Category: Orlando Magic Blog

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Magic exercise contract options on Aaron Gordon, Shabazz Napier, Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo

The Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year team options on forward Aaron Gordon, guard Shabazz Napier, and guard Elfrid Payton, while also exercising their fourth-year team option on guard Victor Oladipo, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

All four players are now signed through the 2016-17 season.

Gordon (6’9”, 220, 9/16/95) played in 47 games (eight starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 5.2 ppg. and 3.6 rpg. in 17.0 minpg. He ranked among all NBA rookies in rebounding (11th) and blocked shots (8th). Gordon was originally selected by Orlando in the first round (fourth overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft.

Napier (6’1”, 175, 7/14/91) appeared in 51 games (ten starts) last season with Miami, averaging 5.1 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 2.2 rpg. in 19.8 minpg., while shooting .364 (43-118) from three-point range. He ranked among all NBA rookies in three-point field goal percentage (3rd) and assists (7th). Napier was originally selected by Charlotte in the first round (24th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft. He was acquired by Orlando along with cash considerations in exchange for a conditional second round draft pick on July 27, 2015.

Payton (6’4”, 185, 2/22/94) played in all 82 games (63 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 8.9 ppg., a team-high 6.5 apg., 4.3 rpg. and a team-high 1.73 stlpg. in 30.3 minpg., while compiling an assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.63 (533/203). He was named to the 2014-15 NBA All-Rookie First Team and finished fourth in voting for NBA Rookie of the Year. Payton ranked 13th in the NBA in steals, 14th in assists and 16th in assists-to-turnover ratio. He also among all NBA rookies in scoring (8th), rebounding (T-8th), assists (1st), field goal percentage (7th), steals (2nd) and minutes played (4th). Payton was originally selected by Philadelphia in the first round (10th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft. He was acquired by Orlando in exchange for the draft rights to Dario Saric, a future first round draft pick and a future second round draft pick on June 26, 2014.

Oladipo (6’4”, 210, 5/4/92) played in 72 games (71 starts) last season with the Magic, averaging 17.9 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 1.67 stlpg. in a team-high 35.7 minpg., while shooting a team-best .819 (262-320) from the free throw line. He was tied for eighth in the NBA in minutes played, ranked 16th in steals, 21st in scoring and tied for 36th in assists. Oladipo has appeared in 152 regular season games during his NBA career, all with Orlando, averaging 15.8 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 4.1 apg. and 1.64 stlpg. in 33.3 minpg. He was originally selected by Orlando in the first round (second overall) of the 2013 NBA Draft and was named to the 2013-14 NBA All-Rookie First Team.

Magic waive Nnanna Egwu

The Orlando Magic have waived center Nnanna Egwu (EGG-woo), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced following Friday’s preseason game. Orlando’s roster now stands at 14.

Egwu appeared in five preseason games with the Magic, averaging 1.2 ppg. and 3.2 rpg. in 8.4 minpg.

Orlando begins the 2015-16 regular season on Wednesday, October 28 at home against Washington (7 p.m.).

Magic waive Greg Stiemsma

The Orlando Magic have waived center Greg Stiemsma (STEAM-smuh), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today. Orlando’s roster now stands at 15.

Stiemsma appeared in two preseason games with the Magic, averaging 1.5 rpg. in 8.3 minpg.

Orlando begins the 2015-16 regular season on Wednesday, October 28 at home against Washington (7 p.m.).

Magic waive Melvin Ejim

The Orlando Magic have waived forward Melvin Ejim (EDGE-um), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced following tonight’s preseason game.

Orlando’s roster now stands at 16.

Ejim appeared in four preseason games with the Magic, averaging 3.5 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. in 8.0 minpg.

Orlando begins the 2015-16 regular season on Wednesday, October 28 at home against Washington (7 p.m.).

Magic paying big money to Tobias Harris

Magic paying big money to Tobias Harris

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on a talented young Magic player who now has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to earn his much bigger salary:

Magic paying big money to Tobias Harris

Tobias Harris checks in at a svelte 235 pounds, not counting, of course, the extra weight he’s carrying.

It’s quite a load.

