando. Houstan, 22, was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft by Orlando. He averaged 4.1 points in 13.6 minutes per game last season. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orlando Magic's nightmare outcome for 2025 NBA Draft
The post Orlando Magic's nightmare outcome for 2025 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Orlando Magic have spent years meticulously building a promising young core, stockpiling assets, and positioning themselves as one of the NBA's most intriguing up-and-coming teams. But as the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, the franchise faces a pivotal moment that could set them back if the wrong decisions are made. Here's a deep dive into the worst-case scenario for the Magic on draft night, examining the risks of asset mismanagement, missed opportunities, and the perils of chasing short-term fixes. The Fallout of the Desmond Bane Trade Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Orlando's blockbuster trade for Desmond Bane signaled a shift from patient rebuilding to a win-now approach. In exchange for Bane, the Magic surrendered a significant haul: their No. 16 pick in this year's draft, a 2026 first-rounder (with swap rights), a 2028 first, a 2030 first, and a 2029 swap. While Bane's shooting and scoring fill a glaring need, the cost was steep. The nightmare scenario? That this aggressive move backfires, Bane struggles to mesh with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, or injuries strike again, leaving Orlando without the draft capital to pivot or reload. Advertisement The Magic's future flexibility is now limited. With four first-round picks and a swap gone, Orlando's ability to chase another star or recover from a misstep is severely hampered. If Bane doesn't elevate the team into the East's elite, the Magic could find themselves stuck: too good to bottom out, not good enough to contend, and lacking the assets to change course. Despite the Bane trade, Orlando still holds the No. 25 pick (via Denver) and a late second-rounder. The nightmare outcome would be whiffing on these selections, either by reaching for a prospect who doesn't fit the roster or by passing on a player who blossoms elsewhere. Mock drafts have linked the Magic to Maxime Raynaud, a late-blooming stretch big, and Kam Jones, a senior guard with shooting and playmaking chops. Both could theoretically address Orlando's needs, but the risk is real: Raynaud's game is still raw, and Jones, while experienced, may lack the upside of younger prospects. If the Magic opt for 'win-now' readiness over long-term talent, they could miss out on higher-ceiling players who develop into stars for rival teams. The Magic's recent draft history has been solid, but a single miss, especially at a time when their asset pool is shrinking, could have outsized consequences. Selecting a player who fails to contribute, or watching a targeted guard like Walter Clayton Jr. or Nolan Traore get snatched up just ahead of their pick, would sting. Asset Drain and the Trade Trap Orlando's front office has been lauded for its conservative, asset-rich approach. But the Bane trade marks a clear departure. The nightmare scenario is doubling down, packaging the No. 25 pick and future seconds to chase another veteran, compounding the asset drain. If things go sideways, such a move could leave the Magic with little draft capital, a capped-out roster, and no clear path to improvement. Advertisement This is especially risky given the uncertainty around their 2026 pick swap with Phoenix or Washington. Orlando's swap could be extremely valuable if the Suns spiral into a rebuild post-Kevin Durant. Trading it away now for marginal upgrades would be a classic case of short-term thinking undermining long-term potential. The Magic's glaring weaknesses remain shooting and playmaking, especially at point guard. Last season, injuries exposed the lack of a true floor general behind Jalen Suggs. Cory Joseph provided stability, but he isn't a long-term solution. If Orlando fails to use the draft to address this, either by passing on a promising guard or by taking a player who can't stretch the floor, the offense could stagnate again, putting more pressure on Banchero and Wagner. For the Orlando Magic, the 2025 NBA Draft is about more than just adding talent—it's about safeguarding the franchise's future. The nightmare outcome is a perfect storm: the Bane trade doesn't deliver, the draft yields little help, and the asset cupboard is bare for the next big swing. In a competitive Eastern Conference, missteps now could turn a promising core into a team trapped in mediocrity. For a franchise on the cusp, caution and clarity are more vital than ever. Navigating Uncertainty with Purpose The Magic's front office must now walk a tightrope between ambition and prudence. With their asset pool diminished and expectations rising, every move carries amplified risk. The upcoming season will be a litmus test for the Bane experiment and for the development of their young stars. Advertisement If the draft fails to yield a rotation-ready contributor or a hidden gem, Orlando could find itself outpaced by rivals who were once behind in the rebuild race. Ultimately, the nightmare outcome isn't just a bad night at the draft, it's a series of miscalculations that could stall the Magic's ascent just as the window to contend begins to open. Related: Desmond Bane reveals wild timing of when Magic trade went down Related: Desmond Bane's 'simple' mic drop after 'perfect' Magic trade
