Orlando Magic Blog – Page 8 – NBA Blog

Orlando Magic sign Gary Harris to contract extension

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Gary Harris to a contract extension, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Per multiple reports, Harris’ extension is a two-year, $26 million deal.

Harris (6’4”, 210, 9/14/94) played in 61 games (30 starts) last season with Orlando, averaging 11.1 ppg., 2.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 28.4 minpg., while shooting .384 (116-302) from three-point range and .874 (83-95) from the free throw line. He led (or tied) the team in scoring five times and in assists four times. Harris scored in double figures 37 times and 20+ points six times, including a season-high 28 points on Jan. 8 @ Detroit. He scored his 5,000th career NBA point on Dec. 8 @ Sacramento.

Originally selected in the first round (19th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft by Chicago, Harris has appeared in 468 career NBA regular season games (374 starts) with Denver and Orlando, averaging 11.8 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 1.9 apg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 28.8 minpg., while shooting.363 (705-1,944) from three-point range and .812 (719-885) from the free throw line. He has also played in 28 career playoff games (26 starts), averaging 10.8 ppg., 3.1 rpg., 2.0 apg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 32.0 minpg.

Harris was acquired by Orlando from Denver, along with R.J. Hampton and a future first round draft pick, in exchange for Gary Clark and Aaron Gordon on Mar. 25, 2021. He has played in 81 games (49 starts) with the Magic, averaging 10.9 ppg., 1.9 rpg. and 1.9 apg. in 27.5 minpg., while shooting .380 (140-368) from three-point range and .874 (125-143) from the free throw line.

Orlando Magic select Paolo Banchero with first pick in 2022 NBA Draft

With the first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Orlando Magic selected forward Paolo Banchero.

Banchero (6’10”, 250, 11/12/02) played and started in all 39 games last season as a freshman at Duke University, averaging 17.2 ppg., 7.8 rpg., 3.2 apg. and 1.05 stlpg. in 33.0 minpg., while shooting .478 (245-513) from the floor. He led all true freshmen in the nation in scoring. Banchero led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding, while ranking second in minutes played. He also ranked fifth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in rebounding and sixth in the conference in scoring.

Banchero was named Second Team All-America by the NABC and USBWA, while being a Third Team All-America selection by The Associated Press and The Sporting News. Among his many accolades, he was one of 15 finalists for the John R. Wooden Award, given to the nation’s most outstanding player, and one of five finalists for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. Banchero was named to the All-ACC First Team, the ACC All-Freshmen Team and was the ACC Freshman of the Year. He was also named to the ACC All-Tournament Team, the NCAA All-Tournament Team and the NCAA West Region’s Most Outstanding Player, leading Duke to the 2022 NCAA Final Four.

While at O’Dea High School in Seattle, WA, Banchero led the team to the Class 3A state championship as a sophomore (2018-19) and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. As a junior (2019-20), he was named Washington’s Gatorade Player of the Year, a MaxPreps Junior All-American and the MaxPreps National Junior Player of the Year. Despite his senior season being postponed due to the pandemic, Banchero was named a 2021 McDonald’s All-American, a Naismith First Team All-American and a Sports Illustrated All-American.

His name is correctly pronounced “pow-loh ban-CARE-oh.”

Welcome to the NBA, Paolo.

Magic trade 35th pick in 2022 NBA Draft to Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have acquired the 35th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft from the Orlando Magic in exchange for a future second round pick and cash considerations.

Orlando will receive the better of either the Lakers or Washington’s second round pick (which is owed to Los Angeles) in 2028.

The 2022 NBA Draft will take place tonight at 5 p.m. PT from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

2022-23 Orlando Magic preseason schedule

The Orlando Magic will open the 2022 NBA preseason at Memphis on Monday, October 3. After three road contests, Orlando then hosts its first preseason game at Amway Center on Tuesday, October 11 vs. Memphis. Tip-off is 7 p.m.

Single-game tickets for the 2022 preseason go on sale on Thursday, June 23.

