Orlando Magic Blog – Page 6 – NBA Blog

Magic forward Chuma Okeke undergoes surgery

Orlando Magic forward Chuma Okeke has undergone an arthroscopic surgical procedure on his left knee.

A chondroplasty was performed and he will be re-evaluated in four weeks.

Okeke (6’8”, 230, 8/18/98) has played in 18 games (seven starts) this season with Orlando, averaging 5.4 ppg., 4.2 rpg. and 1.4 apg. in 21.8 minpg. He has missed the last 14 games (Nov. 25-Dec. 19) due to left knee soreness.

Originally selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Orlando, Okeke has appeared in 133 career NBA regular season games (46 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 7.9 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 1.8 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 24.6 minpg., while shooting .802 (101-126) from the free throw line.

Dennis Scott will be inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame

Dennis Scott will become the 12th inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame, CEO Alex Martins has announced.

Date and time for the induction ceremony will be determined at a later date.

“Dennis (Scott) still remains one of the elite, long-range shooters in both Orlando Magic and NBA history,” said Martins. “His ability to shoot from beyond the three-point arc was a major key to our success during his time in Orlando and his records stand to this day. We are proud to make Dennis the next inductee into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.”

Originally selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1990 NBA Draft by Orlando, Scott played seven seasons with the Magic from 1990-97. He played in 446 regular season games (322 starts) with Orlando, averaging 14.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 30.7 minpg., while shooting .403 (981-2,432) from three-point range.

During the 1995-96 campaign, Scott set a then-NBA single season-record with 267 three-pointers made, a standard that lasted for ten years. The 267 three-pointers made remains the franchise record for most made in a season. On April 18, 1996 vs. Atlanta, Scott connected on 11 three-pointers, breaking the then-NBA single game-record, a mark that lasted for almost seven seasons. The 11 three-pointers made also remains the franchise record for most made in a game.

Scott also appeared in 41 playoff games (31 starts) with Orlando, averaging 12.2 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 33.8 minpg., while shooting .364 (92-253) from three-point range. On May 25, 1995 vs. Indiana, he made seven three-pointers during Game #2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, setting a franchise playoff-record that still stands today. Scott helped the Magic reach the 1995 NBA Finals.

Scott remains the Orlando Magic all-time leader in three-pointers made with 981. Entering this season, he also ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in three-point field goals attempted (second, 2,432), field goals attempted (seventh, 5,737), games played (eighth, 446), steals (eighth, 429), points scored (tenth, 6,603), field goals made (tenth, 2,421) and minutes played (tenth, 13,692).

The Orlando Magic unveiled its inaugural Hall of Fame class on April 9, 2014 naming the first two inductees, Magic co-founder Pat Williams and the team’s first-ever draft pick and current community ambassador, Nick Anderson. Scott also joins Shaquille O’Neal (2015), the late Rich DeVos (2016), Anfernee Hardaway (2017), Jimmy Hewitt (2017), Tracy McGrady (2018), David Steele (2019), Darrell Armstrong (2020), John Gabriel (2022) and Brian Hill (2022) in the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame.

The Orlando Magic Hall of Fame honors and celebrates the great players, coaches and executives who have had a major impact during the team’s illustrious 34-year history. It bridges the past with the future of Magic basketball, and the exhibit, located in Amway Center on the terrace level near Nutrilite Magic Fan Experience, provides Magic fans an opportunity to learn some Magic history while in the building. The inductees are selected based on their overall on and off the court contributions to the team and organization, years of service, impact in the community and general character of the individual.

Magic exercise contract options on Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Chuma Okeke

The Orlando Magic have exercised their third-year team options on guard Jalen Suggs and forward Franz Wagner, as well as their fourth-year team options on guard Cole Anthony and forward Chuma Okeke.

All four players are now signed through the 2023-24 season.

Anthony (6’3”, 195, 5/15/00) was originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has played in 116 career NBA regular season games (102 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 14.9 ppg., 5.1 rpg. and 5.0 apg. in 29.8 minpg., while shooting .842 (336-399) from the free throw line. Anthony participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.

Okeke (6’8”, 230, 8/18/98) was originally selected in the first round (16th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has appeared in 120 career NBA regular season games (39 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 8.1 ppg., 4.5 rpg., 1.9 apg. and 1.21 stlpg. in 24.6 minpg., while shooting .813 (87-107) from the free throw line.

Suggs (6’5”, 210, 6/3/01) was originally selected in the first round (fifth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has played in 50 career NBA regular season games (47 starts), all with the Magic, averaging 11.8 ppg., 4.3 apg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.28 stlpg. in 27.0 minpg. Suggs participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.

Wagner (6’10”, 225, 8/27/01) was originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2021 NBA Draft by Orlando. He has appeared and started in 84 career NBA regular season games, all with the Magic, averaging 15.2 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and 3.0 apg. in 31.0 minpg., while shooting .860 (196-228) from the free throw line. Wagner was named to the 2021-22 NBA All-Rookie First Team, was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for December 2021 and participated in the Rising Stars event during 2022 NBA All-Star in Cleveland.

