5 wild lineups we can’t wait to see in the 2023-24 NBA season

3. How much longer can the Orlando Magic stay under the radar?

Hypothetical Lineup: Anthony Black, Jett Howard, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Ever since the Warriors first found success with their death lineup that optimized their basketball IQ, defensive versatility, and unmatchable floor spacing — teams around the league have tried to replicate it.

Some came pretty close — like the Houston Rockets who pushed them to seven games in the 2018 Western Conference Finals.

Others have failed, entirely. Like the Raptors, who in their quest for athleticism and defensive versatility seem to have forgotten the importance of having players who can dribble and shoot.

The Orlando Magic, however, may be on the verge of building one of the most versatile rosters we’ve ever seen and this lineup is their strongest example.

The shortest player is rookie, Black, who’s 6-7. The so-called center in this lineup, Carter Jr., is 6-10. One could argue there is not a five-man unit in the rest of the league better equipped to play a switch-everything defensive scheme.

On offense, all five players can shoot — Black was 30 percent in college last season and Banchero 30 percent in his rookie season but you expect them to improve.

All five players have incredible basketball intelligence, especially for their age.

Any two players could hypothetically work together in pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop, or dribble-handoffs.

The possibilities with this unit are endless, and it might be what takes the Magic from a fun league pass team to one that any team would want to avoid in the playoffs.