2022 ORLANDO MAGIC PRESEASON GAME SCHEDULE

HOME GAMES AT AMWAY CENTER IN ALL CAPS

Date Opponent Time (ET)

Oct. 3 @ Memphis 8 p.m.

Oct. 6 @ San Antonio 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 7 @ Dallas 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 11 MEMPHIS 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 CLEVELAND 7 p.m.

Orlando Magic sign guard Devin Cannady

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Devin Cannady, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

Cannady (6’1”, 190, 5/21/96) was signed to a 10-day contract by Orlando on March 31. He has played in four games, averaging 8.8 ppg., 2.0 apg., 1.5 rpg. and 1.25 stlpg. in 27.8 minpg., while shooting .393 (11-28) from three-point range. Before signing his 10-day contract, Cannady appeared in 16 games (11 starts) this season 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.

Last season (2020-21), Cannady played in eight games with Orlando, averaging 4.3 ppg. in 9.3 minpg. He originally was signed to a 10-day contract by Orlando on Apr. 6, then released on Apr. 13, before signing a two-way contract on Apr. 16. Cannady suffered an open fracture of his right ankle during the first quarter on Apr. 25 vs. Indiana. He was later waived on May 4.

Prior to his time in Orlando last season, Cannady played in 13 games (nine starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 11.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 25.8 minpg., while shooting .400 (28-70) from three-point range. He played and started in all three playoff outings, averaging 15.7 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 29.7 minpg., while shooting .450 (9-20) from three-point range. During the 2021 NBA G League Final on Mar. 11 vs. Delaware, Cannady tallied 22 points, six rebounds and four assists and was named G League Final MVP, helping Lakeland capture the 2020-21 NBA G League championship.

Cannady has played in 69 career NBA G League games (50 starts) with Long Island and Lakeland, averaging 14.2 ppg., 3.4 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 29.0 minpg., while shooting .390 (203-520) from three-point range and .933 (84-90) from the free throw line.

Cannady played in 104 career games (67 starts) during four seasons at Princeton University (2015-19), averaging 14.6 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.09 stlpg. in 31.1 minpg., while shooting .403 (268-665) from three-point range and a school-record .896 (285-318) from the free throw line. He was named Second Team All-Ivy League as a junior in 2017-18 and Honorable Mention All-Ivy League as a sophomore in 2016-17.

Cannady wears #30 with the Orlando Magic.

A power outage almost threatened tonight’s Magic at Pelicans game

A power outage issue had threatened tonight’s Magic at Pelicans game. But all wound up being okay. Here’s the New Orleans Times Picayune:

Wednesday’s game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Orlando Magic appears to no longer be in danger of postponement.

Less than three hours before tipoff, power was restored at Smoothie King Center after an hours-long outage.

The power outage, which appeared to be caused by a bird flying into a substation, City Council President Helena Moreno said, affected more than 10,000 Entergy customers. Parts of downtown, the Central Business District, Treme, Mid-City and Central City were all left without power…

Full power was restored to the arena at around 4:24 p.m. on Wednesday.

Full Article

Celtics trade Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier to Magic, who waive Michael Carter-Williams and E’Twaun Moore

The Orlando Magic have acquired center Bol Bol, guard P.J. Dozier, a future second round draft pick and cash considerations in a trade with the Boston Celtics for a future protected second round draft pick (2023, protected 31-55), President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.

In addition, Orlando has waived guard Michael Carter-Williams and guard E’Twaun Moore.

Orlando also used a Traded Player Exception (TPE) to complete the deal. A TPE is what one team receives in exchange for a player traded to another team that can absorb that player into salary cap space.

Bol and Dozier were both acquired by Boston from Denver as part of a three-way trade on Jan. 19, 2022 that also included San Antonio. Juancho Hernangomez went to San Antonio and Bryn Forbes went to Denver in the trade.

Bol (7’2”, 220, 11/16/99) played in 14 games this season with Denver, averaging 2.4 ppg. and 1.4 rpg. in 5.8 minpg. He underwent surgery on his right foot on Jan. 18.

