The Orlando Magic stayed afloat playing without their four top scorers. Now, they’re getting the best one back.
Paolo Banchero is reportedly planning to return for Friday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. He played only five games for Orlando before an oblique injury cost him the next two months and 34 games. At the time of his injury, Banchero was averaging 29 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists. Orlando’s second-leading scorer, Franz Wagner, who was averaging 24.4 points and 5.7 assists, went down with a similar oblique injury one month ago.
With the injuries to Banchero, Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and with Wagner’s, brother Moe, out for the year with an ACL tear, Orlando has had to piece together offense for most of the season. Its leading scorers amid injuries have been Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Goga Bitadze and rookie Tristan da Silva, none of whom are scoring in double digits on the season.
That’s why Banchero’s return is so huge. The Magic have maintained their excellent defense, ranking second in the NBA, even with all the absences. They’re still 22-17 and fourth in the East. But it’s hard to win consistently while scoring the fewest points in the NBA (104.8 per game).
Banchero has the team’s highest usage rate at 31.8 percent. He’s developed as playmaker, going from 3.7 assists in his first season to 5.6 in his third. Banchero’s three-point shooting also rose from under 30% as a rookie to 34.4% this season. That’s not an incredible rate, but it’s better than the team’s 30.9% shooting from deep, the worst in the league.
It may take a few games for Banchero to get acclimated, but he’s a huge value-add for the Magic. Nearly any touch Banchero gets is a better offensive option than almost anyone else on the roster getting the ball, whether he’s shooting, passing or drawing double teams for an Orlando squad that can struggle to find open shots. The only player who compares is Franz Wagner, and he’s likely out until at least February.
Without Banchero, the Magic were an inspiring, scrappy team holding on in the playoff race. With the All-Star and Olympian back in action, the Magic are a serious threat to any team in the league.
