Paul Pierce Says 1 NBA Team ‘Is Gonna Be A Problem’ Next Season

(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics may be the reigning NBA champions, but this summer, a number of other teams in the Eastern Conference have gotten better.

The New York Knicks traded for two-way stud wing Mikal Bridges, the Philadelphia 76ers added nine-time All-Star forward Paul George and teams such as the Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks could improve this coming season simply by sticking together.

But few are talking about the Orlando Magic, a team that unexpectedly made the playoffs and nearly got past the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round.

Former Celtics star and Hall of Famer Paul Pierce was asked whether the Pacers or Magic will be better this coming season, and he said it will be the Magic, while pointing out the Magic have been “the only team in the last couple years that gave the Celtics problems.”

“They gonna be a problem, dog… They’re the only team in the last couple years that gave the Celtics problems.”

Paul Pierce on the Orlando Magic

(via @allthesmokeprod)pic.twitter.com/mdeJLLQCmr

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 30, 2024

Orlando finished 47-35 last season, but they’re a young team that has some intriguing players who could be a little better this coming season.

It all starts with Paolo Banchero, the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, who averaged 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists a game and made the All-Star team during the 2023-24 campaign.

Pierce said in the above video that he feels Banchero, a 6-foot-10, 250-pound power forward, has superstar potential.

The Magic also have Franz Wagner, who put up 19.7 points a game and recently turned 23 years of age, as well as his older brother Moritz.

All three of them, as well as center Wendell Carter Jr., give the Magic lots of functional size, which is something the Celtics, Pacers and even the Knicks don’t have a lot of.

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