The Orlando Magic faced a tough playoff exit, losing to the Detroit Pistons in Game 7. Despite this disappointment, the team's young talent suggests a promising future.
Key points
Orlando Magic lost to Detroit Pistons in Game 7
The team has a promising young roster
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are standout players
Magic's playoff competitiveness was underestimated
Apr 25, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) reacts to a shot by forward Paolo Banchero (5) against the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Apr 25, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) reacts to a shot by forward Paolo Banchero (5) against the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter during game three of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The search for the NBA’s next great young contender usually circles the same handful of teams, like the Thunder, Spurs, and even the Celtics.
Even though the Orlando Magic ended their season on a rather heartbreaking note, losing to the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 in the first round, there is still much hope for this young team for years to come.
They aren’t a “fun young group” anymore. They’re a threat, one that the rest of the league is dangerously underestimating now that they proved that they can be competitive in the playoffs.
Despite falling to the No. 8 seed this season, more teams and people around the league should recognize that the Magic are ready to contend and become one of those great young franchises.
Magic Were Built from the Ground Up
The Magic’s recent success is the result of a deliberate rebuild focused on drafting, player development, and continuity.
Since 2021, Orlando has used its draft capital to build a core that has led to success, including drafting and in 2021 and, of course, drafting first overall in 2022.
Q&A
What happened to the Orlando Magic in the 2026 NBA Playoffs?
The Orlando Magic lost to the Detroit Pistons in Game 7 of the first round.
Who are the key young players on the Orlando Magic?
Key young players include Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, who have shown significant potential.
Why is the future of the Orlando Magic considered bright?
The team's young talent and competitive playoff performance indicate they can be a serious contender in the future.
How did the Orlando Magic's playoff performance compare to expectations?
The Magic exceeded expectations by proving they could compete in the playoffs, despite their early exit.
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The Magic’s player development staff has also turned raw prospects into rotation-ready contributors.
Anthony Black has evolved into a reliable sixth man with the potential for much more, while Wendell Carter Jr. became a top-20 rebounder alongside Banchero, and Suggs transformed into one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders.
The front office invested in Jamahl Mosley’s system, emphasizing defensive versatility and chemistry. Unfortunately, the Magic decided he is not the coach who can lead them further into this team’s bright future.
However, now that the front office knows the blueprint for success in the draft and in developing players, their new head coach should have an easy time finding quality players, especially if Orlando hires the right coach.
In Need of the Right Mastermind Behind the Team
On May 4, the Magic dismissed Jamahl Mosley after a third-straight first-round elimination in the playoffs.
Moving forward, Orlando must find a reliable and proven coach who is able to take this roster that Mosley has built and be able to win now.
As of now, many are speculating that the Magic will land Billy Donovan as their next head coach. The long-time Bulls head coach has a proven track record of success. He led the Thunder to the Western Conference Finals in 2015, his first season, before losing to the Warriors.
He has also had a Hall of Fame coaching career in college, first leading Marshall University to a 35-20 record over two seasons, then going to The University of Florida and winning back-to-back championships in 2006 and 2007.
The Magic once hired Donovan in 2007 as their head coach; however, he ended up getting cold feet during the introductory process and asked out of his contract to then return to the Florida Gators.
Rehiring Billy Donovan could be a great way for him to come back to unfinished business, bringing this franchise to the bright lights of the NBA and solidifying himself as the long-term solution for Orlando.
Every true contender needs that one player who can be a game-changer at any given moment, and Paolo Banchero is becoming that player for Orlando.
Banchero averaged 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists this season. His Swiss-Army Knife game shows that he is more than ready to be the leader that this young team can build around.
He elevated his game in the 2026 playoffs, averaging 26.3 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, which is a level of production any team would look for in their star player who has shown he can perform at the highest level when it matters.
His 45-point explosion, which is the second-highest playoff total by a player in Magic history, highlighted the series, and Paolo showed he can flip that switch at any moment.
At just 23 years old, Banchero’s blend of size, playmaking, and maturity shows a star who is already here and is ready to be the future of this franchise.
While the outcome of the first round playoff series for the Magic was devastating, if Franz Wagner doesn’t get injured, they likely come out victorious and become one of a handful of No. 8 seeds to take down a No. 1 seed. If that happened, the entire narrative would have changed.
With a new head coach, a healthy core and another leap from their star player in Banchero, the Magic can come together and make a deep run as soon as next season.
In the end, the Orlando Magic’s future is looking up. They’re already a contender to teams, but the league is running out of time to treat them like anything but that.