NBA.com writers predicted the Orlando Magic to finish in the top 3 of the Eastern Conference standings in October. Six months later, they couldn’t even crack the top 6, forcing the Jamahl Mosley-coached team to the play-in tournament.
Orlando’s underwhelming season resulted in “major turmoil,” according to The Ringer host Raheem Palmer. The analyst tweeted on Tuesday that a “star player” will demand a trade if Mosley remains in place.
The report prompted reactions from fans. One fan wrote:
“Just say, Banchero. There’s only one star in Orlando.”
Another fan added:
“Of course, Wagner or Banchero want him gone. He is a REAL coach who keep guys accountable.”
One more fan continued:
“Today, I learned the Magic have a star on their roster.”
Another fan commented:
“They can get prime Phil Jackson, KC Jones, Pat Riley, and Popovich and it won’ make a difference. Banchero is a guard in PF body, Wagner is brittle.”
One fan tweeted:
“Not Jamahl’s fault a 6’10, 250 athlete suddenly decided to play like he’s CJ McCollum.”
Paolo Banchero is the only player on Orlando’s roster with an All-Star selection. He earned the distinction during the 2023-24 season after winning the Rookie of the Year award the previous year.
Banchero publicly criticized Jamahl Mosley in early March following a 106-92 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The 6-foot-10 forward said that Orlando failed to make adjustments to match the Pistons’ new strategy.
A day later, Mosley pushed back against Bachero’s comments. The coach insisted that the Pistons only “played a little harder” and added that there was “no schematic adjustment” from Detroit.
The Magic need to pull their act together ahead of their play-in tournament showdown against the Philadelphia 76ers. If Orlando wins, it earns the No. 7 spot, while a loss will drop the team to a do-or-die game against the winner of the Heat-Hornets game.
“Disconnect” Between Jamahl Mosley and Magic Star Paolo Banchero Emerged in November
Early in November, NBA insider Grant Afseth wrote on RG.org about the brewing trouble in Orlando between Jamahl Mosley and Magic star forward Paolo Banchero. Afseth reported:
“Sources indicate a growing disconnect between Banchero and Mosley, with strained communication and noticeable tension during games and timeouts, raising concerns within the organization.”
The Magic traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four unprotected first-round picks (2025, 2026, 2028 and 2030) to pry Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in June last year. With Bane in the roster, many predicted Orlando to challenge for the Eastern Conference supremacy.
Instead, the Magic struggled, ranking 18th in offensive rating and 13th in defensive rating. Grant Afseth wrote that “the team failed to find chemistry or clarity,” particularly on offense.
Afseth added that the “offensive struggles” and “inconsistency” even after the addition of Bane could “potentially jeopardize Mosley’s job.”
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