Category: Orlando Magic Blog

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Magic sign head coach Jamahl Mosley to contract extension

The Orlando Magic have agreed to a multi-year contract extension with Head Coach Jamahl Mosley, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. The contract extension runs through the 2027-28 season.

“Jamahl (Mosley) and his staff have done a tremendous job not only this season, but since we hired him back in 2021,” said Weltman. “His preparation, work ethic, ability to connect with the players, and passion he brings to the job every day brings positive results, both on the court and off. We are very happy to have Jamahl lead the Magic for years to come.”

This season, Mosley has led Orlando to a 37-28 record (.569), good for fifth-best in the Eastern Conference and just one-half game out of fourth. The Magic won their 35th game on Mar. 3, surpassing last season’s win total with 21 games remaining. Mosley was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October/November 2023, becoming the sixth coach in franchise history to be named NBA’s Coach of the Month and the first since March/April 2019.

Orlando Magic will retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal

The Orlando Magic, celebrating their 35th anniversary this season, will officially retire jersey #32 in honor of Shaquille O’Neal during a postgame ceremony on Tuesday, February 13. O’Neal becomes the first player in franchise history to have his number retired.

The #32 will be retired following the Magic’s game against Oklahoma City. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available through OrlandoMagic.com or by calling 1-800-4-NBATIX. The game will be nationally televised by TNT.

“When someone asks who was the first player to officially put the Orlando Magic on the map, the answer is simple – Shaquille O’Neal,” said Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins. “He took this franchise to new heights, both on and off the court, and his legacy is still felt within our organization today. On behalf of the DeVos family, we are excited to honor Shaquille by raising #32 into the rafters of the Kia Center, where it will remain forever.”

Magic Chairman Dan DeVos said, “Through his dominating play, larger-than-life personality, and generous contributions to The City Beautiful, Shaquille O’Neal had a transformational impact on this team and this town. Our family and the entire franchise couldn’t be more pleased for Shaquille to receive this well-deserved honor, further cementing his enduring legacy here in Orlando as we collectively look back on his tremendous accomplishments in a Magic uniform.”

Selected by Orlando with the first overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft, O’Neal spent four seasons with the Magic from 1992-96. He appeared in 295 regular season games (293 starts) with Orlando, averaging 27.2 ppg., 12.5 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 2.79 blkpg. in 37.8 minpg., while shooting .581 (3,208-5,522 FG) from the floor.

O’Neal was named an NBA All-Star four times as a member of the Magic, named to the All-NBA Second Team once (1994-95) and All-NBA Third Team twice (1993-94, 1995-96). He was also named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1992-93 and was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year.

O’Neal still ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in several categories, including blocked shots (second, 824), rebounding (third, 3,691), free throws made (third, 1,602), field goals made (fourth, 3,208) and points scored (sixth, 8,019). His 27.2 points per game average is the second-highest in team history and he helped Orlando reach the 1995 NBA Finals.

O’Neal was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2015 and was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He was named to the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team in October 2021.

Big Magic winning streak stopped by Nets in Brooklyn

Per the Orlando Sentinel:

The Magic went 18 days between their last two losses and both came on the road in Brooklyn.

The Nets (10-9) snapped Orlando‘s nine-game winning streak Saturday night at Barclays Center behind 42 points from forward Mikal Bridges.

Jamahl Mosley’s squad (14-6) allowed 43 points in the first quarter and was unable to fully recover in the 129-101 loss on the second night of a back-to-back.

Orlando heads to Cleveland on Wednesday for the first of two games added to their regular season schedule after the team failed to reach the knockout rounds of the NBA’s In-Season Tournament.

FULL ARTICLE

Magic sign Cole Anthony to contract extension

The Orlando Magic yesterday signed guard Cole Anthony to a contract extension.

Anthony’s extension is reportedly a three-year, $39 million deal.

