Penny & Pops Podcast - Magicbasketballonline.com

Observations from the 2023 NBA Draft Amway Center watch party. It did not go how we wanted it to for the Orlando Magic. We took Anthony Black with the 6th pick, then Jett Howard at 11. We are not happy, and a lot of Magic fans also are unhappy. Cam Whitmore and Taylor Hendricks were available at 6th. The 11th pick had other options like Whitmore, Jordan Hawkins, Dereck Lively, and more. WeltHamm again dumped a second round pick. These draft decisions have a large impact on Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and others. It’s OK to question Jeff Weltman and John Hammond. Time will tell who is correct. There’s not much time to dwell because there are now roster contract decisions and free agency around the corner. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Miami got denied the championship and now it’s NBA Draft week. Last year, the Orlando Magic had the #1 pick, we controlled the board. Now at 6, 11, and 36, on top of figuring out which players you like or which veterans you’d rather trade for, there’s this chess board dance of figuring out what the other teams should or are doing. There are already smokescreens galore. The Magic, because of their cap flexibility and draft picks are linked to everyone and everything. This is where the front office earns its money. Talking Aaron Gordon, trading up for Scoot Henderson, Paolo Banchero, Cam Whitmore, the 35th anniversary logo, Kristaps Porzingis, and a lot more. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

After an interesting NBA Draft Lottery, we now know the Magic have picks 6, 11, and 36 for the June 22nd 2023 NBA Draft. So no Victor Wembanyama for Orlando. This is where WeltHamm really go to work because there’s a lot of scenarios that can happen. Trade picks for established players, trade up, trade back and accumulate more assets, or they can stay put and use their picks. With the new CBA promoting building from within the draft even more, it’s not absurd to think Jeff and John will bring in more youth by keeping and using their draft picks. This leads to a lot of ideas, speculations, and rumors. Cam Whitmore and Bobi Klintman? Taylor Hendricks and Jordan Hawkins? Dereck Lively? A Thompson twin? Gradey Dick? Anfernee Simons? A Nikola Vuceivc return? Brook Lopez? OG Anunoby? Jaylen Brown? Buddy Hield? Norm Powell? Desmond Bane? So much more. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic on Tuesday night have a chance to strike gold again in the NBA Draft Lottery with potentially two picks. Two years ago we got a stud in Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs might end up being really good still, last year we landed the #1 pick and took Paolo Banchero, which looks like the right decision by far to date. Now it’s the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. The Magic could see their 6th-best lottery odds land them in the top 4, and hopefully we leave the night with Chicago’s first rounder as well. This is a massive offseason, because the Magic might not be back in the lottery for a while if we do things right. Paolo Banchero becomes the 3rd Rookie of the Year in Magic franchise history, and the 11th player in team history to make the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Banchero was the only rookie from the 2022 draft class to be unanimously voted to the First Team. COVID, Twitter, Draft Lottery odds (9% is a lot better than 1.52%), Gilbert Arenas, Osceola Magic, Pat Williams’ MLB Orlando Dreamers mission, an

The Magic made it into April still competing for the play-in. This time last week we were still alive in the play-in chase. That’s outstanding player growth considering Orlando is one of the youngest teams in the league. The Magic fell short of the play-in but didn’t tank until the final 3 games, displaying a bright future ahead, and finishing their 34th NBA season 34-48. That’s a 12-game improvement from last season. The tankers end up happy anyway. Less than a week of tanking saw Orlando claim 13th in the East again and owning the 6th-best odds for May’s NBA Draft Lottery. That’s a 9% chance at the #1 pick. And 37.2% chance at jumping into the top 4. Penny and Pops are also going to look back and review season predictions (many were quite fantastic). #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic just went 3-0 on this homestand. The math for the play-in isn’t great for Orlando because Chicago, Toronto, and Atlanta keep winning just enough. It’s a 2% chance. That’s OK though, because we’re playing well and we’ll get into April still technically in the play-in hunt. Orlando has won 10 games more than last season already. Win-loss wise, we’re the best 5th-worst team in the last 35 years of the league’s history. That’s progress. It’s OK if the Magic leap over Portland, Indy, and the Wizards in the standings if that means we finish the season on a high note with our young guys. 5th-best lottery odds are great, 8th-best isn’t a disaster either despite what the pro-tanking crowd moans about. Dennis Scott got inducted as the 12th member of the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame. Paolo Banchero should unanimously win the Rookie of the Year award. That and much more. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Seeing a lot of the Magic fan base down at the moment. Orlando can’t seem to string a win streak together and we haven’t made up ground in the play-in chase. We’ve lost ground after a disappointing home loss to the Bucks who were without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. Jonathan Isaac had another lower body surgical procedure and is out for the rest of the season, and Isaac may never wear a Magic jersey again. It’s a possibility. This team is in the play-in hunt. We are. And we’re not dead until it’s mathematically over. And even if the Magic miss out on the play-in, we’re still going to have respectable odds of our draft pick jumping into the top 4. It’s a win-win situation either way. Watch guys like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner grow in these added pressure games. Evaluate the roster and Jamahl Mosley’s coaching staff, and we’ll have a better idea of needs come the offseason. Those are things that tanking won’t accomplish. Also, Michael Carter-Williams is back. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult La

