Category: Orlando Magic Blog

The Orlando Magic have promoted Jay Hernandez and Matt Hill to assistant coach, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, Randy Wittman has been added to the staff as a coaching consultant.

Hernandez enters his fourth season with the Orlando Magic and first as assistant coach. He originally joined the Magic as assistant coach/player development prior to the 2014-15 campaign, where he was responsible for on-court skill development, as well as game scouts. Hernandez established and collaborated with various departments to implement a return from injury protocol that incorporates analytics with an on-court simulation. He has also been responsible for organizing and running on court pre-draft workouts for the last three seasons.

Hernandez played one season at the University of New Hampshire (1996-97) and three seasons at Hofstra University (1998-2001). He helped Hofstra to a berth in the NIT in 1999, then back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001 as team captain. Hernandez went on to play professionally in Puerto Rico for three seasons.

Hernandez has a dual MBA in both marketing and management from Hofstra. He and his wife, Allison, have three children, McKayla (20), Michael (14) and Morgan (12). McKayla currently plays basketball at Molloy College.

Hill begins his sixth season with the Orlando Magic and first as an assistant coach. He began his career in 2012, joining the Magic as a video analyst/opposition. Hill was later promoted in 2015 to manager of advanced scouting/player development.

Hill starred at Southeast High School in Lincoln, Neb., where he was named Nebraska’s “Mr. Basketball” and the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Nebraska as a senior in 2006. He left as the school’s all-time leader in career points (1,242), rebounds (755) and blocked shots (244). Hill then played at the University of Texas from 2006-11, where he was teammates with several current NBA players, including Kevin Durant, Avery Bradley, Cory Joseph, Tristan Thompson and current Magic guard D.J. Augustin. During his senior campaign (2010-11), he served as team captain and appeared in all 36 games (two starts).

A native of Lincoln, Neb., Hill has a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from the University of Texas. He was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

A 25-year NBA coaching veteran, Randy Wittman was named consultant for the Orlando Magic in September 2017. Wittman has served as head coach with Cleveland (1999-01), Minnesota (2006-09) and Washington (2011-16), compiling a record of 278-406 (.406). While at Washington, he guided the Wizards to the Eastern Conference Semifinals twice (2013-14 and 2014-15).

This marks Wittman’s second stop in Orlando. He served as an assistant coach under Brian Hill during the 2005-06 season. Wittman has also been an assistant coach with Indiana (1992-93), Dallas (1993-94), Minnesota (1994-99, 2001-05) and Washington (2009-11).

Originally selected in the first round (22nd overall) by Washington in the 1983 NBA Draft, Wittman played nine seasons in the NBA. He appeared in 543 career regular season games with Atlanta, Sacramento and Indiana, averaging 7.4 ppg., 2.2 apg. and 1.4 rpg. in 21.4 minpg., while shooting .501 from the field.

Wittman was a two-time academic All-American while at Indiana University. He helped the Hoosiers capture the 1981 NCAA Championship and was named co-Big Ten Player of the Year as a senior in 1983. Wittman was inducted into the IU Hall of Fame in 1995 and was named to Indiana’s Silver Anniversary Basketball Team in March of 1996.

The Orlando Magic have re-signed free agent forward Damjan Rudez (pronunciation: DAHM-yahn ROO dezh), President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Rudež (#3, 6’10”, 228, 6/17/86) appeared in 45 games last season with the Magic, averaging 1.8 ppg. in 7.0 minpg. Not drafted by an NBA franchise, he has played in 146 career NBA regular season games (two starts) with Indiana, Minnesota and Orlando (2014-17), averaging 3.3 ppg. in 11.2 minpg., while shooting .373 (106-284) from three-point range. Rudež is a former member of the Croatian Senior National Team.

Orlando’s roster now stands at 19 players.

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guards Troy Caupain (pronunciation: CO-pain) and Kalin Lucas.

