Jonathon Simmons played his first game against the Spurs since he signed a three-year deal in free agency to join the Magic. Simmons had a productive night, posting 17 points in Orlando’s 114-87 blowout win over San Antonio. Despite the loss, Simmons’ former teammates are happy for him, Tim Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News writes.
LaMarcus Aldridge called Simmons “a good guy” and said his former teammate is “comfortable” in his new role. Magic coach Frank Vogel spoke glowingly of Simmons the impact he has on the court.
“When we put the ball in his hands, typically he makes good things happen,” Vogel said. “He’s a good decision maker, a threat going to the basket. He really attacks the rim and will get finish and get to the free-throw line. But he does a good job making the pass, too. So I have a lot of trust in him. He’s earned it.”
Check out other news tidbits around the Southeast Division below:
- In his latest Ask Ira mailbag, Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel writes that the Heat — despite not having too many desirable contracts or prospects to deal — cannot be counted out of the Eric Bledsoe sweepstakes. Pat Riley has an affinity for going all out to improve his teams, but Winderman notes that pairing Bledsoe with Goran Dragic again may be counterproductive.
- Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer writes that despite a love-hate relationship with Hornets fans, Frank Kaminsky is playing with a renewed confidence. After offseason surgery on his chest, which delayed his offseason workouts for several weeks, Kaminsky shown improvements all across the board.
- After undergoing hernia surgery, Wizards‘ big man Markieff Morris is nearing a return, Candace Buckner of The Washington Post writes.
Bledsoe to the heat make no sense. Someone who writes for a Miami blog should know that
Ira pleasures himself to pgs
As much as I love Ebled and Dragic I could see one of them becoming a lou williams/jamal crawford 6th men in the next stage of their respective careers. Imagine a guard rotation of Dragic, Bled, Johnson, Waiters, and Ellington with Winslow, Richardson and McGruder when he comes back. The Heat could replicate the 2004 Pistons success
The 2004 Pistons were much better than the heat would be and the Pistons didnt have to go against these Cavs, Warriors, Thunder, Rockets, Celtics, Spurs etc.
That Detroit team had better bigs than ours, especially defensively