Magic Could Steal Star Away From Warriors This Summer

One of the most surprising teams in the NBA during the 2023-24 season has been the Orlando Magic. They have put themselves in a position to potentially have homecourt advantage in the postseason for two rounds as they are knocking on the door of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Many people believed the Magic would be improved this season, as they finished the 2022-23 campaigns strongly. But to be in the mix for homecourt advantage in the NBA playoffs is exceeding all expectations.

Looking to cement their status as a top team in the Eastern Conference, the Magic are a team that many people are going to keep a close eye on during the NBA offseason. They have an incredible core of young, high-upside players but there are some weaknesses to address.

Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black and Wendell Carter Jr. are a strong group to build off of. But, if there is one thing that this team is lacking, it is shooting, especially from beyond the 3-point line.

Orlando is currently 22nd in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage, connecting on 35.3 percent of their attempts. They are even lower on the makes and attempts ranking, as their 33.4 attempts per game are 28th and their 11.1 makes are tied for last.

Among teams in the playoff field, the Magic are the worst shooting team, which could make things difficult once the games slow down. Addressing that need at this point in the season is an impossibility, but once the NBA offseason rolls around, Orlando is going to be aggressive when it comes to finding shooting.

According to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic, they may have already set their sights on a veteran upgrade in free agency. Per Kawakami, the Magic are a team to keep an eye on when it comes to Golden State Warriors star, Klay Thompson.

One of the worst-kept secrets in the league is that Orlando, loaded with young talent but not with shooters, might offer Klay a ton of money next summer,” Kawakami wrote.

A 41.3 percent 3-point shooter in his career, Thompson would be the perfect addition to this Magic team. Not only would he bring a skill set to the table that the team is lacking, but Thompson has a wealth of NBA playoff and championship experience, something the Orlando roster is lacking.

Even the current version of Thompson, which isn’t as prolific as he was before injuries costing him two full seasons, would be a sizable upgrade for the Magic. Armed with a ton of cap space this offseason, expect Orlando to attempt to buck the trend of not being a destination for NBA free agents.