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paolo Banchero Claps Back at Fan Over Kevin Durant Diss
Paolo Banchero Claps Back at Fan Over Kevin Durant Diss originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero had a strong response to a fan trying to clown him for working on his skills during the 2025 NBA offseason. After advancing to the playoffs in the last two seasons (47-35 in 2023-24 and 41-41 in 2024-25), the power forward is expected to take his game to the next level and lead the Magic to contend. Advertisement He missed 36 games due to injuries, but still averaged career-highs in points (25.9) and rebounds (7.5). Additionally, the former No. 1 overall pick shot 45.2% from the field, 32% from deep and 72.7% from the free-throw line. With the Magic landing Desmond Bane to form a big three with Banchero and Franz Wagner, the expectations are high for the Florida team. The Duke product is already in the gym, working on his game, but his offseason efforts drew uncalled-for criticism from a fan. Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero pulled off a career-best performance in 2024-25 Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images A video showing Banchero working on his skills, including his fadeaway shot, made the rounds on social media on Thursday. One fan criticized him and accused him of trying to be Kevin Durant. Advertisement "6'9 255 pounds and his big (expletive) wanna shoot fadeaways like he KD," the fan tweeted. Banchero didn't appreciate the comments and responded by saying that he was doing something many players did before him or Durant. "damn when it become wrong to work on face up game and touch in the lane??? (expletive) that basketball players been drilling since the inception of the game," he tweeted on Friday. Outside of that, it's not a secret that Durant has inspired many players during his NBA career. Banchero wants to take his small-market team to the top of the league and learning from one of the best scorers in history must help. Advertisement The new-look Magic should be better than last season in an Eastern Conference with no clear favorite. Related: Kevin Durant Sends Message to 'Real Suns Fans' After Rockets Trade This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Magic Pull Off Desmond Bane Blockbuster After LaMelo Ball Rumors
Magic Pull Off Desmond Bane Blockbuster After LaMelo Ball Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Orlando Magic have made strides toward being a contender and took another step forward on Sunday. Advertisement The Memphis Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane to the Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a first-round pick swap, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. This comes after Charlotte Hornets All-Star LaMelo Ball was rumored as a possible addition in Orlando. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report suggested a change for the Magic with Ball being paired with a young core group of players. The Hornets would've received Suggs, Jett Howard and the No. 16 pick for the star point guard. "(Ball's) playmaking would help Orlando, but the bigger boost he could provide may be on the shooting front. His three-point percentage plummeted to 33.9 in 2024-25, but getting up more than 10 per game would change the geometry of the floor for the Magic," Bailey wrote last week. However, with the blockbuster Bane-KCP swap, don't count on a trip to Orlando being in LaMelo's immediate future, unless he's going to Disney World. Bane will fit well alongside the duo of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero. They're all young and could develop as a Big 3 together. Related: Nike Announces Release Dates For Jordan Gamma 11s and Bugs Bunny 8s Ball's future in Charlotte has been a hot topic during the offseason. He signed a five-year, $204 million contract running through 2029. But are NBA teams turned off by Ball's injury history on top of the max deal? Last season, he was limited to 47 games and has yet to play a full season in his NBA career. Advertisement Related: Hornets' Final Decision on LaMelo Ball Top Priority After NBA Draft The Hornets' intention will be made clear over the next couple weeks with the 2025 NBA Draft on the horizon. Whether Ball will be in the QC next year remains to be seen at this point. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
15-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Desmond Bane trade grades: Magic, Grizzlies swap guards, but did Orlando give up too much?