Caupain (#23, 6’4”, 210, 11/29/95) played in 137 career games (102 starts) during four years at the University of Cincinnati, averaging 9.6 ppg., 3.8 apg., 3.6 rpg. and 1.10 stlpg. in 29.8 minpg. Caupain is the first player in school history to record at least 1,300 points and 500 assists during his career. He is the Bearcats’ all-time assists leader with 515. Caupain also ranks on Cincinnati’s all-time list in career victories (second, 102), consecutive games played (second, 137), minutes played (third, 3,980) and games played (fourth, 137). He was named First Team All-American Athletic Conference in 2015-16 and Second Team All-American Athletic Conference in 2016-17.

Lucas (#27, 6’1”, 195, 5/24/89) appeared in 48 games (24 starts) last season with both the Iowa Energy and Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League, averaging 18.0 ppg., 5.1 apg. and 3.9 rpg. in 31.4 minpg. He has played in 112 games (79 starts) during three seasons (2013-15, 2016-17) in the NBA G League with both Iowa and Erie, averaging 17.7 ppg., 4.9 apg., 3.8 rpg. and 1.13 stlpg. in 32.6 minpg. Lucas spent four seasons at Michigan State University (2007-11), leaving as the school’s all-time leader in free throws made (507) and attempted (637). He is one of only four Spartans to record 1,500+ career points and 500+ career assists. As a sophomore (2008-09) Lucas was named Big Ten Player of the Year and helped Michigan State reach the 2009 NCAA Championship Game.

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Adreian Payne to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Payne (6’10”, 237, 2/19/91) appeared in 18 games last season with Minnesota, averaging 3.5 ppg. and 1.8 rpg. in 7.5 minpg. He also spent time with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League. Originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Payne has played in 102 career NBA regular season games (24 starts) with Atlanta and Minnesota, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. in 13.3 minpg. He has also spent time with Fort Wayne, Austin and Erie of the NBA G League.

Payne played in 138 career games (94 starts) during four years at Michigan State University, averaging 8.9 ppg., 5.3 rpg. and 1.02 blkpg. in 20.0 minpg., while shooting .526 (447-850) from the floor. He finished his career as the Spartans’ all-time leader in blocked shots with 141. Payne helped Michigan State reach the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in three consecutive seasons (2011-14) and the Elite Eight in 2013-14. He was named Second Team All-Big Ten in both 2012-13 and 2013-14. As a senior (2013-14), Payne played in 31 games (28 starts), averaging 16.4 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 28.1 minpg. During the second round of the NCAA Tournament, he poured in a career-high 41 points, including 17-of-17 from the free throw line, on Mar. 20 vs. Delaware.

NBA Two-Way Contracts Explained

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular-season roster. A two-way player for Orlando will provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Lakeland Magic – but can spend up to 45 days with Orlando, not including any time prior to the start of Lakeland’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.

Adetunji Adedipe has been named assistant general manager of the Lakeland Magic (G League), it was announce today by Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman.

Adedipe is in his third season with the Orlando Magic organization. He began his career as a basketball operations assistant for the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League during the 2014-15 season prior to joining IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. While at IMG, Adedipe coached the Ascenders junior varsity and assisted in NBA pre-draft workouts. During the summer of 2015, he interned with the Philadelphia 76ers in the basketball operations department. Adedipe joined the Orlando Magic in September of 2015 as a basketball operations associate and served as basketball operations coordinator with the Erie BayHawks in 2016-17.

Adedipe was a three-year letterman and former captain of the Ohio University men’s basketball team. The Bobcats advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2010 with a win over Georgetown. A native of Cleveland, Oh., Adedipe graduated from Ohio University in 2010 and received a master’s degree in comparative politics in 2012.

The Orlando Magic have waived guard-forward Patricio Garino (pronunciation: gah-REE-no), President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on April 3, 2017.

Garino (6’6”, 203, 5/17/93) appeared in five games last season during his rookie campaign with Orlando, averaging 1.4 rpg. in 8.6 minpg. He made his NBA debut on April 4 at Cleveland, recording one rebound in four minutes. Prior to joining the Magic, Garino played in 49 games (46 starts) with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League, averaging 11.2 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.49 stlpg. in 29.2 minpg., while shooting .430 (58-of-135) from 3-point range.

