Penny & Pops Podcast - Magicbasketballonline.com

A very important week is here for the Magic. A two-night Draft where Orlando currently holds the 25th, 46th, and 57th picks. Will they use all three? Do we see trades and/or cash considerations make an appearance? Decisions still need to be made on the team options for Moritz Wagner and Caleb Houstan. And then free agency begins the night of June 30th before a Paolo Banchero contract extension announcement occurs. Orlando has some roster gaps to fill after the Desmond Bane trade. There’s still a need for a sixth man scorer, point guard bench help, and a look at the center position. So of the draft, trade, and free agency options available, which routes get taken? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Jeff Weltman said he’d be aggressive this offseason, and he has not wasted time pulling off this big time Father’s Day deal with the Memphis Grizzlies to acquire Desmond Bane in the middle of the NBA Finals. The Orlando Magic had to give out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, the 16th pick of the 2025 Draft, their 2026 pick that is tied to a Wizards-Suns pick swap, an unprotected 2028 first, a top-2 protected 2029 pick swap, and a 2030 unprotected first round selection. It seems like a massive amount for a player who has not been named an All-Star, but Bane fits this roster on and off the floor and fills many needs. He’s in his prime and under contract through the 2029 season. There’s addition by subtraction occurring in that trade price tag. But the Magic are on paper better with Bane, and they didn’t have to give up Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, or Tristan Da Silva. Bane is theoretically now the Magic’s starting ‘point guard’ with his diverse skill set. This a message to the rest of the Eastern Confere

It seems like Cleveland media is trying to get Darius Garland dealt away for Jalen Suggs. The Magic need point guard help, but would this make sense? Are there any other Cavaliers player targets? Plus, a bit more Orlando Magic rebrand merchandise talk and a dislike of cursive. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

They spent 4 years creating it, but for the first time since 2010 the Orlando Magic have rebranded themselves. Ushering in the new Paolo-Franz era with a look that the team believes will mesh the past with the future. There’s a new blue color, new logos, new fonts, and new jerseys. There’s genuinely some good, some meh, and some bad eliminates to this rebrand. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

It’s going to be an OKC Thunder-Indiana Pacers duel for the championship. Which means welcome to the Rob Hennigan NBA Finals. Unfortunately, courtesy of the June 23, 2016 Victor Oladipo-Ersan Ilyasova-Domantas Sabonis for Serge Ibaka Thunder trade that got both the Thunder and Pacers here to this stage. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams (the good one), and Tyrese Haliburton do not end up on their franchises without Hennigan. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

We got a look at how our future stacks up against the present in the playoffs. Paolo and Franz versus Tatum and Brown. Our stars overall outplayed their champion stars. The difference was the supporting casts. Now we’re getting a good look at what happens when your title winning team has to be torn down because of Collective Bargaining Agreement restrictions. Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis all can be had in trades because the Celtics need to get below the second apron. Tatum is only 27 years old and tore his damn Achilles. That used to be something that only happened in your mid-30s and later in life. Now it’s happening to MVP-level guys in their prime. Which for our front office should be heeded as a warning to not wait when you have two stars ready for much more. Should we go after a Celtic? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

In an offseason where the Magic don’t have the ability to pay much for free agents, we have to trade our way to improvement. I can’t think of a bigger potentially available target than Giannis Antetokounmpo. NBA champion, multi-time MVP, he’s won Defensive Player of the Year. He’s been the face of the NBA for the past few years, whether American media recognizes that or not. He’s again an MVP finalist this season. He’ll be 31 years old in December. Still his prime. I want Gianni to be a one NBA team player. Gianni wants to stay a Buck. But he also wants to win more NBA championships. Milwaukee can’t offer that now. There’s no Jrue Holiday deal to be made. They’re capped out and out of assets to trade. They have no picks to send out. So if Gianni wants another NBA title in the next few years, he’s going to have to orchestrate a trade somewhere. And I don’t know of a better destination for him than Orlando. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

This is the first of what should be several episodes where I focus on one or a few players from each team as guys who the Magic are, could, and/or should be targeting to acquire this offseason. Let’s make our way to Portland. Anfernee Simons. He has to be the #1 most discussed Magic rumored target at the moment. Hometown Orlando guy. He’s named after my favorite basketball player of all time (Anfernee Hardaway). He was at the Celtics series at Kia Center. Simons would certainly help resolve our offensive problems. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

We’re in offseason mode. Exit interviews happened and guys are resting or already in workout mode. I’m glad Jeff Weltman said we’re in ‘win now’ mode, that we’re going to be aggressive this offseason to improve the roster around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, but he should’ve had stones thrown at him had he not. I want to look at how this Orlando Magic roster performed against Boston. Watching these second round series, we are a great offseason from being a Finals team. Don’t let anyone talk you out of that vision. But that means trusting a front office that has not earned that trust. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Magic lose in TD Garden, 120-89. Series over. Adam Silver called Tony Brothers at halftime of this Game 5 with the Magic up 2 in Boston. Brothers tags 3 questionable fouls on Paolo Banchero, gets him out with 5 fouls, and the Celtics avalanche was on from there. Orlando loses this series 4-1. We go another year without a series win and no road playoff game victory. Similar offensive story, not a lot of help for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

