The Orlando Magic have had an.. unspoken.. problem.
Magic Are Loading Next Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown
While it hasn’t disrupted their chemistry, the fact remains that Paolo Banchero leapfrogged Franz Wagner –who was drafted the year prior –in the team’s pecking order. More than that, Banchero has become the face of the franchise. It’s only human nature if this has caused friction, be it internal or external. However, to the young forwards’ credit, they’ve handled the shift maturely.
In many ways, they’re reminiscent of Boston Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Obviously, every team wants to compound talent in order to improve their chances of winning a championship. Yet, for many a season, it felt like there was a power struggle.
Paralleling Power Shifts
Tatum –who was drafted the year after Brown –got off to a quicker start, became the face of the franchise after Kyrie Irving‘s departure. Asked to step into a featured scoring role in his third season, he’s averaged 26.9 points per game since 2019-20. He’s not particularly explosive, but has a knack for knocking down the three-ball and getting to the rim. Many of his qualities are ones he shares with Banchero, who also played for former Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Meanwhile, Brown has shown remarkable development since coming into the league. It’s a credit to his work ethic, as he’s undergone rigorous training to mold himself into a scoring weapon. Upon being drafted, his scouting report emphasized his size and athleticism, as he has a prototypical physical profile for an NBA wing. The skill work he’s done is what’s allowed him to average 23.6 points per game since 2019-20, his fourth season in the league.
He can score off the bounce. He can score out of the post. Teams would rather him take shots from beyond the arc, but he’s become enough of a threat to make them pay.
Wagner doesn’t quite have Brown’s raw athleticism. Nevertheless, he’s a quick leaper and skilled with the ball in his hands. Though he doesn’t have the most efficient jumper, he can catch fire. This season, he’s averaging a career-high 24.5 points per game, showing himself to be the All-Star-level player many believed he was capable of. The defensive component is another aspect of his game with shades of Brown’s, as Wagner is active with a high awareness level.
Better Together
In case anyone was thinking otherwise, Banchero and Wagner are better together than apart. Like Brown and Tatum, they take the pressure off of each other. Indeed, they make the game easier for one another with their gravity alone.
With that being said, in order to win a title, as Brown and Tatum have, it’ll take more than them.
The Magic need to build up their talent base, whether that’s adding another star-caliber player or one that can be a star in their role. To this point, they appear to have identified a few, namely: Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black, Mo Wagner, and Goga Bitadze. They could certainly stand to fortify their backcourt though.
The post Magic Are Loading Next Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.