Magic not planning major roster changes despite playoff collapse

The Magic are making a coaching change. The roster, at least for now, is a different story.

President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said Orlando is not looking to overhaul its core this offseason, despite a first-round exit that saw the team blow a 3-1 series lead to the Pistons.

That included a 24-point lead in Game 6.

“It’s a gut punch,” Weltman said, per ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk. “But when healthy, we were top five in defense and top 10 in offense. I don’t want to tear this thing down because of the way it ended.”

Health remains the key variable.

Franz Wagner was limited to 34 games this season, while Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs have also dealt with extended absences in recent years. Weltman pointed to those stretches as proof of concept when the group is intact.

“Whenever they are together, they have been elite,” he said. “It’s hard to outrun injuries.”

Not everyone around the league sees it that way.

One Eastern Conference scout told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst the Magic are “kind of a mess,” citing overlap between Banchero and Wagner and concerns about shooting and spacing.

“Their ceiling just isn’t very high with Paolo,” the scout said. “He has to have the ball. That’s tough to build around.”

Orlando will begin a head coaching search after moving on from Jamahl Mosley. Weltman said he is keeping an open mind on candidates and is not prioritizing experience over upside.

“I don’t want to come in with preconceived non-negotiables,” he said, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

The front office will still look to tweak the roster. ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that adding shooting, a rebounding big and a playmaking reserve guard are among the priorities.

Still, though, the message is clear. The Magic believe what they have is close.