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Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft

By Luke Duffy

NEW YORK, NY, USA - JUNE 23: (L-R) Blake Wesley, Walker Kessler, Jaden Hardy, Tari Eason, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, AJ Griffen, Dyson Daniels, Johnny Davis, Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivy, Paulo Banchero, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, TyTy Washington, Keegan Murray, Ochai Agbaji, Ousmane Dieng, Malaki Branham, Mark Williams, Marjon Beauchamp, Nikola Jovic pose for a group onstage during the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY, USA - JUNE 23: (L-R) Blake Wesley, Walker Kessler, Jaden Hardy, Tari Eason, Jalen Williams, Jalen Duren, AJ Griffen, Dyson Daniels, Johnny Davis, Jabari Smith, Bennedict Mathurin, Chet Holmgren, Jaden Ivy, Paulo Banchero, Shaedon Sharpe, Jeremy Sochan, TyTy Washington, Keegan Murray, Ochai Agbaji, Ousmane Dieng, Malaki Branham, Mark Williams, Marjon Beauchamp, Nikola Jovic pose for a group onstage during the 2022 NBA Draft on June 23, 2022 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /
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Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 23: Paolo Banchero reacts after being drafted 1st overall by the Orlando Magic during the 2022 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2022 in New York City, Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

Ranking the top 3 League Pass teams after the 2022 NBA Draft: Orlando Magic

This goes way beyond the Orlando Magic drafting Paolo Banchero with the first pick, even if we’re not totally sure he wants to be there. Banchero alone is going to be must-see television early on because of his polished offensive game being plugged into a Magic roster that has been downright ugly on that end for the longest time.

But if you look beyond that, this is a team that already has Franz Wagner (coming off an excellent rookie season), Jalen Suggs (a less memorable rookie season), Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz, and R.J. Hampton. Wagner is only going to get better, and next to Banchero, could propel the Magic to a league-average offense.

Suggs has a lot to prove, but the real intrigue shows up at the back of the Magic’s roster. Jonathan Isaac hasn’t played in two years and was drafted by the previous front office. How the hell does he figure in their plans now? If Mohamed Bamba is kept around we will then have to ask… why was he kept around? Bol Bol is somehow on this team.

Fultz continues to show in a smaller market that he has some kind of future in Orlando. That is all well and good, but it also means that Suggs is not going to be the primary ball-handler (absolutely fine), but also that Hampton likely will have to be moved at some point (potentially less fine). Gary Harris is still here, as is Terrence Ross.

On paper, that is a group that could actually be pretty good. Like going for the Play-In good. To add to the intrigue, at some point, the Magic are going to have to switch gears and go for it. Either by watching what they have take massive leaps, or more likely by packaging some players up to go and get a guy. Is this season the year we start to see that happen? If Banchero looks like he is for real early on, then the answer is yes.