Originally selected in the second round (44th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by Miami, Bol has played in 53 career NBA regular season games (two starts), all with Denver, averaging 2.7 ppg. and 1.2 rpg. in 6.2 minpg. He has also appeared in eight career NBA G League regular season games with Windy City, averaging 12.0 ppg., 5.8 rpg. and 2.25 blkpg. in 19.3 minpg.

Dozier (6’6”, 205, 10/25/96) played in 18 games this season with Denver, averaging 5.4 ppg., 3.5 rpg. and 1.6 apg. in 18.9 minpg. He suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Nov. 23 and will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Dozier has played in 105 career NBA regular season games (six starts) with Oklahoma City, Boston and Denver, averaging 6.4 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 18.0 minpg. He has also appeared in 107 career NBA G League regular season games (100 starts) with Oklahoma City, Maine and Windy City, averaging 17.9 ppg., 6.4 rpg., 5.2 apg. and 1.36 stlpg. in 32.8 minpg.

Carter-Williams (6’6”, 205, 10/10/91) has not played this season due to left ankle injury recovery. He underwent surgery on Aug. 23, 2021 to remove a bone fragment and to repair a ligament in his left ankle. Carter-Williams has appeared in 391 career NBA regular season games (217 starts) with Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Charlotte, Houston and Orlando, averaging 10.3 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 4.4 apg. and 1.27 stlpg. in 25.3 minpg. He was originally signed to a 10-day contract by the Magic on Mar. 15, 2019 and played in 88 games (25 starts) with the Magic, averaging 7.5 ppg., 3.9 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 21.1 minpg.

Moore (6’3”, 190, 2/25/89) has not played this season due to a sprained left knee. He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on Sep. 9, 2021. Moore has appeared in 598 career NBA regular season games (191 starts) with Boston, Orlando, Chicago, New Orleans and Phoenix, averaging 7.9 ppg., 2.0 rpg. and 1.8 apg. in 21.0 minpg. He also spent two seasons with Orlando from 2012-14. Moore played in 154 regular season games (24 starts) with the Magic during that span, averaging 7.1 ppg., 2.1 apg. and 2.0 rpg. in 20.7 minpg.

Magic guard Cole Anthony has had Slam Dunk contest in mind for a long time

Magic guard Cole Anthony has been waiting for a particular opportunity for a very long time. Via the Orlando Sentinel:

Cole Anthony hasn’t forgotten his first dunk.

He was in the seventh grade — either 12 or 13 years old — when he threw down a left-handed slam for his first dunk. From there Anthony, who’s known to not lack confidence, proceeded to go for more challenging attempts.

“Immediately after that, I was trying to windmill,” he said. “From there, I was just trying to do more and more dunks.”

Anthony will have the opportunity to show off his dunking ambition and creativity in the NBA’s Dunk Contest on Feb. 19 in Cleveland as part of All-Star Weekend.

He described the opportunity as “a life-long dream of mine since before I could dunk.”

Orlando Magic sign front office execs Jeff Weltman and John Hammond to contract extensions

Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and General Manager John Hammond have both received contract extensions, CEO Alex Martins announced today.

“Jeff (Weltman) and John (Hammond) have done a tremendous job of building our basketball operations infrastructure, while putting us in position to reach our ultimate goal,” said CEO Alex Martins. “We certainly look forward to exciting days ahead.”

Said Orlando Magic Chairman Dan DeVos, “Our commitment to winning a championship is stronger than ever, while being an invested community partner. We look forward to Jeff and John continuing to lead our basketball operations and assembling teams our fans can be proud of, both on and off the floor.”

Weltman, who brings more than 30 years of experience in basketball operations in the NBA, was named president of basketball operations of the Orlando Magic on May 23, 2017. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the team’s basketball operations department.

Since joining Orlando, the Magic advanced to postseason play in back-to-back seasons in 2018-19 and 2019-20 for the first time in eight years (since 2010-11 and 2011-12). During his second season in Orlando (2018-19), the Magic clinched a berth into the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2012 and captured the Southeast Division title, their first since 2009-10.

