Orlando Magic Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bamba Won't Start Any Time Soon

October 19th, 2018 at 8:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Magic lottery pick Mohamed Bamba will come off the bench and have his minutes monitored, John Denton of the team’s website reports. Coach Steve Clifford doesn’t feel the 20-year-old 7-footer is ready to jump into the lineup any time soon. “I want him to play 82 (games), and he’s going to be out there and playing quality minutes,” Clifford said. “But he’s just not ready to play starter’s minutes against starting players. (A reserve role) is a big part of how you bring a player along. He’s in a role that’s ideal for him.” The unspecified minutes restriction is designed to have him “playing his best in March and April,” Clifford added.

The Magic can be expected to do their due diligence and gauge starting center Nikola Vucevic’s trade value, according to Michael Scotto of The Athletic. Vucevic is in his walk year and will enter unrestricted free agency in July. Vucevic doesn’t fit president Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond’s desire for length and versatility, Scotto adds.

Steve Clifford: Magic Talented Enough To Make Playoffs

October 18th, 2018 at 8:55pm CST by JD Shaw

Magic coach Steve Clifford believes the team has enough talent to make the postseason, Chris Hays of the Orlando Sentinel writes. The team features a fearsome frontcourt headlined by Aaron Gordon, Mohamed Bamba, Jonathan Isaac and Nikola Vucevic.

Weltman Explains Aaron's Gordon's New Contract

October 17th, 2018 at 8:23pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Magic showed their faith in Aaron Gordon with a new four-year, $76MM contract this summer, and president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman tells Josh Robbins of The Athletic that Gordon’s intangibles factored into the decision. Gordon is coming off a breakthrough season in which he raised his stats to 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. “Organizationally, we wouldn’t have done what we did if we didn’t have the utmost confidence that he’s going to be able to not just become a good player in his own right, but a player that lifts others,” Weltman said.

Kyler Explores Magic's Ownership Outlook

October 16th, 2018 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

A pair of longtime NBA owners – Richard DeVos of the Magic and Paul Allen of the Trail Blazers – have passed way in the last month and a half. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders explores what that means for the future of those two franchises.

2018/19 Over/Unders: Southeast Division

October 15th, 2018 at 10:40am CST by Luke Adams

The 2018/19 NBA regular season will get underway tomorrow, which means it’s time to get serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign. With the help of the lines from Bovada and the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division, to have you weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.

Having already looked at the Atlantic, Central, Southwest, and Pacific divisions, we’re moving onto the Southeast today…

Washington Wizards

2017/18 record: 43-39
Over/under for 2018/19: 45.5 wins
Major offseason moves:
- Added: Dwight Howard, Austin Rivers, Jeff Green, Troy Brown, Thomas Bryant
- Lost: Marcin Gortat, Mike Scott, Tim Frazier, Ramon Sessions, Ty Lawson, Chris McCullough

How many games will the Wizards win in 2018/19?

Over 45.5 56.28% (215 votes)

Under 45.5 43.72% (167 votes)

Total Votes: 382

(Trade Rumors app users, click here for Wizards poll)

Miami Heat

2017/18 record: 44-38
Over/under for 2018/19: 43.5 wins
Major offseason moves:
- Added: Duncan Robinson, Yante Maten
- Lost: Luke Babbitt, Jordan Mickey

How many games will the Heat win in 2018/19?

Under 43.5 57.42% (209 votes)

Over 43.5 42.58% (155 votes)

Total Votes: 364

(Trade Rumors app users, click here for Heat poll)

Charlotte Hornets

2017/18 record: 36-46
Over/under for 2018/19: 35.5 wins
Major offseason moves:
- Added: Tony Parker, Miles Bridges, Bismack Biyombo, Devonte’ Graham
- Lost: Dwight Howard, Michael Carter-Williams, Treveon Graham, Julyan Stone

How many games will the Hornets win in 2018/19?

Over 35.5 56.73% (198 votes)

Under 35.5 43.27% (151 votes)

Total Votes: 349

(Trade Rumors app users, click here for Hornets poll)

Orlando Magic

2017/18 record: 25-57
Over/under for 2018/19: 30.5 wins
Major offseason moves:
- Added: Mohamed Bamba, Timofey Mozgov, Jerian Grant, Jarell Martin, Melvin Frazier, Isaiah Briscoe
- Lost: Mario Hezonja, Shelvin Mack, Marreese Speights, Bismack Biyombo, Arron Afflalo, Rodney Purvis

How many games will the Magic win in 2018/19?