He’s put on an additional $64 million.

Harris and the Magic can only hope it doesn’t show this season.

A huge four-year contract has made Tobias the team’s highest-paid player, surpassing Nik Vucevic’s deal.

This is all new for Harris at 23. He says all that money won’t affect him. He says he doesn’t see himself “pressing” to try to justify the count and the amount.

“It doesn’t change me or my game. I don’t play the game just for the paycheck. I play for the love and the love of winning,” Harris told me. “When I signed my deal, the next day I was back in the gym, working just as hard. It’s no time to go out and celebrate crazy. I’m blessed enough to be in this position.

“It drives me. It just shows me if you want another one, you have to work twice as hard.”

Magic hope for big things from Aaron Gordon

Magic hope for big things from Aaron Gordon

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel reporting on a key member of the Magic youth movement:

Magic hope for big things from Aaron Gordon

Almost two and a half months have passed since Gordon underwent surgery July 14 to repair his fractured jaw, and the bone now is almost fully healed. Although he has participated in the first four practices of Orlando Magic training camp, he has been forced to sit out full-contact drills and team scrimmages….

The Magic are counting on Gordon, a combo forward, to play a major role in the year ahead. At 6 feet 9 and 220 pounds, and blessed with smarts, elite jumping ability and superb quickness, Gordon arguably has more potential on the defensive end of the court than anyone else on the roster. Skiles envisions Gordon as someone who can guard opponents at four different positions, even point guards.

The team expects Gordon to be cleared for full contact at some point in mid-October — perhaps before the team’s Oct. 17 exhibition in Rio de Janeiro against the Brazilian team Flamengo. Still, even if Gordon plays against Flamengo, there would be little time left before Orlando’s regular-season opener on Oct. 28. Therein lies the concern.

None of this would be a worry if Gordon, now 20, hadn’t been goofing off after the Orlando Pro Summer League with his 25-year-old brother, Drew, who played a bit last season for the Philadelphia 76ers.

A glance at Magic training camp

A glance at Orlando Magic training camp

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel with insight on Magic training camp, which is set to open:

The team will have 19 players in training camp, although two of them could be limited early on. Gordon is still recovering from a fractured jaw that he suffered in mid-July and likely won’t begin participating in full-contact, 5-on-5 drills until mid-October. Magic officials recently learned that Fournier tweaked one of his ankles during France’s final game in EuroBasket 2015, and the team could proceed cautiously with him.

On Thursday, the Magic announced the signing of four new players who will attempt to earn a roster spot: point guard Keith Appling, center Nnanna Egwu, guard Jordan Sibert and center Greg Stiemsma.

Appling will compete against newcomer Shabazz Napier for the role as Orlando’s third point guard, while Egwu, Sibert and Stiemsma likely will compete against forward Melvin Ejim for the 15th spot on the roster.

Guard Tyler Harvey, whom the Magic drafted late in the second round in June’s draft, will not attend training camp and instead will spend the season with the Magic’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks. The Magic will retain Harvey’s draft rights.

Magic sign Melvin Ejim

The Orlando Magic have signed forward Melvin Ejim (EDGE-um), General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.

Ejim (6’6”, 220, 3/4/91) played in 47 games (45 starts) last season with Virtus Roma in Italy, averaging 7.9 ppg., 5.6 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 24.1 minpg. He recently played with the Orlando Magic “White” team during the 2015 Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League, averaging 9.2 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 30.0 minpg.

Ejim, who was not drafted by an NBA franchise in 2014, played in 135 games (126 starts) during four seasons at Iowa State University from 2010-14, averaging 12.2 ppg., 7.8 rpg., 1.4 apg. and 1.08 stlpg. in 27.8 minpg., while shooting .497 (596-1,158) from the floor. He finished his collegiate career as the Cyclones’ all-time leader in games played and games started. Ejim also finished on the school’s all-time list in rebounding (second, 1,051) and is the only player in ISU history to amass 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 100 steals. Ejim was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2013-14. He helped Iowa State captured the 2013-14 Big 12 Tournament championship and reach the Sweet Sixteen during the 2014 NCAA Tournament.