The Orlando Magic ended the 2025-26 NBA season with a thud.
Their 4-3 first-round playoff defeat at the hands of the Detroit Pistons marked the Magic’s third straight first-round playoff exit.
The season’s end ultimately cost the former head coach, Jamahl Mosley, his job the next day, on May 4.
Such stagnation has been disappointing for a team with a young core trying to take the next steps toward becoming true contenders.
So, What’s Next for the Magic?
It didn’t take long for the Magic to decide on their new head coach. Orlando snagged Spurs assistant head coach Sean Sweeney on Jun. 1, which, on its face, reinforces the team’s defensive-minded approach. The question remains whether Sweeney can fix Orlando’s offensive woes.
Orlando did not have a first-round draft pick this season, as a result of the Desmond Bane trade last offseason. That pick became the 16th pick, with which the Memphis Grizzlies used to draft Bennett Stirtz, who was then traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder on draft night.
Subtle Moves in Orlando
Currently, Orlando has very little financial flexibility and draft capital. This is largely due to Paolo Banchero‘s looming extension that kicks in next season and the Desmond Bane trade, which sent away four unprotected first-round picks.
Their strategy seems to be to build from within and trust a new system under coach Sean Sweeney.
Orlando has re-signed the majority of their defensive depth, however. Jamal Cain, Jevon Carter, and Jonathan Isaac are all returning on one-year deals. Isaac’s case is unique. Orlando waived the nine-year veteran before re-signing him to a deal that saved Orlando $11 million in cap space. The waiver was to avoid the $14 million guarantee for Isaac next season.
Colin Castleton was also re-signed on a two-way contract. He will play primarily for the Osceola Magic of the NBA G League, while being called up to Orlando on an as-needed basis.
A Few Losses
So far, there have only been two key departures. Former Magic first-round pick Jett Howard had his team option for next season declined at the start of the 2025 season, making him an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Veteran backup center Moritz Wagner inked a two-year, $19 million deal with the Brooklyn Nets.
A Very Warm Re-Welcoming
Orlando also saw the return of a very familiar face in free agency. Nikola Vučević signed a one-year, $3.9 million deal on Jul. 1. The former face of the franchise spent 8.5 years with the Magic before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2021.
The trade ironically netted Orlando Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner, two of Vučević’s new teammates. Vučević was a two-time All-Star in his first stint in Orlando and led the Magic to their first playoff appearances since the Dwight Howard era.
Vučević isn’t exactly in peak form anymore, turning 36 at the start of next season.
However, he could still prove useful, providing a versatile offensive skill set off the bench, something the Magic desperately lacked last season, especially in the postseason. He averaged 15 points per game in Chicago last season before being traded to Boston at the trade deadline, where he saw limited playing time. He should be an upgrade from Wagner as a backup big from an offensive standpoint.
Promise for Next Year?
As of right now, the Magic’s offseason lacks flash, but subtle roster moves are hoped to bring substance. Hiring Sean Sweeney and his staff could be one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. They have their core of young players firmly in place, and they seem to believe they’re closer to contention than they appear at first glance. Smaller additions like the Vučević signing prove this thinking.
It’s fair to say that Orlando’s offseason has been rather uneventful, but there wasn’t much financial flexibility for improvement.
There is still plenty of time left in the offseason, and things can change.
Time will tell how well the chemistry builds between this young roster and the coaching staff. It’s fair to say that the next step forward for this team is simply getting out of the first round
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