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Fantasy Basketball Exit Interview: Magic face roster and coaching questions after playoff disappointment
The Magics season was a rollercoaster. Written off before the Play-In, they took out a red-hot Hornets squad. Then, Orlando pushed the top-seeded Pistons to seven games, suddenly looking like a legitimate threat instead of the inconsistent group we saw all season. The talent is there, but another first-round exit means the front office cant afford to stand pat change is coming in Orlando, starting with firing coach Jamahl Mosley on Monday. Lets look back on the Magics season and what it meant for fantasy.Will Paolo and Franz ever work?Its the biggest question in Orlando.Franz Wagner logged just 34 games, so were still left guessing what the pairing really looks like. Paolo Bancherodid all the heavy liftin g 72 games, 22-8-5 with 1.3 stocks with better efficiency and more fantasy value than he gets credit for (27th in High Score, 134th in nine-cat). Not elite in nine-cat, but valuable core counting stats. Where Banchero goes in drafts depends on the league type.Wagner, when actually on the floor, was solid: 21-5-3 with decent efficiency. But the 3-ball is still broken and the defensive stats dipped. Im chalking this one up to bad luck, and with an offseason to rehab, theres no reason to think he wont return to a fourth- or fifth-rounder by the preseason.Both have one distinct flaw, though neither can consistently hit 3s. Orlandos offense looked ugly because the spacing and flow were ragged, with either guy unable to be a threat on the perimeter. A change in the offensive scheme will maximize the value of these two $40M cornerstones of the franchise.Other key fantasy assetsDesmond Bane just did what he does: showed up, clocked in, and delivered. He averaged 37 fantasy points per game good for top 65 in High Score and 41st in 9-cat, making him Orlandos top fantasy asset. Bane poured in 24 points, 4 boards and 4 assists, averaging 1.5 stocks per game, shooting well from everywhere. The best part, though? He played all 82 games. If you want an efficient high-floor guard-forward, Bane is generally a good pick in the fourth round.Jalen Suggs was the culture-setter on defense averaging 2.5 stocks, flying around and stuffing the stat sheet across the board. After being drafted 101st overall, he finished 71st in High Score and 54th in 9-cat, providing real value in both formats. If only he could stay healthy. Suggs high-motor style is a double-edged sword. Hes always in the mix, but it leads to too much wear and tear. Still, at the right draft price, hes worth the risk, projecting as a top-75 player heading into next season.Final thoughtsWith Jamahl Mosley fired, who will be the next head coach? That's the first question this front office needs to answer. Even with the play-in and first-round efforts, this team has underachieved for years with a stagnant, non-creative offense. The offensive dysfunction was a coaching problem as much as a personnel one. I want to see a more expansive role for Anthony Black, as he drastically improved in his third season. Wendell Carter was the only other relevant fantasy asset for the Magic and remains a back-end bench depth bigman for 9-cat formats.
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