Orlando Magic

In Honor of March Madness

Published

11 years ago

March 18, 2015

Defense. Athleticism. Intangibles. Those three words are what Magic GM Rob Hennigan lives by when drafting.
With March Madness underway, here are the players Hennigan should target in this year’s draft.

In my previous article, I stated the team’s needs: 48 minutes of rim protection and consistent floor spacing. It would also be a good idea to consider targeting a wing to provide insurance for wing-depth if the Magic front office chooses to part ways with forward Tobias Harris in free agency.

What range will the Magic draft in?
Currently the team sits at the fifth worst record. If the Sacramento Kings and Denver Nuggets end up with worse records, the Magic could sit with the 7th worst record in the league. It is safe to say that the Magic will draft in the 5-10 range. Things get a little bit interesting if we catapult to one of the top three picks if the lottery is in our favor.

Rim Protector
Karl Anthony Towns
If we get into the top three and choose not to trade down, Karl Anthony Towns would be a really good frontcourt mate to Nikola Vucevic. Towns has shown flashes of his incredibly high upside with his Kentucky team, going undefeated in the NCAA regular season. A stretch four who can protect the rim is exactly what we need.

(Note: If we do get into the top three and choose not to trade down, out of Jahlil Okafor, D’Angelo Russell, Karl Towns, and Emmanuel Mudiay, Russell and Towns should be our only targets. Towns can fit into our system fairly well. Russell can play a James Harden-in-OKC/Manu Ginobili role. Jahlil Okafor is just not a good fit next to Vucevic. His defense is not great and he would not be able to space the floor. The player we need to pair next to Vucevic have to be a player who can protect the rim, space the floor, or do both. I am not sure Mudiay would be able to thrive in a backup role to Payton and Oladipo).

Willie Cauley-Stein
If we draft in the 5-7 range, Willie Cauley-Stein is yet another player to consider. He plays great defense and complements it with his elite athleticism. He has proven he can guard all five positions with his lateral quickness and could be the defensive anchor we need. He also has the intangibles that the team prides its culture with. Out of all the prospects I am writing about today, he is one of my three favorite players I think the Magic should get.

Myles Turner
If we draft in the 8-10 range, Myles Turner deserves a look. While I believe it is unlikely the Magic will draft him, as his mobility and athleticism are red flags based on what this team drafts based off of, he is a good rim protector and can also shoot the three-ball well.

Floor Spacing
Karl Towns and Myles Turner can space the floor as stated above.

Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis is one of the most intriguing prospects out of this draft. He is a 19 year old European big man who has a LOT of upside. Listed as 6’11”, scouts have discovered he has grown to 7’1”, elevating himself to top 5 pick consideration. Porzingis has all the physical tools to become a great NBA player. He can protect the rim and shoot threes at a high clip. He is also very athletic. While his frame needs to fill out to become the defender the Magic drafts by, he has a lot of defensive upside. Out of all the international players who could declare for the 2015 draft, he is my favorite.

Wings
The Magic should consider a wing to ensure the position is filled in case they are not able to reach a deal with Tobias Harris

Stanley Johnson
Work ethic. Defense. Growing Athleticism. I believe this is the kind of guy Rob Hennigan would draft if he was looking to get a small forward. Although his shooting is a work in progress, he has shown he is capable of taking games over when they go down to the wire. He would be a great pick for the team even if we do keep Harris, as he would add further depth to the wing position. Johnson is one of my favorite prospects this year.

Justise Winslow and Kelly Oubre
Winslow, the Duke product, has athleticism and can defend well, but his shooting is more than a work in progress. His 2-point field goal % is at NCAA record lows for his position. Kelly Oubre is an interesting prospect. He has athleticism, can play well offensively, and has a lot of defensive upside. Both would need to do really well in the NCAA tournament NBA Combine while interviewing well to put themselves ahead of Stanley Johnson in my eyes.

Mario Hezonja
Mario Hezonja is a great prospect who currently plays for Barcelona. He has the athleticism for sure, and is a good shooter, but he raises a few red flags that will lead to the Magic ultimately not drafting him, in my opinion. He often gives up on defense. He also prefers to take a shot instead of passing to an open teammate. Of course, this could just be a result of his youth, and as his game matures over time, these issues could change. If the front office believes those issues could be reversed, then Super Mario, as his fans call him, could be an electrifying addition to the team.

If the Magic were to draft in the 5-10 range, the three main players they should target are Willie Cauley-Stein, Stanley Johnson, and Kristaps Porzingis, in that order.

NBA

Magic Beat Raptors for Second Win in a Row

Published

3 years ago

December 9, 2022

Mike Brodsky

ORLANDO, Fla. (Florida National News) – The Orlando Magic (7-20) continued their winning ways against the Toronto Raptors (13-13), defeating them 113-109 , just two days after a come-from-behind overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. This two game winning streak puts an end to the Magic’s previous nine game losing streak.

The Magic started strong, taking a 37-25 lead into the second quarter, led by 10 first quarter points from Franz Wagner. But the Raptors caught up to the Magic midway through the second quarter led by Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr. But at halftime, the Magic held a slight lead, 67-63.