Anthony (6’3”, 198, 5/15/00) appeared in 60 games (four starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 13.0 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 3.9 apg. in 25.9 minpg., while shooting a team-high .894 (152-170) from the free throw line. He was tied for 10th in the NBA in free throw percentage. Anthony had eight 20+ point games as a reserve, which ranked third in the Eastern Conference. He scored 730 points off the bench (13.0 ppg., 56 games), which ranked fourth in the Eastern Conference and eighth in the NBA.

Originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Orlando, Anthony has played in 172 career NBA regular season games (103 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 14.2 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 4.6 apg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .861 (477-554) from the free throw line. Anthony participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.

Anthony (6’3”, 190, 5/15/00) played in 22 games (20 starts) during his only season (2019-20) at the University of North Carolina, averaging 18.5 ppg., 5.7 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.32 stlpg. in 34.9 minpg. He led the Tar Heels in scoring and had the second-highest scoring average for a freshman in school history. Anthony was named Third Team All-ACC and to the All-ACC Freshman Team.

Magic waive Mac McClung, Daeqwon Plowden and Brandon Williams

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Mac McClung, guard-forward Daeqwon Plowden and guard Brandon Williams.

McClung (6’2”, 185, 1/6/99) appeared in three preseason games with Orlando, averaging 5.3 ppg., 1.7 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 10.1 minpg. He was originally signed as a free agent on Sep. 13.

Plowden (6’6”, 216, 8/29/98) played in one preseason game with Orlando, tallying three points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal in 23:26 played. He was originally signed as a free agent on Oct. 18.

Williams (6’2”, 190, 11/22/99) appeared in three preseason games with Orlando, averaging 6.3 ppg., 1.3 rpg. and 1.33 stlpg. in 11.8 minpg. He was originally signed as a free agent on Sep. 12.

Orlando’s roster stands at 18 players,

Magic convert Trevelin Queen deal to two-way contract

The Orlando Magic have converted the contract of guard Trevelin Queen to a two-way contract.

Queen (6’6”, 190, 2/25/97) was originally signed as a free agent by Orlando on Sep. 12 and played in four preseason games with the Magic, averaging 9.2 ppg., 1.8 apg., 1.2 rpg. and 1.25 stlpg. in 13.4 minpg. Last season (2022-23), he played in seven games with Indiana, averaging 3.0 ppg. and 2.4 rpg. in 10.0 minpg. Queen also appeared in 24 games (15 starts) with Fort Wayne of the NBA G League, averaging 22.6 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 4.5 apg. and 2.13 stlpg. in 34.3 minpg.

Not drafted by an NBA franchise, Queen has played in 17 career NBA regular season games with Houston and Indiana, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 1.9 rpg. in 8.5 minpg. He has also played in 58 career NBA G League regular season games (40 starts) with Rio Grande Valley and Fort Wayne, averaging 20.2 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 3.9 apg. and 2.24 stlpg. in 30.8 minpg. During the 2021-22 season, Queen was named NBA G League Most Valuable Player and led Rio Grande Valley to the 2022 NBA G League championship, also earning NBA G League Finals MVP honors.

Queen played in 51 career games during two seasons (2018-20) at New Mexico State, averaging 10.5 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 2.1 apg. and 1.37 stlpg. in 21.5 minpg. He was named WAC Tournament Most Valuable Player in 2019 and earned Second Team All-WAC honors in 2019-20.

Queen will wear #12 with the Orlando Magic.

Magic sign Daeqwon Plowden, waive Miye Oni

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard-forward Daeqwon Plowden.

In addition, Orlando has waived guard/forward Miye Oni. He did not appear in any preseason games with the Magic.