We’re just about done with the All-Star Break. Orlando has made some roster changes. The Magic are together again practicing for Thursday’s game. Hope you all took a deep breath, because it’s time for that final 23-game sprint to try and sneak into the play-in. Trade deadline discussion. Mo Bamba to the Lakers. Goga Bitadze signed as a free agent. Terrence Ross and RJ Hampton being waived. Admiral Schofield being converted from a 2-way contract to a standard NBA contract. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner at All-Star Weekend. The feasibility of getting into the play-in. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic lost an intense home game 102-98 to the New York Knicks. It had playoff vibes. Orlando enters the February 9th NBA Trade Deadline 22-33 and just 3 games out of a play-in spot. We discuss trade rumors, trade machine ideas, and more! Paolo Banchero won Rookie of the Month again, this time for January. Paolo and Franz Wagner were just selected first and second in the Rising Stars draft for the upcoming All-Star Weekend later this month. The Austin Rivers v. Mo Bamba fight. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic lost Wednesday night to the Sixers 105-94. Splitting this two-game series in Philly. At least the Magic again denied 76ers fans free chicken. We were there at the Wells Fargo Center, enjoying awesome seats. If the Magic could buy a 3-pointer, they would’ve taken this game. Jameer Nelson was there. The Markelle Fultz heckler was not. The NBA announced that Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner were named to the Rising Stars player pool for All-Star weekend. Jalen Suggs didn’t make it again. It’s disappointing for a 5th overall pick to not make it either year, but injuries are the main culprit. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Recorded in a 2-bedroom apartment in the city center of Philadelphia, the Magic just came back from 21 points down to beat the red-hot 76ers in Philly at the Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers had won 7 consecutive games, 9-1 in their last ten. The Magic ended that. We were there to witness it! We drove to Philly to be there for the week. Markelle Fultz got his revenge with a double-double. Paolo Banchero had an outstanding 29-point performance. Moritz and Franz Wagner brought additional scoring. Orlando is now 20-31 and hanging around in the play-in chase. Orlando won the turnover, second chance points, and fast break points battles. Why was Pops wearing an Eagles beanie with that amazing Magic throwback jacket? Why did Pops appear angry? Why Magic fans should thank the Markelle Fultz heckler in section 101 for angering and sparking the Orlando into that comeback win. It’s amazing how crazy folks become for free chicken and t-shirts. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The story in January has been simple for the now 18-29 Magic: Play defense and you win. Don’t defend and you’re getting crushed. Keep it 115 points and below and we’re in each game. Let opponents score more than 115 and we’re cooked. The return of Jonathan Isaac may help solve this problem as we’re 1-0 with JI on the floor. We’ve won 8 of our last 11 games at home. 12-12 at home for the season. Second time in the last 12 years we’ve won the season series against the Celtics. For the 3rd time, Orlando beats the Celtics this season, each time with Boston having the best record in the NBA. We’ve handed the Celtics 23% of their losses this season. Orlando has won the season series against the two teams who were in the most recent NBA Finals (2-0 v. Warriors; 3-1 v. Celtics). Raptors-Magic trade rumors. Do we want Patrick Beverley? Can Cole Anthony become the sixth man like Tyrese Maxey has for Philadelphia? All that and more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Happy New Year, Magic fans. The Magic are 16-26 and only three games out of the play-in. We’ve had a good start to this Western Conference road trip. 2-1 with two more games against Utah and Denver coming. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner are a phenomenal duo already, and the basketball world is noticing. We give out resolutions to the Magic roster. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

