Newly-acquired point guard Jerian Grant expected to have a bigger role with the Magic than he had with the Bulls, John Denton of the team’s website reports. Grant was traded to Orlando as part of a three-team deal also involving the Hornets. He’ll compete with D.J. Augustin for the starting job. “I’ve improved and learned a lot about the game – about how you have to be aggressive, know the game and know your teammates,’’ Grant told Denton. “Being that point guard, it’s the toughest position in the league and you’ve got to bring it every night. I feel that with this opportunity, I’m ready to take advantage of.”
In other developments involving the Magic:
- Center Timofey Mozgov was the other player acquired in the trade but it’s uncertain what his role will be, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports. Mozgov has two years and $32.72MM remaining on his contract but Orlando has three other centers on the roster, including Nikola Vucevic, lottery pick Mohamed Bamba and Khem Birch. “He’s very bright,” coach Steve Clifford said of Mozgov. “He’s a big body, and he’s a much better athlete than people give him credit for. So we’ll see. We’ll bring them in and start to get to know them.”
- Forward Aaron Gordon said that reaching a multi-year agreement with the club brought tears to his eyes, Denton writes in a separate piece. Gordon was relieved to sign a four-year, $80MM contract after entering the month as a restricted free agent. “I’m a guy who naturally has a lot of energy, so with all of that [pressure of getting an agreement] piled on top of me, I was pacing,” he said. “It’s relief that we got it done and even more relief that I can come back to Orlando.”
- The Magic have signed guard Troy Caupain to a two-way contract. Caupain played for their G League team last season. Get all the details here.
Ugh. Things are so bleak for the Magic. Can’t understand why they wouldn’t take a flier on Isaiah Thomas. Need a PG badly.
Things r far from bleak.. Bamba, Isaac, Gordon… Frazier, Iwundu, Fournier… they have the making of a very solid team. Ur right they need a point. But there’s plenty of teams that would sign up for that young talent.
Your definition of solid and mine are completely different.
Three guys who basically play the same positions and some made up names.
If solid means 12th place in the East, then yes, very solid.
I’m sorry but if your starting PG is Grant or Dj then yes things are bleak.
and I am not sure how you can feel good about any of the names you mentioned none have proven to be more then just promising at best.
Tim-o-feyyyy!!
When your starting point guard options are DJ Augustin and Jerian Grant, it’s gonna be a loooooooong season. No disrespect to them, they’re serviceable players, but they’re still just backups.
Grant is just way too bad to be a starter.
Mozgov is good enough to play either in Orlando or somewhere else, definitely better than Birch… but I think Vucevic will go so he can have some PT.
My definition of solid goes along the lines of hiflew too, sorry cannot see it dust44.
I too would have tears in my eyes if someone paid me 80MM, wow I would get real emotional.
Yeah they need to trade at least one of the those centres… Who needs a big that can spare a point?
Thomas still available to PG so might Nate Robinson.
Timmy has extensive bench warming experience he can bring a lot to the table there.
The REBUILDING Strategy is a respectable one. If that’s the case, Orlando’s FO will do well in non-committing important future trade picks in any deals (the 2nd draft picks in the Jerian Grant deal were not that useful), so next year will be devoted to finding the Floor General PG they really need.
I don’t get the Isaiah Thomas love affair. 5’9″ with a bad hip? Can’t see how he stops anyone from getting into the paint and puting Bamba into impossible situations. There isn’t a PG in the league that makes this team a contender. Relax and let them build the team. The team doesn’t have assets to move in trades or money to spend in free agency.
Stop Gap.
The Bulls valued Cam Payne over Grant which guarantees Grant is destined for a breakout season.
Magic should trade Vucevic to the Hawks for Schroder. Works out great for both sides. Hawks could use a big man and they need to free up playing time for Trae Young. And Orlando needs a PG desperately and Bamba shouldn’t have to play behind Vucevic
Ball for Vucevic would work…. Orlando gets a young, capable PG and Lakers gets a decent C