Orlando Magic season preview: Opening schedule, win projection and everything to know for 2026-27

The 2026-27 NBA season is here! Check out our team previews, including power rankings, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy advice.

East:Atlanta Hawks • Boston Celtics • Brooklyn Nets • Charlotte Hornets • Chicago Bulls • Cleveland Cavaliers • Detroit Pistons • Indiana Pacers • Miami Heat • Milwaukee Bucks • New York Knicks • Orlando Magic • Philadelphia 76ers • Toronto Raptors • Washington Wizards

West:Dallas Mavericks • Denver Nuggets • Golden State Warriors • Houston Rockets • LA Clippers • Los Angeles Lakers • Memphis Grizzlies • Minnesota Timberwolves • New Orleans Pelicans • Oklahoma City Thunder • Phoenix Suns • Portland Trail Blazers • Sacramento Kings • San Antonio Spurs • Utah Jazz

ORLANDO MAGIC2025-26 finish

Record: 45-37 (8th in the East, lost 4-3 in first round to Pistons)

Offseason moves

Draft: Izaiyah Nelson (No. 51)

Signings:Jevon Carter (re-signed for 1 year, $3.5 million), Jonathan Isaac (re-signed for 1 year, $3.5 million), Nikola Vučević (1 year, $3.9 million)

Key departures: Moe Wagner (signed with Nets)

Current roster

Will a new coach get more out of this Magic roster? (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)Rich Storry via Getty ImagesPreseason Power Rankings: No. 19

What's exciting: SeanSweeney has worked with Giannis, Luka and Wemby. Now the highly regarded assistant gets his own team with plenty of talent to experiment with. Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have the size to punish mismatches and the passing ability to create for teammates. Desmond Bane gives them a shooter who can also handle the ball. There are enticing possibilities in getting those three screening and cutting for each other in ways Jamahl Mosley's unimaginative offense never really tapped into. With a strong group behind the stars, Sweeney has the pieces to build a team that makes opponents uncomfortable all over the court.

What's concerning: Orlando still needs more reliable shooting after finishing 27th in 3-point percentage and 22nd in 3-point attempts last season. Their two best players are part of the problem. Both Banchero and Wagner have made only 32% of 3s in their careers. Bane's shooting helped, but it wasn't enough and no additions were made this summer to address the glaring problem. Development from within will need to happen, or else it could turn into another aimless year. — Kevin O'Connor 

Preseason Power Rankings: How all 30 teams stack up ahead of 2026-27

Fantasy watch

Minimal movement; the bet is health plus a new coach. The thing I'm watching: Franz Wagner on the ball more? If his usage ticks up as a creator, there's another gear here beyond last year's line. Anthony Black is the first guard off the bench with a path to 25-plus mpg. He's my favorite stash on the roster. — Dan Titus

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Basketball league for the 2026-27 NBA season

2026-27 schedule

Opening week: 10/21 vs. Hawks, 10/23 vs. Wolves

Complete schedule

Betting perspective

43.5 — win total

+250 to win division

+8000 to win NBA Finals

Best case, worst case

Best case: Top-3 seed

We just watched the Detroit Pistons ride an MVP-caliber campaign (Cade Cunningham) and an elite defense to 60 wins.

I wouldn't put Wagner or Banchero in the Cunningham tier, but they both have All-NBA potential if they're healthy enough. There's enough collective size and point-of-attack goodness to be a stingy defense. If the Magic find the right blend on both ends, there's absolutely a roadmap to them churning out regular-season wins.

Worst case: Just outside the play-in

The Magic finally broke their bottom-10-offense curse last season — at least they did per Cleaning the Glass — but it still underwhelmed. The offense not taking a step, the defense being sub-elite, and any injury woes with their core could have them on the outside looking in. — Nekias Duncan

Read the full Southeast Division preview