What can the Orlando Magic do this offseason to make another leap?
10 months, 4 weeks ago

What can the Orlando Magic do this offseason to make another leap?

New York Times  

CLEVELAND — The Orlando Magic lost their playoff series, but they still consider their season a win overall. If Orlando takes an aggressive cap approach, it likely would come via a high-profile free agent wanting to join the Magic or an unbalanced trade to save their trade partner money. Extreme flexibility lends itself to a high-aiming approach, where the front office pursues its top targets via trade and free agency at the outset while retaining the ability to run largely the same team back or even push that space to the 2025 offseason — though some of their theoretical future room will get eaten up by significant new contracts for Franz Wagner and Suggs via extensions or restricted free agency. In any potential trade or free agent decision, Magic executives must consider the degree to which they’re willing to sacrifice defense to add offensive talent, with Young being a primary theoretical example. Washington’s Tyus Jones, an unrestricted free agent-to-be, could help Orlando at point guard with his court generalship.

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History of this topic

Cleveland plays Orlando, seeks 17th straight win
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Cleveland plays Orlando, seeks 17th straight win

Associated Press  

Orlando Magic vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland; Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Cleveland will try to prolong its 16-game win streak with a victory over Orlando. The Cavaliers average 16.1 made 3-pointers per game this season, 4.7 more made shots on average than the 11.4 per game the Magic allow. TOP PERFORMERS: Jarrett Allen is scoring 13.6 points per game …

Rockets take on the Magic in cross-conference matchup
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Rockets take on the Magic in cross-conference matchup

Associated Press  

Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets Houston; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic visit the Houston Rockets in non-conference play. Houston is the league leader with 14.6 offensive rebounds per game led by N’Faly Dante averaging 4.0. The Rockets’ 12.2 made 3-pointers per game this season are only 0.8 more made shots on average than the 11.4 per …

Orlando takes on Detroit, aims to break 5-game skid
2 months, 1 week ago

Orlando takes on Detroit, aims to break 5-game skid

Associated Press  

Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic Orlando, Florida; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Orlando looks to break its five-game slide when the Magic play Detroit. Orlando is the worst team in the Eastern Conference averaging just 103.4 points per game. The Magic average 103.4 points per game, 9.5 fewer points than the 112.9 the Pistons allow. LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: …

Orlando hosts Philadelphia on 3-game home skid
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Orlando hosts Philadelphia on 3-game home skid

Associated Press  

Philadelphia 76ers vs. Orlando Magic Orlando, Florida; Sunday, 6 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Orlando looks to stop its three-game home losing streak with a victory over Philadelphia. The Magic are shooting 44.5% from the field this season, 3.5 percentage points lower than the 48.0% the 76ers allow to opponents. LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 97.5 points, 40.7 rebounds, 22.9 …

The Magic pull off another big comeback, this time from 21 points down to beat the Nets
3 months ago

The Magic pull off another big comeback, this time from 21 points down to beat the Nets

Associated Press  

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Magic did it again. Down by 21 early in the third quarter, down by 15 entering the fourth and still down by 15 with six minutes remaining, the short-handed Orlando Magic closed the game on a 22-4 run to beat the Brooklyn Nets 102-101 on Sunday. Anthony’s layup with 1.3 seconds left was the winner for …

Orlando hosts Boston following Tatum’s 43-point game
3 months, 1 week ago

Orlando hosts Boston following Tatum’s 43-point game

Associated Press  

Boston Celtics vs. Orlando Magic Orlando, Florida; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Boston visits the Orlando Magic after Jayson Tatum scored 43 points in the Celtics’ 123-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Boston ranks sixth in the Eastern Conference with 10.8 offensive rebounds per game led by Luke Kornet averaging 2.0. LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 5-5, averaging 106.4 points, …

Magic lose Franz Wagner to torn right oblique, same injury that sidelined Paolo Banchero
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Magic lose Franz Wagner to torn right oblique, same injury that sidelined Paolo Banchero

Associated Press  

Franz Wagner stepped up in countless ways for the Orlando Magic when All-Star forward Paolo Banchero tore his oblique. Wagner has a torn right oblique in a crushing blow for a team that survived the loss of Banchero and will play in the NBA Cup quarterfinals — but now will be without their second-leading scorer for at least four weeks …

Magic snap 5-game losing streak, beating injury-depleted Pelicans 115-88
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Magic snap 5-game losing streak, beating injury-depleted Pelicans 115-88

Associated Press  

ORLANDO, Fla. — Franz Wagner scored 27 points and the Orlando Magic broke a five-game losing streak, never trailing in a 115-88 victory over the injury-depleted New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Takeaways Pelicans: Without Zion Williamson, New Orleans was missing six of its top eight scorers and lost for the seventh time in eight games. Key moment New Orleans …

