<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-rumors-orlando-wants-to-make-25-million-trade-to-help-paolo-banchero');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic rumors: Orlando wants to make $25 million trade to help Paolo Banchero');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paolo-Banchero-celebrate.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic rumors: Orlando wants to make $25 million trade to help Paolo Banchero</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-03T09:02:00-07:00">June 3rd, 9:02am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-03T09:02:00-07:00">June 3rd, 9:02am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Fresh off unveiling a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-launch-new-era-with-throwback-style-jerseys-for-2025-26-season">franchise rebrand ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season</a>, the Orlando Magic are reportedly exploring trade options to upgrade their offense and support rising stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.</p><p>According to a report from Hardwood Paroxysm, the Magic are shifting into a more aggressive roster-building phase following their first-round playoff exit. The team is said to be targeting multiple offensive-minded players, using up to <a href="https://hardwoodparoxysm.substack.com/p/free-agency-and-draft-rumors-panic" rel="noopener">$25 million in combined salary</a> to facilitate potential trades.</p><p>“Orlando is indeed shifting its approach, as it sounded like in their postseason pressers, towards making major upgrades,” the report stated. “Sources believe they are looking to package around $25 million in salary for various players to give the offense the jump it needs. That sounds right because with Franz and Paolo, any addition making above that likely will demand the ball too much.”</p><p>Orlando finished the 2024-25 season with a 41-41 record, battling through a series of injuries to key players. Banchero and Wagner both missed extended time with torn obliques, while Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner suffered season-ending injuries earlier in the year. Despite the setbacks, the Magic secured a playoff berth, eventually <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-gm-refutes-reports-of-zero-trade-deadline-calls">falling to the Boston Celtics in a competitive five-game series</a>.</p><h2><b>Magic linked to multiple guards amid push to boost offense</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Garland-Passes-Cavs-Magic.jpg"><figcaption>Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>While Orlando once again fielded a top-tier defense, their offensive struggles proved costly. During the regular season, the Magic ranked 27th in scoring at just 105.4 points per game. They also finished last in three-point shooting, averaging 11.2 made threes per game on just 31.8% shooting from beyond the arc.</p><p>The offensive issues became even more pronounced in the postseason. Orlando <a href="https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/traditional?SeasonType=Playoffs&amp;dir=D&amp;sort=PTS" rel="noopener">ranked last</a> among all 16 playoff teams in points per game at 93.6 and three-point shooting, making only 8.2 threes per game at 26.3% from deep.</p><p>In response to these shortcomings, the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-favored-for-potential-darius-garland-trade">Magic have been linked in multiple reports to guards such as Darius Garland</a>, Trae Young, and Anfernee Simons — all of whom could fill Orlando’s glaring need at point guard. However, a more financially feasible option could be Chicago Bulls guard Coby White.</p><p>White, 25, is coming off a career-best season. In 74 games, he averaged 20.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.7 rebounds while shooting 45.3% from the field and 37% from three. He is entering the final year of his three-year contract and is set to earn $12.8 million next season, potentially making him a logical candidate to fit within Orlando’s reported $25 million trade package range.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/ranking-best-kon-knueppel-destinations-in-2025-nba-draft">Magic currently hold the No. 16 and No. 25 picks in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft</a>, set for June 25–26 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. With a young core led by Banchero and Wagner, and a clear focus on offensive improvement, Orlando’s offseason could prove pivotal in shaping its competitive trajectory moving forward.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic rumors: Orlando wants to make $25 million trade to help Paolo Banchero