Our first big summer move that doesn't involve a coach being fired, or the New York Knicks calling about a coach under contract, just happened. The Memphis Grizzlies have shocked a lot of people by agreeing to trade Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap. Advertisement That's a lot of draft capital for Bane, and the Magic are hoping he'll be a great complement to their young duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. A complement to this trade news is a set of trade grades, where we'll slap down some red ink and figure out if we're complimenting one or all sides of the deal. From a basketball standpoint, I like Bane finding a balance for what Orlando has been lacking. He's a great outside shooter, a very good defender and has turned into a good playmaker from the shooting guard position. The Magic desperately need the shooting and the playmaking, and they don't have to sacrifice defense to get it from him. If you take out his rookie year, Bane's career averages (over four years) are 20.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 47.2/40.7/88.7 shooting splits. Those are excellent, and he performed well when Ja Morant was out of the lineup. He's also averaged over five assists per game the last two seasons, so we're seeing improvement from him as a passer. Bane will add a true floor-stretcher to give space for Bachero and Wagner to operate. He can run a two-man game with either of them as either the initiator or the screener. And throwing out a lineup of those three with either Jalen Suggs or Anthony Black as the other backcourt member and one of their solid big men in the middle gives the Magic a formidable approach on both ends of the floor. For a team that couldn't score last season, Bane will help out quite a bit. My concern with this deal for Orlando is the cost. Caldwell-Pope and Anthony aren't too much to give up. Those are solid veterans, but Bane is better than both of those guys on your roster. The draft capital, however, is a lot for Bane with four firsts and a pick swap headed out. I have come around to thinking we focus too much on draft picks in trades and overvaluing them, in general. But that's when we're quibbling over a team including a future pick it wants to hold onto. Throwing four at a team for a player who is good but has never been an All-Star or award winner outside of All-Rookie seems like a lot. And the picks are all unprotected except for the pick swap, which is lightly protected. The Magic have to be really sure that Bane is going to be the guy who puts them into that upper tier in the Eastern Conference. Advertisement The East is more open than most assumed it would be. Injuries to Milwaukee and Boston have changed a lot. Cleveland's rough exit brought excitement from others about the Cavs coming back down to earth. New York's coaching search might put its momentum on hold. And Orlando can reasonably look at what it has and believe it is a lot better than Detroit (depending on what the Pistons do this summer) and not far from the Pacers (who might end up NBA champions this week). At the same time, this is expensive monetarily, too. Bane has roughly $162 million owed to him over the next four seasons. The Magic are well over $100 million in payroll for the next four seasons just from Bane, Wagner and Suggs. Banchero hasn't even received his extension yet, which will likely be agreed to in the coming months and kick in after the 2025-26 season. With those four under contract, the Magic will have to start worrying about the first- and second-apron thresholds in the collective bargaining agreement. Until then, maybe they have a small window to capitalize with a young team, similar to the Thunder. It's not exactly the same formula, and it's more costly with picks and money (currently). But they're banking on Bane making them a power in the East. Grade: B Before we get into the basketball side on the court, let's get into the picks headed to Memphis. The Grizzlies are receiving the No. 16 in the 2025 draft, (most likely) Phoenix's pick in 2026, Orlando's pick in 2028, a top-two protected pick swap in 2029 and Orlando's pick in 2030. That is a lot. As for the basketball of it all, the Grizzlies are downgrading on the court. Bane was great for them and integral to what they were able to do with and without Morant. Caldwell-Pope is a good veteran to replace him with some defense and outside shooting, but he's not nearly the scorer and distributor. They'll hope Anthony makes up for that part of it, and he'll be a very good backup guard for them. The Grizzlies are opting for more depth, which has often been a strength of this era of the franchise. Advertisement They're also opting for more flexibility. The Grizzlies probably hit a ceiling with Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Bane as their big three. And they have a contract extension situation coming up for Jackson that will be tricky. He's probably a max-contract guy because of the defense and accolades, and he's also improved as a scorer. But it's not a no-brainer to just slot that into your books in the second-apron era. They received a bit of a reprieve when he didn't qualify for the supermax extension by missing out on All-NBA, because that could be an awkward negotiation session. Memphis is resetting things a little with the structure of its books by sending away Bane. It'll sacrifice on the court for now, but the Grizzlies can now figure out what this team looks like and how that gets structured with Tuomas Iisalo running the sidelines. They get to do that while bringing in all of that draft capital to use either as cost-effective roster additions (and this team is really good at identifying young talent) or in trades to bring in help for Morant and Jackson. It's a step down for now, but it's a good look toward the future. Grade: A- (Photo of Cole Anthony and Desmond Bane: Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