Doing it live after attending the Magic loss against the Lakers. As great as Orlando winning 8 of their last 10 games has been, lacking coaching decisions and massive defensive lapses cannot continue to occur. The Magic are in the play-in hunt, but that won’t last if self-inflicted wounds are not stopped. Also, NBA All-Star voting is occurring. Eddie House and Rafer Alston viewpoints. Plus, more. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

After reaching 9 consecutive losses, the Magic find themselves currently on a 3-game winning streak for the first time since February of 2021. So yeah, this team and fan base needed this right now. Better yet, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are so far looking like the best players in their respected draft classes. Watching a Magic game in an Amway Center suite. Plus, Orlando Magic traditions. Both the forced and good kinds. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic are 5-17. That’s bad enough for the worst record in the NBA. We’ve lost 6 consecutive games. Orlando is 2-8 in its last 10 contests. The losing isn’t anything new, but the lack of effort in some of these blowout losses is. If these types of games continue popping up where the Magic are not bringing the effort, Head Coach Jamahl Mosley is in trouble. Because Jeff Weltman and John Hammond are not taking that blame. Maybe a few trades could happen, but this is classic ‘blame the Coach’ territory we’re entering. The flaws of Mosley and his coaching staff, the flaws of the athletic and training staff, and the roster flaws that WeltHamm chose not to address are all starting to snowball into this bad stretch we’re seeing now. Maybe getting guys like Markelle Fultz back will right the ship. But this is starting to bring reminders of Jacque Vaughn’s final season where the losing is seeping into whatever culture that is trying to be implemented. Happy December. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic are 4-11. We’re a game above the worst teams in the league Detroit and Houston. It’s been a roller coaster November. We’re not even to Thanksgiving yet and the Magic have often been short bodies due to a combination of injuries and tanking. Funny how WeltHamm haven’t applied for any hardship help from the league. We’re for the 3rd consecutive season leading the NBA in man games lost due to injury and COVID. It’s insanity at this point. We also didn’t pick up RJ Hampton’s team option and that may be a huge mistake. Is letting RJ Hampton go going to be Orlando’s Trevor Ariza error of the decade? #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic are 0-5. Worst record in the league. The only winless team in the East. We’re leading the league again in man games lost due to injury. It’s maddening. Worse, Head Coach Jamahl Mosley has us playing badly with some intriguing coaching decisions. And it appears some players are either struggling or have regressed. If not for Paolo Banchero having a historically amazing first 5 games to his NBA career, things would look bleak. But Paolo is a star, and when if you have a star that young and under contract for many years, there’s always hope with what’s to come for this franchise. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

The Magic concluded the preseason 4-1. You shouldn’t care so much about the record, be happy Orlando did not go winless and showed nice stretches of play. Now the regular season is here, it starts Wednesday in Detroit. Unfortunately, the Magic waived Devin Cannady to cut the roster down to 15 NBA contracts and 2 two-way contracts. Jalen Suggs hurt his knee but is already active and available for this opener against the Pistons. Seems like a few other injured players are not far from returns as well. We’re making our season predictions. Will Paolo Banchero win Rookie of the Year? Will the Magic make the play-in? Who will be the team’s MVP? And much more! #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language

It’s here, Magic preseason begins. No more waiting around. FIBA Franz Wagner got his bronze medal for Germany at EuroBasket and that covered a lot of the NBA offseason gap. Central Floridians are currently in recovery mode following Hurricane Ian’s impacts on the state. There are still communities flooded and without power. The Magic lost 2 practice days which doesn’t help their preparation. We’re going to discuss the roster, what we’re looking out for in these exhibition games, and more. #LetsGoMagic Warning: Adult Language