Category: Orlando Magic Blog

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Magic sign Cory Joseph

The Orlando Magic recently signed free agent guard Cory Joseph.

Joseph (6’3”, 200, 8/20/91) played in 26 regular season games last season with Golden State, averaging 2.4 ppg., 1.6 apg. and 1.2 rpg. in 11.4 minpg. On Feb. 8, he was traded to Indiana, then subsequently waived by the Pacers.

Originally selected in the first round (29th overall) of the 2011 NBA Draft by San Antonio, Joseph has played in 816 career NBA regular season games (175 starts) with San Antonio, Toronto, Indiana, Sacramento, Detroit and Golden State, averaging 6.9 ppg., 3.0 apg. and 2.5 rpg. in 21.7 minpg. He has also played in 82 career NBA playoff outings (two starts), averaging 5.2 ppg., 1.7 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 14.5 minpg. Joseph won an NBA Championship in 2013-14 with San Antonio.

A native of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Joseph was a member of the Canadian National Team during the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Prior to being drafted, he played and started in 36 games as a freshman during his only season (2010-11) at the University of Texas, averaging 10.4 ppg., 3.6 rpg., 3.0 apg. and 1.03 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg. Joseph was named to the 2010-11 Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

Joseph will wear #10 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando Magic renegotiate and extend contract of Jonathan Isaac

The Orlando Magic in the first week of July agreed to renegotiate and extend the contract of forward Jonathan Isaac.

Isaac (6’10”, 233, 10/3/97) played in 58 games (two starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 6.8 ppg., 4.5 rpg. and a team-high 1.21 blkpg. in 15.8 minpg., while shooting .510 (146-286) from the floor and .375 (42-112) from three-point range. He tied for 14th in the NBA in blocked shots. Isaac led (or tied) the team in scoring once and in rebounding five times. He scored in double figures 13 times and 20+ points once, including a career-high-tying 25 points on Mar. 23 vs. Sacramento. Isaac recorded at least one blocked shot 41 times and two-or-more blocks 21 times, while notching at least one steal 33 times and two-or-more steals 10 times. He also played in seven playoff games (three starts), averaging 6.3 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.29 blkpg. in 21.0 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft by Orlando, Isaac has played in 205 career NBA regular season games (108 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 8.4 ppg., 5.1 rpg. and 1.37 blkpg. in 22.2. He stands ninth on the Magic’s all-time blocked shots list with 280.

Isaac wears #1 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando Magic sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

The Orlando Magic back in the first week of July signed free agent guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

“We are thrilled to add a player like Kentavious (Caldwell-Pope) to our team,” said President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman. “He is not only an outstanding defender and an excellent shooter, he brings high character and a championship pedigree to our backcourt. We’re very excited to welcome Kentavious to the Orlando Magic family.”

Caldwell-Pope (6’5”, 204, 2/18/93) played and started in 76 regular season games last season with Denver, averaging 10.1 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 2.4 apg. and 1.29 stlpg. in 31.6 minpg., while shooting .406 (125-308) from three-point range and .894 (101-113) from the free throw line. He ranked 16th in the NBA in steals and 34th in three-point field goal percentage. Caldwell-Pope scored in double figures 39 times and 20+ points five times, including a season-high 24 points on Apr. 6 vs. Atlanta. He also played and started in 12 playoff games, averaging 8.1 ppg., 2.9 rpg., 2.6 apg. and 1.42 stlpg. in 35.0 minpg.

Originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft by Detroit, Caldwell-Pope has played in 835 career NBA regular season games (693 starts) with Detroit, the L.A. Lakers, Washington and Denver, averaging 11.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.15 stlpg. in 29.6 minpg., while shooting .369 (1,420-3,852) from three-point range and .819 (1,303-1,590) from the free throw line. He has also played and started in 62 career NBA playoff outings, averaging 10.1 ppg., 2.8 rpg., 1.7 apg. and 1.23 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg., while shooting .365 (114-312) from three-point range and .847 (72-85) from the free throw line. Caldwell-Pope won an NBA Championship in 2019-20 with the L.A. Lakers and 2022-23 with Denver.

Prior to being drafted, Caldwell-Pope played in 64 career games (60 starts) during two seasons (2011-13) at the University of Georgia, averaging 15.8 ppg., 6.1 rpg., 1.5 apg. and 1.92 stlpg. in 33.0 minpg. As a sophomore (2012-13), he appeared in 32 games (30 starts), averaging 18.5 ppg., 7.1 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 2.03 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg. Caldwell-Pope was named to the All-SEC First Team and was the SEC Player of the Year.

Orlando Magic extend qualifying offer to Trevelin Queen

The Orlando Magic have extended a qualifying offer to guard Trevelin Queen.

By extending a qualifying offer to Queen prior to the June 30 deadline, Orlando owns the right to match any offer sheet he may sign with another team. Queen will become a restricted free agent on July 1.

Queen (6’6”, 190, 5/15/00) played in 14 games with Orlando last season, averaging 2.9 ppg., 1.4 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 11.8 minpg. He also played and started in 19 regular season games with Osceola of the NBA G League, averaging 22.3 ppg., 7.0 rpg., 5.2 apg. and 2.26 stlpg. in 33.8 minpg. Queen was named to the 2023-24 All-NBA G League Second Team and the 2023-24 NBA G League All-Showcase Team. He was also named MVP of the 2024 NBA G League Up Next Game as part of NBA All-Star Weekend.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Queen has played in 31 career NBA regular season games with Houston, Indiana and Orlando, averaging 3.4 ppg. and 1.7 rpg. in 10.0 minpg. He has also appeared in 77 career NBA G League regular season games (59 starts) with Rio Grande Valley, Fort Wayne and Osceola, averaging 20.7 ppg., 5.8 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 2.29 stlpg. in 31.6 minpg. Queen was the 2021-22 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and led Rio Grande Valley to the 2022 NBA G League championship, earning NBA G League Finals MVP honors.

Queen wears #12 with the Orlando Magic.

2024-25 Orlando Magic preseason schedule

The Orlando Magic 2024-25 preseason schedule has been announced.

The Magic will open preseason at New Orleans on Monday, October 7.

After playing at San Antonio on Wednesday, October 9, Orlando will host New Orleans on Friday, October 11, then finish the preseason schedule at home on Friday, October 18 vs. Philadelphia. Both games at Kia Center will tip-off at 7 p.m.

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.

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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,