Exclusive: NBA Legend Grant Hill Backs Paolo Banchero-Led Magic to Break Through in the East

Grant Hill may be best known for his Duke Blue Devils career and Detroit Pistons tenure, but he spent a noticeable number of years with the Orlando Magic.

The Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer spent seven years with the Magic after spending his first six seasons with the Pistons. Hill was the big free agent signing of the 2000 offseason, inking a seven-year, $92.8 million deal after a sign-and-trade with the Pistons. 

While injuries hampered Hill for the first few years of his stint in Orlando, he clinched his last All-Star bid with the Magic during the 04-05 season and led them to their first playoff appearance in four years during the 2006-07 season.

The current version of the Magic are one of the top up-and-coming teams, led by All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who recently signed a five-year contract extension worth $239 million. Orlando has been to the playoffs the past two seasons, but have failed to advance past the first round. This upcoming season could be a different story with the Eastern Conference wide open.

"They've been in this sort of situation they're in for the last few years, a playoff team first round," Hill told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview. 

"But I think bringing in (Desmond) Bane, what they've done this offseason. They were decimated by injuries throughout the season last year, but you got an incredible young player in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner as well."

Orlando Magic Improve 3-Point Shooting With Desmond Bane

The Magic have one of the top two young duos in Banchero and Franz Wagner. While Banchero is considered the lead man, it's Wagner who carried the Magic while the former was sidelined due to injury. Banchero missed 36 games and Wagner averaged a career-high 24.2 points per game during the season.

However, Orlando has struggled as a three-point shooting team, ranking dead last in three-pointers made and three-point field goal percentage this past season. They're hoping the acquisition of Bane - who holds a 41.0 three-point shooting percentage for his career - will get them over the top.

"Jamahl Mosley is a fantastic coach, so they are like Detroit, or a team that can maybe leapfrog over some teams in front of them in the polls and be one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference next season," says Hill. 

"They've always been able to defend and that's been their calling card. But shooting was a challenge for them the last few years. You bring in one of the best long-distance shooters in Bane and so this team, this team got better. The expectations are much, much greater for the Magic this upcoming season."

Eastern Conference Injuries Open Door For Orlando Magic

The Achilles injuries suffered by stars Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton appear to have eliminated both the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers from the elite echelon of the East. 

That should open up a spot for the Magic potentially as they look to compete with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks. The Magic pushed the Cavaliers to seven games during the 2023-24 season.

"I think so," says Hill when asked if the Magic can compete with the likes of the Cavaliers and Knicks. 

"They have some pieces. You have to wait and see how it all comes together, but they got a guy who could go get a bucket in the playoffs, you need a guy who has that ability and Banchero's that. You have better shooting now, better spacing. I think with the shooting, if you can knock down the three, I think Banchero can show his passing and facilitating too, but also it makes it harder to guard him if you can't leave guys."

It's worth noting that the Magic led the NBA in defense this past season. When combined with the improved three-point shooting, that should be a recipe for success, according to Hill.

"I also think you don't sacrifice your defense with the changes they made," says Hill. 

"That's been their calling card, the fact that they can defend, the fact that they have an elite guy who is capable of taking over games. Add in the fact that you have shooting now, and three-point shooting, I think is the recipe for success this season," he concluded.