The Magic Insider

ESPN Analyst Says Orlando Magic Still Lack One Glaring Key Piece

Shandel Richardson|
Apr 24, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) dribbles as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) defends during the second quarter during game three for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Apr 24, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Desmond Bane (22) dribbles as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) defends during the second quarter during game three for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

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Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic made a major upgrade by trading for Desmond Bane last week. Still, that not be enough to make them contenders in the Eastern Conference. At least that's how ESPN analyst Tim Legler feels.

He said the Magic are one piece from reaching that level.

"They're not done," Legler said on the ALL NBA podcast. "To me, they still need a natural playmaking point guard, whether that is a guy can get as a starter and then you play [Jalen] Suggs, Bane with him sometimes but more importantly long as there's a guy in the rotation that makes the game easier."

Playmaking is a huge issue because they already have enough scoring with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. They just need a facilitator to help get them the ball.


"Look at all the guys on the roster," Legler said. "None of those guards were natural point guards. They had this collection of hybrids, played a little bit of both. None of them were great three-point shooters. None of them are great playmakers ... I still think if there is one more thing they need to add to the roster, find a natural playmaking point guard. If you can add that to the mix ... now, you look at them as a team and say, `Man, that's a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference."'

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Shandel Richardson
SHANDEL RICHARDSON

Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here