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-gets-nsfw-endorsement-kentavious-caldwell-pope');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero gets NSFW endorsement from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-dunks-the-ball-as-Washington-Wizards-forward-Justin-Champagnie-9-defends.jpg"><figcaption>© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero gets NSFW endorsement from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-23T12:40:31-07:00">May 23rd, 12:40pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-23T12:40:31-07:00">May 23rd, 12:40pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has received high praise from many across the NBA, but veteran teammate Kentavious Caldwell-Pope offered one of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNd2TjFhfwA" rel="noopener">most emphatic endorsements</a> yet — with an NSFW twist.</p><p>During a recent appearance on Above The Rim with DH12, the podcast hosted by newly inducted Hall of Famer Dwight Howard, Caldwell-Pope opened up about his first season in Orlando and praised Banchero’s maturity, basketball IQ, and skill level.</p><p>“He’s a smart young kid,” Caldwell-Pope said. “I was surprised like how he think the game, how it slows down for him… Me coming over there and being a vet for him, I just talked more about what do you see. And he was able to break that down — it was easy for me to help him out.”</p><p>The two-time NBA champion continued with detailed insight into his on-court conversations with the 22-year-old forward, explaining how Banchero’s court vision and offensive versatility make him a unique talent to play alongside.</p><p>“I always tell him, you see a pass, make a pass, because they [are] going to double you every time,” Caldwell-Pope said. “What you’re going to be great at is screening, rolling, getting in that pocket — his mid-range is f**king killer — or when you’re in the post, face up, see what they give you. And him being mentally strong like that, his game just took off.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s postseason leap and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope’s leadership fuel Magic’s rising expectations</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-congratulates-guard-Kentavious-Caldwell-Pope-3-after-a-play.jpg"><figcaption>© Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-trolls-espn-over-old-ranking">Banchero delivered a strong third season for Orlando</a> despite being limited to 46 games due to a torn oblique in the first half of the year. He averaged 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 32 percent from three.</p><p>The former No. 1 overall pick elevated his game even further in the postseason. During Orlando’s five-game series against the Boston Celtics, Banchero averaged 29.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 43.5 percent from the field and an impressive 44.4 percent from beyond the arc.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-kentavious-caldwell-pope-leaving-nuggets-for-orlando">Caldwell-Pope, who signed with the Magic last offseason</a> on a three-year, $66 million deal, was brought in to add veteran leadership and championship experience to a young roster led by Banchero and Franz Wagner. While his individual production dipped in 2024–25, Caldwell-Pope remained a respected voice in the locker room and offered a steady defensive presence throughout the year.</p><p>The Magic concluded the regular season with a 41–41 record, capturing their second consecutive Southeast Division title and playoff appearance before <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-backs-orlando-win-now-focus-and-embraces-rising-pressure-after-playoff-exit">falling to the Celtics in the first round</a>. With the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-president-drops-win-now-truth-bomb-future">front office signaling a “win-now” approach this offseason</a>, Banchero’s continued development — especially under the guidance of veterans like Caldwell-Pope — remains central to Orlando’s trajectory.</p><p>As the franchise looks to take the next step, Banchero’s blend of size, skill, and poise at such a young age has made him the unquestioned cornerstone of the Magic’s future. And with Caldwell-Pope giving him high marks — mid-range and all — the expectations heading into Year 4 are only growing louder.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic’s Paolo Banchero gets NSFW endorsement from Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-shouts-out-2-special-teammates-who-helped-nba-transition');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero shouts out 2 special teammates who helped NBA transition');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Magic-1.jpg"><figcaption>Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero shouts out 2 special teammates who helped NBA transition</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-21T13:24:42-07:00">May 21st, 1:24pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-21T13:24:42-07:00">May 21st, 1:24pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero recently <a href="https://x.com/HunchoHoops/status/1925245714130440468" rel="noopener">credited</a> two former teammates for helping him navigate the early challenges of his NBA career.</p><p>Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, Banchero reflected on his rookie season after being selected No. 1 overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. The 22-year-old forward said the welcoming environment in Orlando played a major role in his development.</p><p>“They welcomed me with open arms from the second I got there,” Banchero said. “The team was great, I remember first meeting the team at Summer League that year and us doing a dinner… and them being the coolest group of dudes that I’ve ever really been around.”</p><p>Among those who stood out was Markelle Fultz, a fellow former No. 1 overall pick. Fultz spent five seasons with the Magic and played alongside Banchero during his first two years in the league.</p><p>“One is Markelle Fultz, he’s a former No. 1 pick so he understood the shoes that I was in and so he was with me my first two years there. He helped me a ton, man,” Banchero said. “I looked up to Markelle, like watching him – I was in eighth grade when he was at the Dub and so I was at that stage where I was realizing my NBA dreams and to see a dude come to UW and go No. 1 was amazing to me.”</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero praises Markelle Fultz, Terrence Ross for guiding him through NBA transition</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Paolo-Banchero-5-celebrates-with-point-guard-Markelle-Fultz-20-after-defeating-the-Golden-State-Warriors.jpg"><figcaption>© Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Fultz provided a steady voice during the ups and downs of Banchero’s early career.</p><p>“When I didn’t play well or when I had a rough night or whatever, I would take it super hard,” Banchero said. “He would always be the guy to pull me to the side and just be like, ‘relax bro, it’s 82 games. You ain’t about to have a great game every night.’ He was just like that calming presence… he understood more than anybody just how all this can affect you.”</p><p>Fultz, 26, was not re-signed by Orlando following the 2023–24 season. He later <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-news-markelle-fultz-agrees-sacramento-contract">joined the Sacramento Kings late in the 2024–25 regular season</a>. In 21 games with the Kings, he averaged 2.9 points, 1.3 assists, and one rebound in 8.8 minutes per contest.</p><p>Banchero also praised Terrence Ross for his mentorship during his rookie year. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-terrence-ross-retirement-13-seasons">Ross, who spent seven seasons with the Magic, retired after the 2022–23 campaign</a>.</p><p>“Another guy was Terrence Ross… another UW guy actually, who I watched growing up a lot,” Banchero said. “He helped me a lot too because he had been there for eight years in Orlando. I looked up to him too… and he would just keep it straightforward.”</p><p>Ross offered honest, constructive feedback Banchero trusted.</p><p>“I would go to him and ask him what he thought about how I was playing, what I could do better,” Banchero said. “T-Ross is one of the chillest dudes ever and so I knew it was coming from the right place.”</p><p>Ross, 34, played 63 games between the Magic and Phoenix Suns in his final season. He averaged 12.7 points, three rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game across 349 appearances with Orlando, shooting 41.4% from the field and 35.1% from three-point range.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero shouts out 2 special teammates who helped NBA transition

