Shams Charania reports Paolo Banchero has agreed to a five-year extension with the Orlando Magic. This is a maximum rookie deal that could reach $287 million.

Banchero, originally the #1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft from Duke University, was selected by the Magic and instantly brought hope back into a dire organization. Since the Dwight Howard days, the Magic faithful haven’t had much to cheer for. Banchero came in, won the Rookie of the Year, and has built on that success ever since.

Banchero instantly made an impact on the NBA his first year. He translated his 17.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 3.2 APG at his sole year in a Duke uniform, to 20.0 PPG, 6.9 RPG, and 3.7 APG in his first year in a Magic jersey. Banchero would win Rookie of the Year honors and people knew he was going to be special.

Since his rookie year, Banchero has built upon his success each year. This past season, Banchero only had 46 games with the Magic, averaging a career-high 25.9 PPG and 7.5 RPG, while adding in 4.8 APG. For Banchero, a lot of his production came after he tore his oblique earlier in the season on October 30th against the Chicago Bulls.

Had he not missed so many games in the first couple of months, Banchero would have been a two-time All-Star after his first nomination in 2024.

The Magic shocked people by getting into the postseason this year and Banchero showed up in a mighty way, leading the charge with 29.4 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 4.2 APG. Banchero stepped up as a leader in the big moments, and while the team was a first-round exit, Banchero proved he could be a player this Magic team builds around, hence why he got the extension as early as he did.

The Orlando Magic are building something special and that entices Banchero to stay.

Banchero had help in the postseason from Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. His teammates averaged double-digit scoring, including Wagner, who averaged 25.8 PPG in five playoff games.

But it was really their effort in the regular season that propelled the Magic to earn the right to be in the play-in tournament to begin with. Suggs and Moritz Wagner, who just signed a 1-year extension with the Magic, were also key in Orlando’s run by contributing double-digit scoring on average.

The Magic haven’t stopped there, but made a splash move by acquiring Desmond Bane earlier this offseason in a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies. Bane gets inserted into the starting lineup, averaging 19.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 5.3 APG for the Grizzlies last season. Bane’s defensive prowess also lines up nicely for the Magic as they look to stop teams ahead of them in the East, such as the Cavaliers, Knicks, and more.

The Magic will have a starting lineup of Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Carter Jr. That lineup alone could make them a legitimate threat in the East with injuries to Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum making it questionable for teams like the Pacers and Celtics to compete at a high level.

Banchero deserved this contract extension and Orlando’s urgency to get this deal done should be applauded. Banchero will turn 23 in November and he has displayed tremendous amounts of maturity, both on and off the court. That is a piece the Magic must build around and the sky is the limit for this talent.

How do you think the Magic will fare this upcoming season? Could we see Banchero lead his team to a deep run in the Eastern Conference? Let us know in the comments below.