The Orlando Magic finally pulled the trigger on Jamahl Mosley after they choked away a 3-1 series lead to the Pistons in the first round last season, bringing in highly-touted Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney. Sweeney, who worked with guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, and Victor Wembanyama, now gets his shot with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. But here’s the kicker: with Banchero and Wagner still leading the charge, the biggest offensive issues that plagued them for years are staring Sweeney right in the face. Can one new coach really change everything when the same core problems stick around? We’re about to find out.
Sweeney’s Uphill Battle to Fix the Magic’s Offensive Woes
Let’s be real, the Magic’s offense under Mosley was rough. In his five years as head coach, their offensive rating never cracked the top 18 in the league. That’s just not going to cut it, especially when you have talent like Banchero and Wagner. Last season, Orlando was 27th in 3-point percentage and only 22nd in attempts. You can’t win at a high level like that. And who’s part of the problem? Yup, Banchero and Wagner. Both of them have only made 32 percent of their career 3-pointers. Thirty-two percent! That’s a huge issue when your two best players can’t consistently stretch the floor. If Sweeney can’t get this team to shoot better, it’s going to be the same old song and dance.
The Banchero and Wagner Shooting Dilemma That’s Lingering
Franz Wagner’s struggles from deep are especially mind-boggling. The dude is an 85 percent career free-throw shooter with super soft touch on his floaters and finishes around the basket. How can someone with that kind of touch barely crack 30 percent from three for two straight seasons? He did bump it to 34.5 percent last season, but that was only in 34 games, hardly enough to say the problem’s solved. Wagner himself admitted it’s partly mental, comparing shooting to a golf swing: “If you have 10 things in your mind, you don’t shoot it well that day.” Meanwhile, I’m way less optimistic about Paolo Banchero suddenly becoming a sniper. He’s only a 74 percent career free-throw shooter, and last season, he made just 31 percent of his pull-up shots. He’s never really had that soft touch, yet he keeps jacking up jumpers because he settles so much. Banchero’s streakiness was on full display in the 2026 playoffs against Detroit: 45 points and six 3s in Game 5, then a brutal 17 points on 4-for-20 shooting and *zero* 3s in Game 6. He bounced back with 38 points and four 3s in Game 7, but Wagner missed all three of those games, piling even more pressure on Paolo. This kind of inconsistency from your best players is a killer.
Desmond Bane: The Untapped Firepower Sean Sweeney Needs to Unleash
Here’s another head-scratcher: General Manager Jeff Weltman traded four first-round picks and a swap for Desmond Bane, a career 41 percent 3-point shooter on a team desperate for shooting. You’d think Bane would be launching bombs, right? Wrong. Last season, he only attempted 5.2 3-pointers per game, his lowest amount since his rookie year. Even Jalen Suggs, who’s a shaky shooter at best, took 6.3 threes per game. Derrick White was taking 8.3, Toumani Camara 7.2, and Dillon Brooks 6.6. Why is Bane, one of the best shooters in the league, so far down that list? He can shoot off the catch, off movement, off the dribble! Players with that kind of versatility should be taking some of the highest volumes in basketball. Sweeney has to unleash this guy. Run him around screens, flow into handoffs, have Banchero and Wagner screen for him. Why shouldn’t Bane be one of those rare players eclipsing 10 3-pointers per game?
Can Sweeney unlock Bane? Can he get Banchero and Wagner to hit from deep consistently? The Magic kept their core, but if these numbers don’t flip, it’s going to be another long season in Orlando. All eyes are on Sweeney to see if he can solve this puzzle.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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