This should be even going back up to Boston, but the Magic missed way too many open shots and left the game in the refs’ hands. Celtics win Game 4 107-98. They closed the game on a 16-7 run. This game was tied 91-91. Paolo was gassed. Franz couldn’t hit an open 3. Other than Cory Joseph, no one else on the Magic really stepped up offensively. And you hand Boston a 3-1 series lead. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Orlando is on the board. Led once again by their stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, the Magic at home scrap their way to a 95-93 Game 3 victory to make it a 1-2 series against Boston. Franz had 32 points, Paolo dropped 29. It’s the second youngest duo in NBA history to have consecutive 25-point playoff performances together. The only younger duo was Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook in OKC. The Magic won this game with essentially two guys scoring. And some fantastic hustle and defense. It sets the stage for a fascinating Game 4. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Orlando hands over Game 2 to Boston, 109-100, and trail the series 2-0 coming home. Magic blew this game. You knew the refs were going to screw you with no Jayson Tatum. Too many missed open Orlando shots. Too many missed free throws. Another wasted defensive effort because guys like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope can’t hit an open 3. Once again, it was Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner performing…and not a lot of help from the supporting cast. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic lost Game 1 in Boston 103-86. The main worry came to fruition. Boston buried us with 3s and Paolo Banchero (36 points and 11 rebounds) and Franz Wagner (23 points) need other support guys to step up and hit shots. No other Magic player beyond the two stars had more than 7 points. The good news is Orlando is up for a fight, and we have Game 2 to look forward to. Orlando’s defense was overall good enough. Jayson Tatum (17 points) and Jaylen Brown (16 points) were overall subdued. But Boston has a ton of scoring depth and Derrick White (30 points) and Payton Pritchard (19 points off the bench) picked up the slack. The Magic didn’t get to the free throw line enough, and Boston’s big strength in the second half was fast break points. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Our Orlando Magic-Boston Celtics series preview! Can Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner outduel Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown? How big of an advantage will Boston’s supporting cast have over Orlando’s? Can the Magic overcome math and the massively historic 3-point advantage the defending champions hold over Orlando? Will it be a sweep? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Orlando Magic are a perfect 1-for-1 in their play-in tournament history, dismantling the Atlanta Hawks 120-95 at Kia Center. Defense and great supporting cast offensive contributions proved too much for the Hawks overcome. The Magic claim the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and will next ship off for Boston with Game 1 of the series happening on Easter Sunday. On a night where Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner received extra defensive attention, Jamahl Mosley’s supporting cast really showed up. Especially the likes of Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, and Cole Anthony. The Magic proved why they had the 2nd best defense in the NBA. Even managed to frustrate Trae Young so much he got thrown out. All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic had a relaxing weekend. Their last two regular season games were meaningless, and even with guys sitting we still finished the campaign 41-41. Now it’s play-in time. The first play-in game in Magic history is happening Tuesday night 7:30 pm at Kia Center against the Atlanta Hawks. It’ll be on TNT. You win on Tuesday, you get a trip up to Boston on Easter weekend to begin a playoff series. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as a duo had a historic franchise season statistically. The Osceola Magic head to a Game 3 deciding meeting in the G-League Finals with the Stockton Kings on Monday. Is Shaquille O’Neal really going to help walk Dwight Howard out for his Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame speech? All of that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Two home games. Two nights. Two victories. The Orlando Magic just won their second consecutive and 8th ever division title, claiming the Southeast crown with a 96-76 Fan Appreciation Night regular season home finale victory over the Boston Celtics. PA Announcer Paul Porter was officially honored by the team, which didn’t go great. The Magic are 40-40 and have a chance to finish his injury-plagued regular season .500 or better. The Magic are the 7th seed and guaranteed to host the 7 v. 8 play-in game next Tuesday April 15th. The opponent won’t be known until later this week. It’ll either be the Hawks, Bulls, or Heat. The Denver Nuggets fired their coach and GM and are spiraling. Orlando is getting Denver’s first round pick (top-5 protected) for the upcoming 2025 Draft. Instead of that pick being in the mid-20s, it could be in the teens. Could the Magic have interest in Jamal Murray in the offseason? The Osceola Magic are in the G-League Finals having one of the first game of the 3-game series. All of that

The Orlando Magic are forcing out their only public address announcer in the franchise’s 36-season history. Paul Porter will forever be the in-arena voice of the Magic. He was basically hired by Pat Williams, the cornerstone figure whose life is supposed to be honored this entire 2024-2025 NBA season, himself in 1989. Paul should get to decide on his terms when to walk away. This is another situation where the DeVos family and Alex Martins have handled a situation with a franchise legend very poorly. Dwight Howard, having been inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame, has been announced as a first-ballot inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Fully deserved and a no-brainer lock of a decision. Dwight gets in twice in the same year as the 2008 Team USA Olympic ‘Redeem Team’ is also going in. Paolo Banchero continues his scorching hot post-All-Star break scoring streak as he won an Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Didn’t win the monthly award, but his play is a big reason why t

The Orlando Magic continue to steady themselves in the month of March. They’re 7-7 and could finish over .500 for the month. There are 7 games remaining in this 2024-2024 NBA regular season. The Magic are guaranteed to be participating in the play-in for their chance at getting into a first round playoff series after dropping 18 triples against the Kings. Can they grab the 7th seed and get themselves some homecourt advantage for the play-in? Can they finish 41-41 or better for the campaign? Paolo Banchero is certainly doing his part, averaging over 30 ppg for the entire month. It’s a peek at his stardom ahead. Dwight Howard had a good return with his Magic Hall of Fame induction day. Looking at how Paolo and each of his teammates performed in March. Post Note: Realized that Gary Harris was forgotten. Which let's be honest, there are games he's forgettable. But, Gary is showing some signs of life. 10 games off the bench played in March. 14.1 minutes per contest. 1.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg. 30.0 FG%, 26.7 3PT