Magic waive Devin Cannady, Jay Scrubb and Simi Shittu

The Orlando Magic have waived guard Devin Cannady, guard Jay Scrubb and forward-center Simi Shittu.

Cannady (6’1”, 190, 5/21/96) played in four preseason games with Orlando, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 7.3 minpg.

Last season, Cannady appeared in five games with Orlando, averaging 10.0 ppg., 2.0 apg., 1.2 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 28.9 minpg., while shooting .405 (15-37) from three-point range. He also played in 16 games (11 starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 15.8 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 26.5 minpg., while shooting .468 (59-126) from three-point range and .957 (22-23) from the free throw line.

Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) did not play in any preseason games with Orlando. He was signed as a free agent on October 8.

Shittu (6’10”, 240, 11/7/99) did not play in any preseason games with Orlando. He was signed as a free agent on October 12.

Orlando’s roster stands at 17 players.

Magic sign Simi Shittu, waive Drake Jeffries

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward-center Simi Shittu.

Also today, Orlando waived guard Drake Jeffries, who did not appear in any preseason games for the Magic.

Shittu (6’10”, 240, 11/7/99) played in 16 games last season Israel with Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, averaging 7.0 ppg. and 4.9 rpg. in 17.2 minpg.

Shittu has appeared in 53 career NBA G League games (28 starts) with Windy City and Westchester, averaging 12.8 ppg., 7.3 rpg. and 1.3 apg. in 21.8 minpg., while shooting .566 (282-498) from the field.

A native of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, Shittu appeared in 32 games (31 starts) during his freshman season at Vanderbilt University (2018-19), averaging 10.9 ppg., 6.7 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 26.7 minpg., before declaring for the NBA Draft. He attended the Vermont Academy in Rockingham, Vermont, where he was named a 2018 McDonald’s All-American.

Shittu will wear #15 with the Orlando Magic.

Orlando’s roster stands at 20 players

Magic sign Drake Jeffries, waive Alex Morales

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Drake Jeffries.

Also, Orlando has waived guard Alex Morales.

Jeffries (6’5”, 185, 1/22/99) played and started in 17 games last season with the University of Wyoming, averaging 11.4 ppg. and 4.8 rpg. in 33.4 minpg., while shooting .491 (57-116) from three-point range.

Jeffries appeared in 42 career games (21 starts) during two seasons at the University of Wyoming (2020-22), averaging 9.0 ppg. and 3.6 rpg. in 26.9 minpg., while shooting .424 (109-257) from three-point range. He also played one season (2018-19) at Minot State University in North Dakota and one season (2019-20) at Indian Hills Community College in Iowa.

Jeffries will wear #55 with the Orlando Magic.

Morales did not appear in any preseason games with the Magic.

Orlando’s roster stands at 20 players

Orlando Magic sign Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb, waive Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guards Alex Morales and Jay Scrubb.

In addition, Orlando has waived Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson.

Morales (6’6”, 195, 11/21/97) played and started in 26 games last season with Wagner College, averaging 17.6 ppg., 8.0 rpg., 3.8 apg. and 1.77 stlpg. in 33.9 minpg. He was named the 2021-22 Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Morales was also the NEC Player of the Year in 2020-21.

Morales appeared in 74 career games (71 starts) during three seasons at Wagner College (2019-22), averaging 15.9 ppg., 6.9 rpg., 3.7 apg. and 1.51 stlpg. in 33.1 minpg. He also played one season (2018-19) at Prince George’s Community College in Maryland.

Morales will wear #23 with the Orlando Magic.

Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) played in 18 games last season with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 2.7 ppg. in 6.7 minpg. He also played in and started in two outings with Agua Caliente of the NBA G League, averaging 24.0 ppg., 3.0 apg., 2.5 rpg. and 1.50 stlpg. in 27.4 minpg.

Originally selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Brooklyn. Scrubb has appeared in 22 career NBA games (one start), all with the L.A. Clippers, averaging 3.8 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 9.3 minpg.

Scrubb played in 59 career games during two seasons at John A. Logan College (2018-20), a junior college in Carterville, Illinois, averaging 21.0 ppg., 7.9 rpg. and 2.1 apg., while shooting .395 (92-233) from three-point range. He was named the 2019-20 National Junior College Athletic Association Player of the Year. Scrubb became the first Junior College player selected in the NBA Draft since 2004.

Scrubb will wear #0 with the Orlando Magic.

Ford appeared in three preseason games with the Magic, averaging 2.3 ppg. and 2.0 rpg. in 8.4 minpg. Simpson played in two preseason games with Orlando, averaging 1.5 ppg., 2.5 apg. and 1.5 rpg. in 8.2 minpg. Both were originally signed by Orlando as free agents on September 24.

Orlando Magic name Jake Chapman as team’s radio play-by-play announcer

The Orlando Magic have named Jake Chapman as the team’s radio play-by-play announcer.