The Orlando roster now stands at 15 players.

The Orlando Magic have signed rookie forward Wesley Iwundu (pronunciation: ih-WON-doo).

Iwundu (6’7”, 193, 12/20/94) was selected in the second round (33rd overall) of NBA Draft 2017. He played in 132 career games (124 starts) during four years at Kansas State University, averaging 9.5 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 2.8 apg. in 28.2 minpg. Iwundu is the first player in school history to record at least 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 300 assists and 100 steals during his career. He is one of only six Kansas State players during the Big 12 era to earn All-Big 12 First, Second or Third Team honors twice during his career, being named All-Big 12 Third Team as a junior (2015-16) and a senior (2016-17).

As a senior (2016-17), Iwundu played and started in all 35 games, averaging 13.0 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 3.5 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 31.4 minpg., while shooting .481 (151-314) from the floor and .376 (32-85) from three-point range. He led the team in scoring and rebounding and was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team by the league’s coaches. Iwundu joined Mitch Richmond (1987-88) as the only Wildcats to record at least 400 points, 200 rebounds and 100 assists in a season.

During his junior campaign (2015-16), Iwundu played and started all 33 games, averaging 11.9 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.33 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg. He was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team and to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team by the league’s coaches, after leading the team in assists and minutes played, while ranking second in scoring and steals. Iwundu was the only player to start all 33 games for the Wildcats.

As a sophomore (2014-15), Iwundu appeared in 31 games (24 starts), averaging 5.8 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 2.0 apg. in 25.2 minpg. During his freshman season (2013-14), he played in 33 outings (32 starts), averaging 6.7 ppg., 4.2 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 23.6 minpg.

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Jonathon Simmons, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Simmons (6’6”, 195, 9/14/89) played in 78 regular season games (eight starts) last season with San Antonio, averaging 6.2 ppg., 2.1 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 17.9 minpg. He scored in double figures 16 times last season, including a career-high 20 points on Oct. 25 @ Golden State. Simmons also recorded a career-high three steals four times, the last time on Mar. 9 @ Oklahoma City. He was selected by assistant coaches to participate in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge during 2017 NBA All-Star Weekend, where he tallied 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block in 22 minutes.

Simmons also appeared in 15 playoff outings (four starts), averaging 10.5 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 20.4 minpg. and helped the Spurs reach the Western Conference Finals. As a starter during the postseason, he averaged 16.8 ppg., 4.0 apg. and 2.3 rpg. in 29.0 minpg.

“Jonathon (Simmons) is an elite wing defender that will provide toughness and athleticism to our team,” said Weltman. “His tremendous work ethic has helped him continually grow as a player and we are very excited to add him to the Magic.”

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Simmons has appeared in 133 career NBA regular season games (ten starts) during the last two seasons, all with San Antonio, averaging 6.1 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 16.6 minpg. He has also played in 18 career postseason contests, averaging 9.4 ppg., 1.8 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 18.4 minpg.

After two years in junior college, Simmons spent his junior season (2011-12) at the University of Houston. He played in all 30 games, averaging 14.7 ppg., 5.0 rpg. and 2.2 apg., while shooting .512 (154-301) from the floor, leading the Cougars in scoring. Simmons played in 94 games during two seasons (2013-15) with the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League, averaging 12.7 ppg., 4.4 rpg. and 2.6 apg., while shooting .505 (446-883). He made the team after attending an open tryout in 2013. Simmons was named to the NBA G League All-Defensive Third Team in 2014-15.

The Orlando Magic have waived center Stephen Zimmerman, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced Tuesday.

Zimmerman (6’11”, 234, 9/9/96) played in 19 games with Orlando this past season as a rookie, averaging 1.2 ppg., 1.8 rpg. and 5.7 minpg.

He was originally selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 2016 NBA Draft by the Magic.