Paolo Banchero was the number-one pick of the Orlando Magic in the 2022 NBA draft. The 6’10”, 250-pound unicorn was a sensation from the outset, averaging 20 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 treys to earn Rookie of the Year honors.
The efficiency, though, wasn’t great, as he converted only 42% of his field goal attempts, 29% from downtown and shot 73% from the line. The field goal percentage has improved to the 45% range while the prowess from beyond the arc has ticked up to 32%. The free throw shooting still isn’t great at 73% on 8.4 attempts last season.
But efficiency schmiciency. Banchero is 6’10” with guard skills that can punish smaller defenders down in the post. He’s also only 22 years and garnered a whopping 33.7 percent usage rate last season. He and Franz Wagner are the franchise cornerstones for Orlando.
Last Friday, Orlando extended Wagner for five years and $224 million. On Monday, Banchero received his.
With the recently acquired Desmond Bane, Orlando has quite the triumvirate in Banchero, Wagner and Bane.
DraftKings Sportsbook has Orlando the favorite at -225 to win the Southeast Division. Orlando is +550 to win the Eastern Conference, the third-lowest odds. It is +2000 to win it all, the ninth-lowest odds.
Banchero is +8000 to win Regular Season MVP, tied for the eighth-lowest odds.