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope intends to sign 3-year, $66 million deal with Magic: Sources
9 months ago

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope intends to sign 3-year, $66 million deal with Magic: Sources

New York Times  

Fresh off a narrow first-round playoff exit, the Orlando Magic upgraded their defense, durability and outside shooting on Sunday when they agreed to a three-year deal, $66 million deal with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, league sources said. Caldwell-Pope, 31, almost certainly will slot as the Magic’s new starting shooting guard, replacing Gary Harris, whose tenure in Orlando was marred by injuries. Caldwell-Pope …

Magic moments add up to dramatic win as Orlando gets ready for Game 7 in Cleveland
10 months, 4 weeks ago

Magic moments add up to dramatic win as Orlando gets ready for Game 7 in Cleveland

New York Times  

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Magic players know what awaits them Sunday afternoon in Game 7. Hugging after the game, he’s just got a special aura and energy, and I just want him to continue to use it and let it shine.” Banchero, Suggs and Wagner had big games, combining to score 75 of Orlando’s 103 points. On Orlando’s next two …

The Orlando Magic insist they’re just starting to wreak havoc. They may be right
1 year, 4 months ago

The Orlando Magic insist they’re just starting to wreak havoc. They may be right

New York Times  

ORLANDO, Fla. — Something is happening here. “Stay tuned,” said point guard Cole Anthony, the Magic’s expressive and high-scoring sixth man. The Magic rank third in defensive efficiency, first in turnovers forced per game and fourth in defensive-rebounding percentage even though starting center Wendell Carter Jr. has missed most of the team’s games because of a broken left hand. Asked …

Orlando Magic put Toronto Raptors’ lack of direction into focus
1 year, 4 months ago

Orlando Magic put Toronto Raptors’ lack of direction into focus

New York Times  

The architecture of the Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic is similar. The Magic’s 126-107 win over the Raptors on Tuesday encouraged those thoughts, but they had already been brewing. It was one of the Raptors’ most listless performances of the season, but they have had a few of those over the past two seasons against the Magic. If not for …

Trae Young pressure, Heat’s waiting game: Previewing the Southeast Division
1 year, 6 months ago

Trae Young pressure, Heat’s waiting game: Previewing the Southeast Division

New York Times  

Editor’s note: This story was published hours before The Athletic reported that Blazers guard Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Although the Miami Heat are the defending Eastern Conference champions, it’s important to note they finished the regular season in seventh place in the East standings, only three games ahead of the Atlanta Hawks. To break down the …

Orlando travels to Brooklyn for conference matchup
1 year, 11 months ago

Orlando travels to Brooklyn for conference matchup

Associated Press  

Orlando Magic vs. Brooklyn Nets New York; Friday, 7:30 p.m. EDT FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK NBA LINE: Nets -11.5 BOTTOM LINE: Mikal Bridges and the Brooklyn Nets host Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic in Eastern Conference play. Franz Wagner is scoring 18.8 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the Magic. LAST 10 GAMES: Nets: 5-5, averaging 114.3 points, 41.3 …

Orlando puts home win streak on the line against Detroit
2 years ago

Orlando puts home win streak on the line against Detroit

Associated Press  

Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic Orlando, Florida; Sunday, 6 p.m. EDT BOTTOM LINE: Orlando will try to keep its four-game home win streak intact when the Magic face Detroit. Jalen Duren is scoring 8.9 points per game and averaging 8.7 rebounds for the Pistons. LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 6-4, averaging 114.7 points, 45.9 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 7.9 steals and 6.0 …

Orlando Magic offseason outlook: From R.J. Hampton to Mo Wagner, who stays and who goes?
3 years, 10 months ago

Orlando Magic offseason outlook: From R.J. Hampton to Mo Wagner, who stays and who goes?

New York Times  

A couple of days ago, The Athletic examined the short-term futures of nine Orlando Magic players: Cole Anthony, Dwayne Bacon, Mo Bamba, Ignas Brazdeikis, Wendell Carter Jr., Michael Carter-Williams, James Ennis III, Markelle Fultz and Donta Hall. If the Magic exercise their team options for 2022-23 and 2023-24, as they certainly will, he’ll be on track to hit restricted free …

Orlando Magic offseason outlook: From Cole Anthony to Donta Hall, who stays and who goes?
3 years, 10 months ago

Orlando Magic offseason outlook: From Cole Anthony to Donta Hall, who stays and who goes?

