Editing Orlando Magic (section)

===2022–present: The Paolo Banchero Era===

====2022–23: First year of Banchero====
[[File:Paolo Banchero.png|thumb|Paolo Banchero was the 1st overall pick in 2022]]
On June 23, 2022, the Magic selected [[Paolo Banchero]] from [[Duke University]] with the first pick and [[Caleb Houstan]] from the [[University of Michigan]] with the 32nd pick in the [[2022 NBA draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 NBA Draft results: Picks 1-58 |url=https://www.nba.com/news/2022-nba-draft-order |access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=NBA.com |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614212134/https://www.nba.com/news/2022-nba-draft-order |url-status=live }}</ref> Banchero helped the Magic improve their record from 22 wins to 34, averaging 20 points per game and ultimately being chosen as Rookie of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Tim |date=April 26, 2023 |title=Paolo Banchero named 2022–23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year |url=https://www.nba.com/news/paolo-banchero-named-2022-23-kia-nba-rookie-of-the-year |access-date=May 8, 2023 |website=NBA.com |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426031851/https://www.nba.com/news/paolo-banchero-named-2022-23-kia-nba-rookie-of-the-year |url-status=live }}</ref>

In May 2023, the Magic donated $50,000 to a super PAC supporting Florida governor [[Ron DeSantis]]'s 2024 presidential campaign, in what the ''New York Times'' called "the first known instance in which an NBA team directly donated to a group allied with a presidential candidate."<ref name="nyt-deb-23">{{cite news |last1=Deb |first1=Sopan |title=Orlando Magic's Political Donation Is 'Alarming,' Players' Union Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/03/sports/orlando-magics-political-donation-is-alarming-players-union-says.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 3, 2023 |access-date=August 5, 2023 |archive-date=August 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805005403/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/03/sports/orlando-magics-political-donation-is-alarming-players-union-says.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On June 22, 2023, the Magic selected [[Anthony Black (basketball)|Anthony Black]] from the [[University of Arkansas]] with the sixth overall pick and [[Jett Howard]] from the [[University of Michigan]] with the 11th pick.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 NBA Draft Results: Picks 1-58 |url=https://www.nba.com/news/2023-nba-draft-order |access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=NBA.com |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604074434/https://www.nba.com/news/2023-nba-draft-order |url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 5, 2023, the Magic promoted [[Anthony Parker]] to general manager (GM) and [[Pete D'Alessandro]] to executive vice president (EVP), while [[Jeff Weltman]] was promoted to President of Basketball Operations.

On July 17, 2023, the Magic traded picks with the [[Phoenix Suns]]. The Suns received a 2023 second-round pick via the [[Denver Nuggets]], a 2026 second-round pick via the [[Los Angeles Clippers]], and a 2028 second-round pick via the Orlando Magic (protected No. 31-45).<ref name="nba.com">{{Cite web |title=Orlando Magic Acquire Right to First Round Draft Pick Swap From Phoenix |url=https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-acquire-right-to-first-round-draft-pick-swap-from-phoenix-20230717 |access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=www.nba.com |archive-date=October 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008172715/https://www.nba.com/magic/news/orlando-magic-acquire-right-to-first-round-draft-pick-swap-from-phoenix-20230717 |url-status=live }}</ref> In this deal, the Orlando Magic receive unprotected swap rights to the 2026 first-round pick of the Phoenix Suns or [[Washington Wizards]] (the Phoenix Suns owe the top of these two picks or theirs already, therefore allowing the Orlando Magic to receive the best of the left-over pick selection spots or keep their own).<ref name="nba.com"/>

====2023–present: Playoff rise====
The [[2023–24 NBA season|2023–24 season]] saw the young Orlando Magic rise as a playoff team. [[Paolo Banchero]] made his first All-Star team as a reserve for the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]], becoming the first Magic All-Star since [[Nikola Vučević|Nikola Vucevic]] in 2021. [[Jalen Suggs]] made all defensive-second team. The Magic finished 47–35 as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and forced the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] led by [[Donovan Mitchell]] to seven games in the first round of the playoffs but lost game 7.

The next offseason, the Magic did not resign former number one overall pick Markelle Fultz.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-21 |title=Former 1st Overall Pick Is Still A Free Agent On Verge Of NBA Season |url=https://www.si.com/fannation/nba/fastbreak/former-1st-overall-pick-is-still-a-free-agent-on-verge-of-nba-season-fultz |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=Fastbreak On SI |language=en-US}}</ref> They drafted [[Tristan da Silva|Tristan Da Silva]] and traded for the 47th pick which they used to select Antonio Reeves.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-13 |title=2024 NBA Draft: Breaking Down Orlando Magic Draft Class |url=https://www.si.com/nba/draft/nba-rookies/2024-nba-draft-breaking-down-orlando-magic-draft-class |access-date=2024-11-24 |website=NBA Draft On SI |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 31st, Paolo Banchero, two games after dropping a career high 50 points, was announced injured with a torn right oblique, triggering an All-Star Leap and brief leadership role for Franz Wagner.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=Magic's Paolo Banchero Back on Court as Return Process Begins: 'I'm Feeling Good' |url=https://www.si.com/nba/magic/news/orlando-magic-paolo-banchero-back-on-court-as-return-process-begins-feeling-good-torn-right-oblique-injury-update |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Orlando Magic On SI |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ojeda |first=Julian |date=2024-12-05 |title=How Franz Wagner's leadership has evolved amid Paolo Banchero's injury |url=https://clutchpoints.com/magic-news-how-franz-wagner-leadership-evolved-amid-paolo-banchero-injury |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=ClutchPoints {{!}} Orlando Magic News |language=en}}</ref> However, Wagner later tore his right oblique and was announced out indefinitely. The Magic lost both their star forwards to torn obliques.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-07 |title=Magic's Wagner out indefinitely with torn oblique |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/42837763/magic-franz-wagner-indefinitely-torn-oblique |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> After missing more than two months, Banchero made his return to the Orlando lineup in a loss against the Bucks, dropping 34 points and 7 rebounds.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-11 |title=Banchero stars with 34 in return, but Magic fall |url=https://www.espn.com.au/nba/story/_/id/43364596/magic-paolo-banchero-scores-34-loss-missing-34-games-torn-oblique |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>