Magic build a new facility, now try to build a winner

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Every Orlando Magic locker inside the newly built AdventHealth Training Center comes with its own walk-in closet. The facility has nap rooms, floatation pods, an outdoor grilling area, a heated indoor pool, an area that provides players with three meals a day, a game room and so much more.

They’ve built a palace.

And now, the Magic start the process of building a team.

Like most clubs in the NBA, training camp for the Magic starts Tuesday in Orlando — where internal expectations are high despite the reality that external expectations will be considerably different.

“When you have something like this to come into every day, obviously, it puts you in a better place to get your work done,” Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said. “We’ve spared no expense. We’ve spared no thought to detail. But organizationally, what it really does is communicate the level of excellence we hope to achieve here.”

It’s not just the building, of course, that gives the Magic hope. No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero, who was impressive in his two Summer League games at Las Vegas, is the new centerpiece of Orlando’s plans to become a winner again.

“Day One of my career,” Banchero said of Tuesday’s looming first training camp practice. “It’s definitely going to be a memory and I’m definitely excited.”

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley looked around the building Monday — it has been finished for a few weeks, though some final-final touches are getting completed now — and beamed. The main playing area has two full courts side-by-side, with two more baskets along another wall near the massive weight room.

There are also eight banners on the wall — two Eastern Conference title ones, six others for division titles. Tuesday starts the process of trying to add to that collection.

“I think it’s going to be hard to get these guys out of here, which is exactly what you want,” Mosley said. “Now, we won’t have to sit down and have to watch film with them all the time. But they’ll be able to enjoy this and be around each other, which continues to provide that chemistry that this team already has.”

INJURY WATCH

Markelle Fultz (broken toe) will miss the entirety of training camp, as will Gary Harris (torn meniscus). Jonathan Isaac, who has appeared in only two games — out of a possible 198 — since Jan. 1, 2020 because of knee injuries, is participating in some individual work and 1-on-1 but isn’t ready for full-on…