Orlando

Magic

After grabbing three rebounds in his summer league debut, Penda was far more active on the glass Sunday evening. He led all players with 14 boards, and the four defensive contributions were also solid. Penda has the length and athleticism to contribute at either forward spot, and that versatility may be his best path to early playing time. That said, he’s a better option for dynasty leagues than redraft leagues.

While Richardson was solid in his summer debut on Thursday, he was even more productive on Sunday. In addition to shooting well from the field and the foul line, he was one of the few Magic players capable of handling Toronto’s defensive pressure. Richardson only committed one of Orlando’s 29 turnovers on the day while also showing the ability to help facilitate offensively. Due to his perimeter shooting ability, Richardson should receive early opportunities to prove he can contribute. Being able to take on more on-ball responsibilities will only increase his chances.

Da Silva was once again among Orlando’s offensive leaders on Sunday, and he threw in some defensive stats for good measure. The lone negative was the turnover count, as the second-year forward was responsible for six on the night. Of course, the starring role the Magic are asking da Silva to take in Las Vegas is not in line with what he’ll be asked to do once the games truly count. That said, the increased responsibility may benefit his long-term development as the Magic look to contend in the East.

Penda was solid in his summer opener, showing off the versatility on both ends of the floor that led some to believe he could be a first-round pick. The combo forward from France was on the board for Orlando as No. 32 overall, and given lead executive Jeff Weltman’s preference for athletic forwards with plus physical tools, it’s unsurprising that Penda wound up with the Magic. Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero are the starting forwards, which limits Penda’s short-term upside, but he’ll be worth holding for the future in dynasty leagues.

Orlando was arguably the worst perimeter-shooting team in the NBA last season, ranking dead last in three-pointers per game and three-point percentage. Selecting Richardson with the 25th overall pick in last month’s draft was one of the moves the front office made in hopes of addressing that issue next season. The former Michigan State guard shot the ball well in his summer debut, making over 50 percent of his attempts overall and shooting 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Orlando acquiring Desmond Bane may limit Richardson’s fantasy upside as a rookie, but he’s a good enough shooter to crack the rotation if his defense is up to par.

With Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero missing extended periods last season due to injury, da Silva took on a larger role than many anticipated before the 2024-25 season. He was solid as a rookie, eventually doing enough to merit being streamed while the Magic awaited the return of their star forwards. Da Silva got his summer off to a good start on Thursday, shooting over 50 percent from the field and providing solid value in rebounds and assists. While unlikely to be a must-draft player in standard leagues, da Silva should again be a fixture in the Magic rotation after averaging 22.0 minutes per game as a rookie.

The 2022 No.1 overall pick now has a contract in place that proves he was worth the early selection. It also includes a player option in the fifth year. Banchero is coming off averaging 25.9 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.9 three-pointers per game as the Magic lost in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. In a weaker Eastern Conference next season, Banchero will have a chance to lead Orlando deep into the postseason. From a fantasy perspective, Banchero’s woeful shooting percentages and defensive contributions weighed him down last year and he’s likely to come off the board in the 25-50 range in drafts. Desmond Bane joining the Magic may cut Banchero’s usage in a bit in 2025-26, which may help him shoot a better percentage.

Wagner tore his ACL in December, and he’ll miss time to start the 2025-26 season. Before suffering the injury, he averaged career highs in points (12.9), rebounds (4.9) and three-point percentage (36) in just 18.8 minutes per game. Once he returns, he’ll likely take on a similar role as a microwave scorer and spacer off the bench.

The Magic needed to improve their depth at point guard, and signing Jones accomplishes that objective. His one season in Phoenix was a disappointment, with the veteran guard being moved out of the starting lineup for good in mid-March. Appearing in 81 games, Jones averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 2.0 three-pointers in 26.8 minutes. In Orlando, he’ll likely serve as Jalen Suggs’ backup, but there may be opportunities for streaming value due to Jalen’s injury history.

The Magic officially selected the versatile Shulga, but the pick is headed to Boston via trade. According to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, the former VCU standout will be on a two-way contract. The good news for Shulga is that Boston’s G League program has been a positive asset, which should help his development. He’s a versatile guard who can play on or off the ball offensively and earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors as a senior.