Hammond was named general manager of the Orlando Magic on May 23, 2017. He begins his fifth season with the Magic, bringing more than 39 years of coaching and administrative experience to Orlando. Hammond came to the Magic after spending nine seasons (2008-17) as general manager of the Milwaukee Bucks.

During Hammond’s 30 years in the NBA, his teams have made 17 postseason appearances, including two seasons with Orlando (2018-19, 2019-20). During the 2018-19 season, the Magic clinched a berth into the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2012 and captured the Southeast Division title. After reaching the playoffs again in 2019-20, it marked the first time in eight years (since 2010-11 and 2011-12) that Orlando advanced to postseason play in back-to-back seasons. President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman served as assistant general manager under Hammond for five seasons (2008-13) and also worked with him in Detroit (2007-08).

Hammond was named general manager of Milwaukee on April 11, 2008 and promptly generated an eight-win improvement in his first season and another 12 during his second, earning the 2009-10 NBA Executive of the Year Award.

Magic sign Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie to second 10-day contracts

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Tim Frazier and forward Freddie Gillespie to second 10-day contracts.

Both players were originally signed to 10-day contracts via hardship exceptions by the NBA on December 21.

Frazier (6’1”, 170, 11/1/90) has played in five games (one start) with Orlando, averaging 4.6 ppg., 3.4 apg. and 1.8 rpg. in 20.0 minpg. Last season (2020-21), he appeared in five games with Memphis, averaging 1.6 ppg., 3.2 apg. and 1.6 rpg. in 12.4 minpg.

Undrafted by an NBA franchise, Frazier has played in 282 career NBA regular season games (82 starts) with Philadelphia, Portland, New Orleans, Washington, Milwaukee, Detroit, Memphis and Orlando, averaging 5.0 ppg., 4.0 apg. and 2.3 rpg. in 17.7 minpg. He has also appeared in 49 career NBA G League regular season games (47 starts), all with Maine, averaging 15.9 ppg., 9.5 apg., 7.4 rpg. and 1.61 stlpg. in 34.7 minpg., while shooting .370 (51-138) from three-point range and .803 (191-238) from the free throw line. Frazier was named the 2014-15 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year.

Frazier played in 135 career games (113 starts) at Penn State University from 2009-14, averaging 11.4 ppg., 4.7 apg., 3.9 rpg. and 1.45 stlpg. in 30.6 minpg. He finished his collegiate career as the Nittany Lions’ all-time leader in assists with 641. Frazier was named to both the All-Big Ten First Team in Big Ten All-Defensive Team in 2011-12, while leading the conference in assists during both the 2011-12 and 2013-14 campaigns.

Gillespie (6’9”, 245, 6/14/97) has played in five games (one start) with Orlando, averaging 3.0 ppg., 4.6 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 12.9 minpg. He has also played in 12 games (11 starts) this season with Memphis of the NBA G League, averaging 11.4 ppg., 12.2 rpg., 1.0 apg., 2.75 blkpg. and 1.17 stlpg. in 33.2 minpg. At the time of his original signing, he was leading the team in rebounding (T-2nd in NBA G League) and led the entire NBA G League in blocked shots.

Last season (2020-21), Gillespie played in 20 games (two starts) during his rookie campaign with Toronto, averaging 5.6 ppg., 4.9 rpg. and 1.00 blkpg. in 19.6 minpg., while shooting .524 (44-84) from the floor. He has also appeared in 27 career NBA G League regular season games (26 starts), all with Memphis, averaging 10.9 ppg., 11.3 rpg., 1.4 apg., 2.48 blkpg. and 1.22 stlpg. in 30.2 minpg., while shooting .563 (130-231) from the floor.

Gillespie played in 56 career games (41 starts) during two seasons (2018-20) at Baylor University, averaging 7.6 ppg., 6.9 rpg. and 1.68 blkpg. in 23.7 minpg., while shooting .582 (171-294) from the field. He was named Big 12 Most Improved Player in 2019-20, as well as earning All-Big 12 Second Team and All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors. Gillespie began his collegiate career at Carleton College, a NCAA Division III school located in Northfield, Minnesota.