B/R Staff: Bold Predictions for the 2024-25 NBA Season | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Bold predictions are best packaged as wishful thinking. Welcome to me.

The Orlando Magic have been betting on a bigger move so far, while their core players continue to rely on cheap contracts. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is a nice addition – one of the most consequential transactions of the summer. But he exploits Orlando’s strengths more than providing needed shots off the dribble and introduction to the offensive pecking order.

Right now, the Magic’s makeup profiles are set on Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs more than anyone else. The latter is one of my top candidates for Most Improved Player, so I understand the logic. I just don’t think it will be enough. Orlando is entering the phase of its development in which it tries to crack the clique of competitors. But it will take a higher quality weapon, especially in the halfcourt.

Luckily for the Magic, they have enough equity, enough interesting prospects, salary adjustment tools, and flexibility behind the tax defenses to go big on the trade market. Your default setting is usually continuity – or at least no monster moves. They will buck that trend this year.

In particular, I’m keeping an eye on Anfernee Simons (Florida native) and LaMelo Ball.

Simon’s is the less spicy of the two. His departure from the Portland Trail Blazers seems like a fait accompli if they ever plan on Scoot Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe being healthy at the same time. His shooting technique is exactly what Orlando needs.

There is nothing to suggest Ball is available immediately, but he is on his second contract and has a poor health record from previous seasons.

With the Charlotte Hornets most likely still in the early stages of their rebuild, the 23-year-old’s predictions are less sacrosanct than we might think. And the Magic are good enough right now to value him like a keystone if they aren’t upset about the condition of his ankles.