The Magic extended their lead to 94-87 with remarkably impressive scoring from Franz Wagner who added 14 points in the third quarter alone. In the fourth quarter, the Raptors tied it up 108-108 with about two minutes remaining after two free throws by OG Anunoby. Paolo Banchero made one of two subsequent free throws, and Moe Wagner drew the charge from Gary Trent Jr. to negate his two point basket. Fred Van Vleet later added a free throw to tie the game at 109-109. A Franz Wagner tip layup put the Magic up 111-109. A missed shot by Fred Van Vleet sealed the Raptors loss. Banchero’s two free throws put the Magic ahead 113-109 at the end of the game.

Franz Wagner led the scoring for the Magic with 34 points, while Paolo Banchero scored 23. Mo Bamba finished with 13 rebounds. Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz ended with 5 assists.

Several Magic players remain injured and were unable to play, including Wendell Carter Jr. (plantar fascia strain), Gary Harris (strained right hamstring), Chuma Okeke (left knee soreness), Jalen Suggs (right ankle soreness) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee recovery). Isaac has started his rehab program, playing in full contact 5 on 5 practice games with the Lakeland G League affiliate, and hopes to return to the court soon for Orlando.

The Magic face the Raptors at Amway once again on Sunday, 12/11 at 6:00 p.m. Be sure to follow www.FloridaSportsChannel.com and www.FloridaNationalNews.com for more.

NBA

Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic Beat Memphis Grizzlies 109-105 in Preseason Home Opener

Published

4 years ago

October 11, 2022

Mellissa Thomas

Orlando Magic #1 draft pick Paolo Banchero (in white) blocks a shot during the Orlando Magic's preseason home opener against the Memphis Grizzlies at Amway Center Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Photo: J. Willie David III/Florida National News.

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The Orlando Magic returned home to Amway Center to host the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night; the teams’ second match with each other this preseason. Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley made a point to rotate many his key players through in just the first quarter. Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins also mentioned he would take a similar route in a pregame interview, saying he planned to run 11 players in Tuesday night’s game.

First Half

As anticipated, Orlando Magic first round draft pick Paolo Banchero got busy putting up points, leading in the first quarter with nine. Banchero continued to lead the Magic in scoring in the first half with 13 points while Franz Wagner led in rebounds with eight and Wendell Carter Jr. carried the weight in assists with six. Banchero also led in free throws at 100 percent, nailing all five.

Though the Magic led in the points, the truth is the Grizzlies actually made great shot opportunities for themselves, but many of the shots just didn’t land. Not for lack of trying: Ja Morant was 2 for 11 on field goals and clocked seven points, Dillon Brooks went 2 for 6 and clocked six points, and Desmond Bane, who led the Grizzlies with 17 points in the first half, went 6 for 9 on field goals.

The Magic led in points in the paint with 20 compared to the Grizzlies’ 18 and in second chance points with five to the Grizzlies’ two. Memphis did lead in fast break points, though, with 13 to Orlando’s eight.

For the Magic, Terrence Ross was second in scoring with eight points in the first half. Orlando’s other draft pick rookie, Caleb Houstan, contributed five points in the first half. Bol Bol humbly contributed two. Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr. and Franz Wagner each contributed seven points.

By halftime, the Magic had a seven-point lead, 54-47.

Second Half

Either the Grizzlies came alive in the second half or the Magic slowed down, but the Grizzlies were much more successful in scoring. Desmond Bane put up six more points in the third quarter as did Santi Aldama. Banchero and (Franz) Wagner maxed out at three additional points in the third. The Grizzlies closed the scoring gap and went into the fourth with only a six-point deficit, 77-71.

The Grizzlies clawed through the fourth quarter, narrowing Orlando’s lead to just one point with only four minutes left in the game. However, the Magic managed get more points on the board and widen the gap again by five points in the final two minutes. The rest of the game was a bit of a nail biter for Magic fans, seeing the lead shrink and grow between two and five points with fouls and free throws for Terrence Ross for the Magic and Ja Morant for the Grizzlies.

For the Magic, Wendell Carter Jr. topped in scoring with 18 points and 8 assists, with Paolo Banchero and Terrence Ross backing him up each with 17 points.

All in all, the Magic won 109-105. They have one more home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, October 14 at 7pm ET, before getting back on the road.

____________________________________

Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News.

Orlando

Orlando Magic Sign Kevon Harris to Two-Way Contract

Published

4 years ago

July 25, 2022

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Kevon Harris (KEE-von) to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Harris (6’6”, 216, 6/24/97) played in 24 games (23 starts) last season with Raptors 905 of the NBA G League, averaging 15.1 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 3.6 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 30.2 minpg. Most recently, he played and started in all five games with Minnesota during the NBA 2K23 Summer League 2022, averaging 15.8 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 27.1 minpg.

Not drafted by an NBA franchise, Harris has played in 31 career NBA G League regular season games (23 starts), all with Raptors 905, averaging 12.4 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.9 apg. in 25.5 minpg.

Harris played in 127 career games (104 starts) during four seasons at Stephen F. Austin (2016-20), averaging 14.4 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.05 stlpg. in 28.0 minpg., while shooting .397 (188-474) from three-point range. As a senior (2019-20), he played and started in 31 games, averaging 17.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 2.1 apg. and 1.52 stlpg. in 29.3 minpg., while shooting .413 (59-143) from three-point range. Harris was named First Team All-Southland Conference and the 2019-20 Southland Conference Player of the Year. He also earned Second Team All-Southland Conference twice (2017-18, 2018-19).

Harris will wear #7 with the Orlando Magic.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to have a maximum of two players under two-way contracts in addition to the players under standard NBA contracts. A two-way player is also eligible to provide services to Orlando’s G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic.