GM real “aggressive” promise from southern after a quiet trading deadline

The Orlando Magic 2024-25 Season ended with a loss of 120-89 from the Boston Celtics Champion In the game 5 of their series of playoffs, concluding a campaign defined by growth, resistance and missed opportunities. After a peaceful trading period, he drew criticism earlier in the season, the magic president of basketball operations Jeff Veltman was dealing with a decision – and what follows the following.

Speaking Thursday morning with Mike Bianchi at 96.9 game, Veltman reflected on magical inactivity within trade and signaled new, more aggressive Access this summer.

“We had serious discussions with a pair of teams that literally entered the last hour of the deadline,” Veltman said. “At the end of the day, we just couldn’t get there. The price was a little too heavy for players who would, in power, were two-month rent.”

At the time of the deadline, Orlando held a record of 25-27 and was among five teams around the league that did not go. Despite inactivity, magic closed strongly – ends the regular season to 41-41, conquering their second direction to southeast division and earn a PostSeason Mooring Through the NBA Play-in Tournament with a victory via Atlanta Hawks.

Magic Double According to Defense with CCP signing, but offensive trouble still disturbing hope in playoffs

In motion signals on their willingness to compete at a higher level, Orlando signed the Veteran guardian of Kentauvious Caldwell-Pope on a three-year-old$ 66 million in the contract last summer. The double NBA champion brought primarily to the experience and two-way versatility of a list built on defense and youth. He played a key role in helping strengthening the identity of the team on the rim, although his judicial production performed. Caldwell-Pope passed 8.7 points, 2.8 assistants, 1.8 helps and 1.3 steals at the game while shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 34.2 percent of three in 77 performances – one of the least effective offensive seasons of his career. After shooting above 40 percent of three in three of the four previous seasons, his discharge was further highlighted by Orlando’s wider struggles from the ARC.

The magic leaned into that identity the entire season. Orlando led the league in the permitted points, giving up only 105.5 per game during the regular season. This defensive power translated into the playoffs, where they have limited Kelterice – which in the regular season they had an average of 116.3 Thorta per game – up to only 106.4 points per game and 11.8 threes made in the competition.

However, the offensive team shortcomings remained clear weakness. Magic finished the regular season ranked 27. The place in scoring (105.4 points per game) lasted in a three-point percentage (31.8) and lasted in the raid three (11.2 per game). In postsesons, these issues were amplified: Orlando has only 26.3% from three recorded, and was the only team for playoffs on average less than 10 three-made three-pointed triors (8.2).

Jeff Veltman signals the transition to the “win-new” mode as a magical weight of trading paths to an offensive upgrade

Veltman recognized these restrictions and indicated that the front office is ready to switch his MimSet from the team building.

“We’re ready to turn the page in our renovation somehow,” Veltman said. “Enter the next phase of our team and look through” Vin-now “lens.”

He added: “For the first time, nothing can be outside the table for us. I think we will now have to look at the team through a different lens.”

Veltman emphasized that although magic wants to protect their defensive identity, they recognize the urgent need for an offensive improvement. He also noticed that most future moves are likely to come through trade due to financial restrictions within the new CBA.

“I talked a lot,” the train comes – the financial train under the new CBA, “Veltman said,” most of our transactions going forward will need to be more oriented to trade. “

“If we will improve offensive, it will have to come for a price,” he added. “We don’t want to lose the identity of our team. The reason we were a good team is because of our defense … but we know we have to improve.”

Paolo Banchero and Franz WagnerThe positions of the growth of the Iong Core for next leap

With Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and 23 or younger and already showing the ability to conduct In the postsetzone, magic believes that they are well set to make a jump. Veltman reiterated the long-term conviction of the organization in his development model, noting that the experience of young players will pay early to pay dividends early.

“I think that followed that time for the last few years, he will be a gift that continues to give,” he said. “As this list turns and add more veterinarians, these guys will be better and better for years.”

Magic now enters a pivotal offsand with a full arsenal of the capital draft, including the first round of the first round in the upcoming draft 2025 NBA draft and flexibility of the Roster. With clear transition according to claim, Orlando’s front office appears set to move that correspond to the ambitions of its core on the rise.