Sorry, Orlando Magic — Paolo Banchero is not a superstar

When the Orlando Magic drafted Paolo Banchero out of Duke as the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, they thought they struck the jackpot.

After he won Rookie of the Year in his first season, the pieces started to come together. They deconstructed the franchise and pieced it together around Banchero, building a team with him as the heart of the club.

When they traded four unprotected first-rounders for Desmond Bane in the offseason, it was supposed to be that final, ultimate weapon that turned the Magic from a fun, frisky team to a legitimate contender in a wide-open Eastern Conference.

With the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers hamstrung, the Magic believed that they could fill in the void as one of the favorites in the East.

All they needed was for their ace Banchero to take that next step into superstardom.

Yet, instead of taking that step forward in this campaign, he took a step backward.

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On Wednesday, the Magic thought they’d be watching from home, awaiting the opportunity to host their first-round playoff series in the East. Quite the opposite, as they fought for their spot in the playoffs in the play-in, losing to the Philadelphia 76ers to force them into a do-or-die game against the surging Charlotte Hornets.

When they needed Banchero the most, he vanished. He went seven of 22 from the field, missed all five three-point attempts, and had six turnovers alongside 18 points.

And Magic fans, wallowing in their mediocrity, have come to realize the harsh, sad truth: the player they thought was going to lead the team to new heights has no wings.

All of the planning, trades, signings, and careful curating for this new Magic era are on a foundation that isn’t sturdy enough to keep it whole.

The worst fate in the NBA isn’t having the poorest structure. That’s fine. It’s easier to tear down completely and lay new cement on the ground floor.

The worst fate in the NBA is being stuck in that awkward middle. Too valuable and secure to knock down, but not fine enough to build higher or stronger upon.

That’s the Magic with Banchero. A jewel they thought would bring them riches that might set them back another decade.