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-knicks-example-next-step-contend');   ga('set', 'title', 'Paolo Banchero drops Knicks example for Magic to take next step to contend');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Paolo-Banchero-says-Magic-need-to-follow-the-Knicks-model.jpg"><figcaption>© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Paolo Banchero drops Knicks example for Magic to take next step to contend</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-20T12:19:47-07:00">May 20th, 12:19pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-20T12:19:47-07:00">May 20th, 12:19pm</time><address><a href="https://haydencilley.wixsite.com/hayden-cilley-s-port">Hayden Cilley</a>Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter, as well as an Associate Editor. Hayden graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He recently covered the Phoenix Mercury for The Next Hoops and PHNX Sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Despite the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/magic-news-paolo-banchero-fires-back-at-any-silver-linings-to-playoff-experience">Orlando Magic being eliminated from the NBA playoffs</a>, Paolo Banchero is the promising piece, alongside Franz Wagner and others on the roster.</p><p>However, the former No. 1 overall pick thinks that Orlando can reach another level. On The Pivot Podcast, the Magic star forward <a href="https://youtu.be/wf6Y-DxO5fU?t=1602" rel="noopener">gave his organization a blueprint</a> for who they should follow.</p><p>“I see some of these teams like the (New York) Knicks or the (Cleveland) Cavaliers,” Banchero said. “The Knicks, they’ve been in the playoffs the last couple of years, but they went and got some guys, and I think their mind is, they’re trying to win for the playoffs.</p><p>“And Boston, they’re trying to win for the playoffs. You can just feel that when you play against some of those teams. So I think that’s our next step.”</p><p>Three of those teams acquired superstar talent, but made the roster extremely deep. The Knicks, Celtics, and Cavaliers were the respective Top 3 seeds in the Eastern Conference.</p><p>For the Magic, they were the seventh after dealing with injuries. Still, they managed to win one game against Boston with the young core. Still, Banchero thinks there is more work to do.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero sees the Magic following the Knicks’ model</b></h2><p>New York was <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-2023-24-season-recap-065300839.html" rel="noopener">in a similar position</a> in 2024. After they lost Jalen Brunson to a hand injury in the semifinals, they fell to the Indiana Pacers in seven games.</p><p>As a result, they went out and reloaded in a major way. For instance, the Knicks traded for both Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns.</p><p>Although they lost key pieces like Isaiah Hartenstein, they managed to reload.</p><p>For the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-backs-orlando-win-now-focus-and-embraces-rising-pressure-after-playoff-exit">Magic, they might need to do some of that</a>. Considering how close Orlando was to being a Top 4 seed before the injuries, securing another star next to Banchero and Wagner would do the trick.</p><p>Regardless of that, Banchero still reflected and was honest about what the team should work on.</p><p>“I think health, but also just learning from these last two years,” Banchero said. “We’ve been out of the first round these first two years in the playoffs. Why is that?</p><p>“What do we need to work on, what are some of our deficiencies, what are some of our strengths? And how does that translate into winning in the playoffs? I think that’s the biggest thing, not only focusing on the regular season success, but how can we be successful in the playoffs.”</p><p>No matter what, the Magic are in a prime position to take that next step. Using New York as a blueprint could be a major blessing for Orlando.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Paolo Banchero drops Knicks example for Magic to take next step to contend