New York Times  

The Orlando Magic renovated their roster from top to bottom during the 2020-21 season, trading their three best healthy players. Whether he’ll be a restricted free agent or an unrestricted free agent will depend on whether the Magic make him a $10.1 million qualifying offer next offseason. Bamba and Carter are on identical contract timelines, and it probably won’t make …

How draft protections impact the Orlando Magic’s three incoming first-round picks
4 years ago

How draft protections impact the Orlando Magic’s three incoming first-round picks

New York Times  

At the 2021 NBA trade deadline, the Orlando Magic traded for three incoming first-round picks, but each of those picks carries important caveats that could prevent the Magic from receiving those picks on schedule or, in certain extreme situations, ever. • If the Bulls do not convey their 2021 first-round pick to the Magic in 2021, the Magic would have …

Orlando Magic draft strategy: How it could play out, with an expert’s help
4 years ago

Orlando Magic draft strategy: How it could play out, with an expert’s help

New York Times  

The Orlando Magic fundamentally transformed their roster-construction strategy at the NBA trade deadline, with immense long-term implications. Armed with three new lightly protected future first-round picks, as well as their own picks, the Magic’s most likely pathway to becoming an elite team is to draft elite prospects. 4 — something I don’t expect — I think the Magic would have …

Orlando Magic have started a brand-new rebuild, embracing hope and risk
4 years ago

Orlando Magic have started a brand-new rebuild, embracing hope and risk

New York Times  

The dreaded hamster wheel of mediocrity — that is where the Orlando Magic positioned themselves for the last two and a half seasons. The hope stems from Thursday’s haul of assets and players: three lightly protected incoming first-round draft picks, a pair of second-round draft picks, improved salary-cap flexibility, a $17.1 million trade exception and several new players, most notably …

Shooting woes, Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac: The stats behind the Magic’s 3-7 start
5 years, 4 months ago

Shooting woes, Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac: The stats behind the Magic’s 3-7 start

New York Times  

Fresh off a playoff appearance this past spring, the Orlando Magic entered the 2019-20 season with high expectations. Of the team’s high rotation players last season, Aaron Gordon got to the line most frequently with 4.6 FTA/100 possessions played, 176th of 299 players appearing in at least 50 games last year. Given how critical they were to the offense last …

From A (Aminu) to V (Vucevic), the burning question each Orlando Magic player faces
5 years, 6 months ago

From A (Aminu) to V (Vucevic), the burning question each Orlando Magic player faces

New York Times  

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic have a clear sense of how their roster fits together. Late last season, the Magic’s bench groupings were at their best offensively when Carter-Williams pushed the pace in transition after opponents’ misses and when Clifford called plays for Ross. Midway through last season, Magic high performance director David Tenney advised Steve Clifford to keep …

2019 NBA Draft: Magic go for long-term payoff with surprising pick of Chuma Okeke
5 years, 9 months ago

2019 NBA Draft: Magic go for long-term payoff with surprising pick of Chuma Okeke

New York Times  

ORLANDO, Fla. — It has been a long time since an Orlando Magic executive opened himself up to as much second-guessing as Jeff Weltman did Thursday night. Orlando’s biggest positional need is on the wing, and Virginia Tech shooting guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker was still available when the team prepared to pick. And when Orlando had its turn to pick Thursday …

From Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Grant Williams, a look at the top NBA draft prospects who worked out for the Magic
5 years, 9 months ago

From Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Grant Williams, a look at the top NBA draft prospects who worked out for the Magic

New York Times  

ORLANDO, Fla. — With the 2019 NBA Draft looming on Thursday, the Orlando Magic find themselves in somewhat unfamiliar territory. I think that my play-making ability helps me in those areas.” Why he would fit in Orlando: The Magic need perimeter shooting, and Alexander-Walker demonstrated in college that he can hit his outside shots. So I’m just a really high-IQ …

Robbins: The Magic waste another opportunity against a weak opponent because they weren't ready to play
6 years, 1 month ago

Robbins: The Magic waste another opportunity against a weak opponent because they weren't ready to play

New York Times  

CLEVELAND — You could see the warning signs early Sunday night. “We’ve got to figure out a way to play that way every game.” The Magic hired Clifford last May hoping he would bring structure, hold players accountable and teach the long-suffering team how to win. The Cleveland game was, in Clifford’s opinion, “the first time in a long time” …

Orlando Goes From 66-1 to No. 1 : NBA lottery: After getting O’Neal in ‘92, the Magic beats odds again.
31 years, 10 months ago

Orlando Goes From 66-1 to No. 1 : NBA lottery: After getting O’Neal in ‘92, the Magic beats odds again.

LA Times  

From Associated Press The Orlando Magic defied the longest odds of any team in the draft lottery Sunday and won the right to the top pick in the NBA draft for the second consecutive year. 1.” In the days leading to the draft, Williams had said that if Orlando won the lottery it would be tantamount to “World War III …

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