Editing Orlando Magic (section)

====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>