The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guards Malaki Branham and JD Davison, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced.
Branham (6’5″, 202, 5/12/03) averaged 4.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per 9.8 minutes a game in 28 regular season games with Washington last season. On February 5, 2026, Washington traded him to Charlotte as part of a three-team deal that also featured Dallas. On February 9, 2026, the Hornets waived Branham. Additionally, he played in seven regular season games (three of which were starts) for Cleveland of the NBA G League, averaging 20.3 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per 23.6 minutes.
Branham was first chosen by San Antonio in the first round (20th overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft. He has played in 216 NBA regular season games (61 starts) with San Antonio and Washington, averaging 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 17.8 minutes per game while shooting.840 (168-200) from the free throw line. Additionally, he has averaged 20.6 points, 4.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per 24.9 minutes per game in nine NBA G League regular season games (four of which he started) with Austin and Cleveland.
During his lone season (2021–22) as a freshman at Ohio State University, Branham participated in 32 games (31 starts), averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 29.7 minutes per game. He shot.416 (37–89) from three-point range and.833 (80–96) from the free throw line. He received the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award for 2021–2022. Branham was also selected for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the Third Team All-Big Ten.
Davison (6’4″, 215, 10/3/02) averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 rebounds per 7.8 minutes per game while playing in 28 regular season games for Houston last season. On April 7, 2026, the Rockets converted his two-way contract to a regular contract. Davison played in two postseason games, averaging 1.0 points and 1.0 rebounds per 2.5 minutes. Additionally, he played and started five NBA G League regular season games for Rio Grande Valley, averaging 25.2 points, 6.8 assists, 6.6 rebounds, 1.80 steals, and 1.40 blocks per 35.6 minutes.
Davison has played in 64 NBA regular season games with Boston and Houston since being chosen by Boston in the second round (53rd overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft. He has averaged 2.1 points, 1.1 assists, and 1.0 rebounds per 6.5 minutes. Davison has played in 89 NBA G League regular season games (64 starts) with Maine and Rio Grande Valley, averaging 20.1 points, 8.2 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.29 steals in 33.6 minutes. He has also made six appearances in the NBA playoffs, scoring 1.0 points per game in 3.0 minutes. In 2023–2024, he was named to the All-NBA G League Third Team. Davison was then selected for the All-NBA G League First Team and named the 2024–25 NBA G League Most Valuable Player.
During his one season (2021–2022) as a freshman at the University of Alabama, Davison participated in 33 games (six starts), averaging 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per 25.8 minutes. He was selected for the SEC All-Freshman Team for 2021–2022.
