The Orlando Magic are positioning themselves for a period of sustained success. The franchise has been rebuilding in recent years but has shifted gears this summer. The addition of Desmond Bane will undoubtedly improve the franchise’s chances in a wide-open Eastern Conference. However, it was the move Orlando made on July 7 that was their biggest of the summer. The franchise signed Paolo Banchero to a rookie max extension, committing $239 million to the Duke product over five years. The Magic are paying Banchero based on the player he can become rather than the player he is now. It’s a future-proof deal that the front office likely hopes will look like a steal three years from now. For that to happen, Banchero must improve his overall efficiency. This past season, he shot 32 percent from deep, 67 percent at the rim and 42 percent from mid-range. All of those numbers were below the 50th percentile for his position. In fact, his overall effective field goal percentage, which adjusts to include the value of tRead More
Paolo Banchero must improve efficiency after $239 million payday
