Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic: The Glass Half Full and the Return of Dwight?
Published
10 years agoon
By
FNN SPORTS
Orlando, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – In a season filled with playoff expectations for an up and coming team like the Magic, it was quite disappointing to see the team mathematically eliminated from the postseason this year. A combination of things went wrong, from inopportune injuries to struggling to close games. If the Magic were able to close out half of the leads they had given up, they would likely be in the hunt for the 6 or 7 seed in the newly competitive Eastern Conference.
Having difficulty in closing out games is understandable for a young team lacking a go-to leader down the wire, and there have been signs of great improvement this season. For the first time since dealing Dwight Howard to the Lakers in 2012, the Magic have 30 wins. Furthermore, we have seen the emergence of Aaron Gordon, whose rookie season was marred with injury. Gordon has become a nationwide sensation after his historic performance in the dunk contest and due to his tangible in-game improvements. The Magic had a very promising start to the season, being in the lower echelon of playoff seeding for much of the first half of the year. A dismal record in 2016, however, largely in part by a grueling schedule, severely hurt their chances at a run in the playoffs. Scott Skiles has had his ups and downs for the year. While he has struggled to make in-game adjustments, he has improved on that front. There have been times when he left some players who were detrimental to the game state far too long on the court while benching those who gave a positive impact on the floor, sometimes it has cost us games. But at the end of the day, Skiles is improving with his decision making, especially evidenced by the past few games with commanding wins against Chicago and Brooklyn. Skiles has only had one year under his belt with this team and even took home a Coach of the Month award in December. As long we retain this core while adding high impact players in free agency, we will make a huge jump next season and make the playoffs easily. Next season, I predict around 42-45 wins along with the 5-6 seed.
Last week, former Magic star Dwight Howard made headlines for a couple of reasons. One was his use of an NBA banned substance for the past five years, which he got away with a warning for. Another was a report that he was contemplating a return to the Magic next season, per Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. I had a lot of mixed feelings when I read about it, as Dwight led the Magic to its second franchise Finals appearance and was a valued member of the community before the Dwightmare saga. On the other side, the turmoil that the team and fans went through with the Dwightmare saga might have burned too many bridges. But hey, that did not stop LeBron James from re-signing with the Cavaliers and patching up with Dan Gilbert, did it? Regarding fit, it would be difficult to build around Dwight like we did a few years ago. Stan Van Gundy’s offense, which was likely ahead of its time as the Warriors run a similar scheme albeit with a few reversals, revolved around 3-point shooters surrounding Dwight, giving Dwight a lot of room to work in the paint. Dwight is in the latter half of his prime and has been riddled with injury, so we may never see that Dwight again. Furthermore, if you see our starting lineup, other than Evan Fournier (and eventually Mario Hezonja) we do not have a single consistent perimeter shooter. All of them mainly rely on stretch big spacing to give themselves wiggle room in the paint. If you replace Nikola Vucevic with Dwight Howard, you clog up the paint even more for the slashers on the team. With that being said, if he and the Magic find common ground with the future of this team and his role with it (one of which not being that the Magic give him a max contract), they could make something special happen, but it would require a lot of patience, as the team’s composition will initially struggle until they figure out what works.
The Magic will have one of the highest amounts of cap space than any other team in the league, so they will be able to get some quality players who can lead us into the playoffs. Will one of those players be Dwight Howard (and Chandler Parsons as a result)? Or will the franchise find themselves engrossed in the names of Al Horford, Mike Conley, and, dare I say it, Kevin Durant? Time will tell.
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NBA
Magic Beat Raptors for Second Win in a Row
Published
3 years agoon
December 9, 2022By
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 agoon
October 11, 2022
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.
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Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News.
Orlando
Orlando Magic Sign Kevon Harris to Two-Way Contract
Published
4 years agoon
July 25, 2022By
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.