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-trolls-espn-over-old-ranking');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s Paolo Banchero trolls ESPN over old ranking');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Paolo-Banchero-5-reacts-after-a-play-against-the-Atlanta-Hawks.jpg"><figcaption>© Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s Paolo Banchero trolls ESPN over old ranking</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-05-17T15:28:04-07:00">May 17th, 3:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-05-17T15:28:37-07:00">May 17th, 3:28pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-paolo-banchero-backs-orlando-win-now-focus-and-embraces-rising-pressure-after-playoff-exit">Orlando Magic shift into a pivotal offseason with a “win-now” mentality</a>, star forward Paolo Banchero took a moment to revisit his past. In a post shared this week on X, formerly known as Twitter, Banchero <a href="https://x.com/Pp_doesit/status/1923853502184353923" rel="noopener">responded</a> to resurfaced high school highlights with a pointed jab at ESPN’s 2021 player rankings.</p><p>“and espn had me ranked 4th in my class,” Banchero wrote in the caption, referencing the now-viral footage, followed by laughing emojis.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">and espn had me ranked 4th in my class🤣🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/tAb8ONRTa2">https://t.co/tAb8ONRTa2</a></p><p>— Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pp_doesit/status/1923853502184353923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>In ESPN’s final rankings for the 2021 recruiting class, Banchero was <a href="https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/playerrankings/_/class/2021/order/true" rel="noopener">listed</a> fourth behind Chet Holmgren, Jaden Hardy, and Emoni Bates. Despite the lower placement at the time, Banchero was selected No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA Draft.</p><p>Since then, he has quickly emerged as one of the league’s most promising young players. Banchero won the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2023 and earned his first All-Star selection in 2024. He followed up with a strong 2024-25 campaign, averaging 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game on 45.2 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from three-point range. His season was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-why-orlando-paolo-banchero-primed-for-growth-after-injury-plagued-season">limited to 46 games due to a torn oblique</a>, but his production remained elite when on the court.</p><h2><b>Paolo Banchero’s rise contrasts former top-ranked peers as Magic shift focus to title contention</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Paolo-Banchero-celebrate.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Now three seasons into his career, Banchero has helped guide Orlando to back-to-back playoff appearances, including a 47-win campaign in 2023-24 — the franchise’s highest win total since the 2010-11 season.</p><p>In contrast, the players who ranked ahead of him in that 2021 ESPN list have experienced varied trajectories.</p><p>Holmgren, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, has become a key contributor for a rising Thunder team currently in the second round of the NBA Playoffs. He will play in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/thunder-news-oklahoma-city-receives-pressure-warning-for-game-7">decisive Game 7 against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday</a>.</p><p>Hardy, drafted 37th overall in the second round by the Sacramento Kings and later acquired by the Dallas Mavericks, has yet to carve out a consistent role. He averaged 8.7 points in 15.9 minutes per game during the regular season and has seen limited usage in the postseason.</p><p>Bates, once hailed as a generational prospect, fell to the 49th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and has struggled to find playing time with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He appeared in just 10 games during the 2024-25 season, averaging 7.5 minutes per contest.</p><p>Banchero’s subtle dig comes as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-what-franz-wagner-is-focused-on-amid-orlando-win-now-approach">Magic prepare for an offseason where expectations are rising</a>. Both President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-gm-refutes-reports-of-zero-trade-deadline-calls">General Manager Anthony Parker have emphasized that Orlando is ready to pivot</a> from development to contention. With Banchero at the center of that movement, his track record continues to validate the Magic’s decision to draft him first overall — regardless of where he once stood in ESPN’s rankings.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.9	7.1	4.9	0.8	0.6

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
22.9	7.1	4.9	0.8	0.6

Paolo Banchero

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Magic’s Paolo Banchero trolls ESPN over old ranking

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