Plowden (6’6”, 216, 8/29/98) played in 24 games last season with Birmingham of the NBA G League, averaging 8.3 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 20.4 minpg., while shooting .368 (25-68) from three-point range and .862 (25-29) from the free throw line.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Plowden played in 154 career games (113 starts) during five seasons at Bowling Green State University (2017-22), averaging 10.5 ppg. and 6.1 rpg. in 25.5 minpg. He was named to the All-Mid-American Conference Second Team in 2019-20 and was named to the All-MAC Third Team in both 2020-21 and 2021-22. Plowden was also selected to the 2021-22 MAC All-Defensive team. He is BGSU’s all-time leader in games played (154) and is the only player in program history to record at least 1,200 points, 800 rebounds and 100 blocked shots.

Plowden will wear #29 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando’s roster remains at 21 players

Orlando Magic sign Miye Oni, waive D.J. Wilson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard/forward Miye Oni.

In addition, Orlando has waived forward D.J. Wilson. He appeared in two preseason games with the Magic, did not score and averaged 1.5 rpg. and 1.0 apg. in 6.0 minpg.

Oni (6’5″, 205, 8/4/1997) participated in 12 games for the London Lions of the British Basketball League last year, averaging 7.9 points per game, 4.8 rebounds per game, and 3.7 assists per game in 22.3 minutes per game. The Lions made history by being the first British team to ever secure a spot in the EuroCup Playoffs during their inaugural season in the competition.

Oni, who was originally taken by Golden State in the second round (58th overall), has played in 80 NBA regular season games (one start), all with Utah, averaging 1.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 8.4 minutes per game. In his 10 career NBA playoff appearances, he has averaged 0.7 points in 5.5 minutes per game.

Oni will wear #33 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando’s roster remains at 21 players.

Magic exercise contract options on Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner

Per President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman, the Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year club option on Paolo Banchero, as well as their fourth-year team options on guard Jalen Suggs and forward Franz Wagner.

Orlando originally selected Banchero (6’10”, 250, 11/12/02) in the first round (first overall) of the 2022 NBA Draft. During his rookie season with the Magic last year, he participated in 72 games and made 72 starts while averaging a team-best 20.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg, and 3.7 apg in 33.7 minutes per game. Banchero was selected unanimously for the 2022–23 NBA All–Rookie First Team and was named the 2022–23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year.

Orlando originally selected Suggs (6’5″, 212, 6/3/01) in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft. All with Orlando, he has appeared in 101 regular-season NBA games (64 starts), averaging 10.8 points per game, 3.6 assists per game, 3.3 rebounds per game, and 1.25 steals per game in 25.3 minutes per game.

Orlando originally selected Wagner (6’10”, 230, 8/27/01) in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft. He has played and started in 159 regular-season NBA games in his career, all with Orlando, averaging 16.9 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and 3.2 assists per game in 31.7 minutes per game while shooting.850 (460-541) from the charity stripe. Wagner was selected for the NBA All-Rookie First Team for 2021–22.

Contracts for all three players extend through the 2024–25 season.

Orlando Magic sign D.J. Wilson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward D.J. Wilson.

Wilson (6’10” tall, 230 pounds, born 2/19/96) played in five games (four starts) last season with Oklahoma City of the NBA G League, averaging 19.4 ppg., 8.6 rpg., 4.0 apg. and 1.40 blkpg. in 35.8 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft by Milwaukee, Wilson has played in 146 career NBA regular season games (six starts) with Milwaukee, Houston and Toronto, averaging 4.4 ppg. and 3.1 rpg. in 12.3 minpg. He has also appeared in 44 career NBA G League games (38 starts) with Wisconsin and Oklahoma City, averaging 17.9 ppg., 8.4 rpg., 3.0 apg. and 1.11 blkpg. in 30.1 minpg.

Wilson played in 69 career games (36 starts) during three seasons (2014-17) at the University of Michigan, averaging 7.1 ppg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.01 blkpg. in 19.4 minpg., while shooting .525 (192-366) from the field. He helped the Wolverines win the 2017 Big Ten Tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

Wilson will wear #23 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando’s roster now stands at 21 players. Training camp begins on Tuesday, October 3.