The Orlando Magic have secured their franchise cornerstone for at the least the subsequent half-decade, signing ahead Paolo Banchero to a five-year rookie max contract extension that might attain $287 million, based on ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Banchero is the primary participant to signal a rookie max extension since 2021, when Luka Doncic and Trae Younger reached agreements with their respective groups. Banchero could make as much as $49.5 million within the first season of the extension, although that quantity might rise to as a lot as $65 million through the last yr of the deal in 2030-31.
Breaking: Orlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has agreed to a five-year most rookie contract extension that might attain $287 million, Mike Miller of LIFT Sports activities Administration tells ESPN. Deal features a participant choice; the primary for a rookie max since 2021 (Luka Doncic, Trae Younger). pic.twitter.com/bwnCrJbnmu
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2025
Rising Famous person, Rising Franchise
Banchero emerged as one of many league’s prime scoring threats in 2024-25 regardless of lacking 36 video games with an indirect damage, averaging 25.9 factors per sport in 46 appearances final season. Had Banchero reached the minimal video games threshold, his scoring common would have positioned him ninth within the league, simply forward of Devin Booker (25.6 factors per sport) and an eyelash behind eighth-ranked Jalen Brunson’s 26.0 factors per sport.
Orlando spent the offseason constructing round Banchero with the expectation that the group will contend for an NBA Finals look as quickly as this season, particularly with two of essentially the most pivotal stars within the Japanese Convention already sidelined with season-ending Achilles accidents in 2025-26
Going For It
Banchero’s contract is just not solely a dedication to the franchise’s greatest participant, it’s additionally a dedication to the funding required to be a critical contender. Because of the set up of the NBA’s tiered apron tax system, small-market groups like Orlando are actually on a stage sufficient monetary taking part in area to justify the prices of competing for a championship.
Breakdown of the Paolo Banchero rookie max extension pic.twitter.com/Gtr1ScUZuo
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 7, 2025
The Magic traded Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and 4 first-round picks to Memphis in trade for a pivotal 3 & D specialist in Desmond Bane in what was nonetheless essentially the most pivotal transfer of the offseason so far. Orlando additionally acquired level guard Tyus Jones in free company and drafted Jase Richardson, Jason’s son, twenty fifth total in final month’s NBA draft.
Orlando went 41-41 this previous season, struggling its second consecutive first-round playoff exit after making the sphere because the No. 8 seed by the play-in match. The Magic earned the fifth seed within the Japanese Convention with a 47-35 report in 2023-24, the group’s greatest season since they gained 52 video games within the final full season of the Dwight Howard period in 2010-11.
