Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said Thursday he is “frustrated” with the team’s inconsistent season but remains optimistic about a turnaround over the final third of the schedule.
Speaking to reporters, including Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel, Weltman noted the club’s 26-24 record has left it in the Eastern Conference play-in zone rather than among the contenders many predicted.
Quiet deadline tied to preserving core
Orlando’s lone move before the trade deadline was sending point guard Tyus Jones and his $7 million expiring contract to the Charlotte Hornets, a deal that moved the Magic below the luxury-tax threshold. Weltman said meaningful upgrades would have required breaking up the nucleus of Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr. and Desmond Bane — something the front office was unwilling to do.
“That core has been excellent when it’s on the floor together,” he said. “For us to break it up, it would have to be a significant move.”
Injuries remain a concern
The executive acknowledged that soft-tissue injuries, many of them lasting weeks, have mirrored last season’s health problems. “I do feel like it’s a little bit of ‘Groundhog Day,’” Weltman said, adding that the roster is stronger this year thanks to last summer’s trade for Bane.
Mosley safe for the season
Weltman offered full backing for head coach Jamahl Mosley, stating, “Jamahl has our full support, and Jamahl’s our coach for the rest of the season.” He emphasized that the organization views its struggles as a collective issue rather than the fault of one individual.
Shooting slump for new arrivals
Asked why Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (signed in 2024) and Jones (acquired in 2025) saw shooting percentages dip in Orlando, Weltman cited lineup instability, persistent injuries and a decline in defensive efficiency. “Shooters have to make shots, and I don’t know why they didn’t here,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, Weltman expressed confidence the Magic can regain form, concluding, “We’ve got to get this thing right, and I’m confident that we will.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