Chapman enters his tenth season with the Orlando Magic. This marks his 14th season covering the NBA. In addition to his play-by-play duties, Chapman also serves as the radio producer, pregame and postgame radio host for the Magic Radio Network.

You can hear Chapman call all of the action on 96.9 The Game and the Magic Radio Network, beginning tonight (Monday, October 3) with the Magic’s preseason opener at Memphis. Tip-off is 8 p.m. ET.

Chapman began his career with the Magic in 2006 as a radio intern. He became the Magic’s radio producer in 2009 and served in that role until 2014. During Chapman’s first stint as radio producer, he produced Eastern Conference Finals game broadcasts, oversaw the launch of the Magic’s daily radio show, Magic Drive Time hosted by Dante Marchitelli, built up Magic Radio’s social media presence and helped with the digitization process of Magic Radio’s studio operations. He left the Magic in 2014 to become the pre- and postgame host and executive producer of the Detroit Pistons Radio Network. After his stay in Detroit, Chapman worked in his native Cleveland, OH as a producer and host for 92.3 The Fan and the Cleveland Browns Radio Network. He also covered the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2018 trip to the NBA Finals.

When Chapman returned to the Magic in 2019, he worked to expand the Magic’s podcast offerings – the Orlando Magic Audio Network. He continued producing all Magic radio broadcasts while adding pre-and post-game hosting responsibilities for all games. Chapman also re-assumed producing and co-hosting duties for Magic Drive Time hosted by Dante Marchitelli, the Magic’s daily radio show on its flagship station, 96.9 The Game.

A native of Cleveland, Oh., Chapman earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Ohio State University in 2006.

Orlando Magic games can be heard on the Magic Radio Network, with radio affiliates across the state of Florida. FM 96.9 The Game serves as the flagship station in Orlando, where you can also listen on AM 740.

Magic guard Markelle Fultz out with toe fracture

Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz has suffered a fracture in his big left toe. No surgery is required.

He has been placed in a walking boot and his return to play will depend on how he responds to rehabilitation and treatment.

Fultz suffered the injury during a preseason workout prior to returning to Orlando and imaging confirmed the fracture.

Per the Orlando Sentinel, “Fultz is entering the second season of a 3-year, $50 million contract ($35 million guaranteed) he signed with the Magic in December 2020. He has a $16.5 million salary for 2022-23 that’s fully guaranteed, while $2 million of his $17 million salary is guaranteed for the 2023-24 season. Next season’s salary will become fully guaranteed if he’s on the roster past July 1, 2023.”

Fultz (6’4”, 210, 5/29/98) played in 18 games (three starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 10.8 ppg., 5.5 apg., 2.7 rpg. and 1.11 stlpg. in 20.0 minpg., while shooting .806 (25-31) from the free throw line. He led (or tied) the team in assists seven times. Fultz scored in double figures 13 times, including a season-high 19 points on Mar. 30 @ Washington. He dished out 10+ assists twice, including a career-high 15 assists on Apr. 10 vs. Miami, and had one double-double.

Training camp for the Orlando Magic begins on Tuesday, Sep. 27

Magic sign Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson, waive Joel Ayayi

The Orlando Magic have signed free agents Aleem Ford and Zavier Simpson, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, the Orlando Magic have waived guard Joel Ayayi.

Training camp begins on Tuesday, September 27 at the AdventHealth Training Center.

Ford (6’8”, 220, 12/22/97) played in five games last season with Orlando, after signing a 10-day contract on Dec. 17. He averaged 2.8 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. in 14.7 minpg. Ford also appeared in 31 games (25 starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 12.5 ppg., 4.2 rpg. and 1.7 apg. in 31.1 minpg., while shooting .387 (82-211) from three-point range.

Ford played in 126 career games (82 starts) during four seasons at the University of Wisconsin (2017-21), averaging 6.5 ppg. and 3.3 rpg. in 22.4 minpg.

Ford will wear #12 with the Orlando Magic.

Simpson (6’0”, 190, 2/11/97) played and started in four games last season with Oklahoma City, averaging 11.0 ppg., 7.5 apg., 5.3 rpg., 1.25 stlpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 43.5 minpg. He also played in all 35 games (29 starts) with Oklahoma City of the NBA G League, averaging 14.5 ppg., 6.8 apg., 5.1 rpg. and 1.49 stlpg. in 32.4 minpg.

Simpson has appeared in 50 career NBA G League games (44 starts), all with Oklahoma City, averaging 13.1 ppg., 6.6 apg., 4.8 rpg. and 1.32 stlpg. in 31.2 minpg.

Simpson played in 146 career games (96 starts) during four seasons at the University of Michigan (2016-20), averaging 7.6 ppg., 4.6 rpg., 3.3 rpg. and 1.07 stlpg. in 25.2 minpg. He was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team twice (2018-19, 2019-20) and to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team in 2018-19. Simpson finished his collegiate career as the school’s all-time leader in games played, tied (with Jon Teske) as the Wolverines’ all-time winningest player (108 victories) and second on the school’s all-time list in assists (667).

Orlando’s roster now stands at 20 players.