Under 30.5 68.41% (236 votes)

Over 30.5 31.59% (109 votes)

Total Votes: 345

(Trade Rumors app users, click here for Magic poll)

Atlanta Hawks

2017/18 record: 24-58
Over/under for 2018/19: 23.5 wins
Major offseason moves:
- Added: Trae Young, Jeremy Lin, Alex Len, Vince Carter, Kevin Huerter, Omari Spellman, Daniel Hamilton, Justin Anderson
- Lost: Dennis Schroder, Mike Muscala, Malcolm Delaney, Tyler Cavanaugh, Isaiah Taylor, Josh Magette, Damion Lee, Andrew White

How many games will the Hawks win in 2018/19?

Under 23.5 58.38% (202 votes)

Over 23.5 41.62% (144 votes)

Total Votes: 346

(Trade Rumors app users, click here for Hawks poll)

Previous voting results:

Atlantic:

Boston Celtics (59.5 wins): Over (53.63%)
Toronto Raptors (55.5 wins): Over (56.95%)
Philadelphia 76ers (54.5 wins): Under (51.19%)
Brooklyn Nets (31.5 wins): Under (56.04%)
New York Knicks (28.5 wins): Under (54.13%)

Southwest:

Houston Rockets (56.5 wins): Over (69.33%)
New Orleans Pelicans (45.5 wins): Under (53.4%)
San Antonio Spurs (44.5 wins): Under (60%)
Dallas Mavericks (34.5 wins): Over (55.16%)
Memphis Grizzlies (34.5 wins): Under (60.87%)

Central:

Indiana Pacers (47.5 wins): Over (62.04%)
Milwaukee Bucks (47.5 wins): Over (73.7%)
Detroit Pistons (38.5 wins): Over (56.36%)
Cleveland Cavaliers (30.5 wins): Over (55.42%)
Chicago Bulls (29.5 wins): Over (61.8%)

Pacific:

Golden State Warriors (62.5 wins): Over (53.45%)
Los Angeles Lakers (48.5 wins): Over (55.2%)
Los Angeles Clippers (36.5 wins): Under (55.7%)
Phoenix Suns (29.5 wins): Under (53.4%)
Sacramento Kings (25.5 wins): Under (63.87%)

And-Ones: Barkley, J. Smith, D. Johnson, L. Brown

October 14th, 2018 at 11:35am CST by Arthur Hill

TNT analyst Charles Barkley has been outspoken about his desire to run an NBA team and he said in a recent interview that he thought the Magic were going to give him a chance last year, relays Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype. Barkley told radio station 98.7 FM Arizona that he was hoping for an interview in Orlando before the organization decided on Jeff Weltman as president of basketball operations and John Hammond as GM.

“They hired another one of those analytical idiots instead of just getting the best players,” Barkley said.

Barkley expressed interest in taking over the Sixers‘ front office in 2012 and the Suns‘ in both 2010 and 2013. Barkley didn’t indicate whether he wants to be a candidate to replace Phoenix GM Ryan McDonough, who was fired earlier this week.

There’s more NBA-related news to pass along:

At age 32, Josh Smith hasn’t give up hope of an NBA comeback, tweets Ben Stinar of AmicoHoops. Smith played three games for the Pelicans last year, but otherwise hasn’t been in the league since the end of the 2015/16 season. However, a source tells Stinar that Smith is working out and waiting for an opportunity.
Most teams made their final roster cuts before yesterday’s waiver deadline at 5pm Eastern, but a few still have decisions to make, notes Bobby Marks of ESPN. Players with non-guaranteed salaries have begun to receive daily payments that will count against their teams’ salary caps. The Suns, for instance, will owe Isaiah Canaan $19,858 if they wait until Monday to waive him.
The NBA has changed the way it will count days of service for two-way players, tweets ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Travel days to and from the G League will no longer count against the 45-day limit.
Former Thunder center Dakari Johnson has opted to remain with Qingdao in China, contrary to a report earlier this week that he planned to leave, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The team’s GM confirmed Johnson’s decision.
Former NBA and NCAA coach Larry Brown recently traveled to the United States for minor surgery, Carchia tweets. Brown currently coaches Fiat Torino and will be re-evaluated by doctors next week to determine when he can return to Italy.

Magic Waive Braian Angola-Rodas

October 13th, 2018 at 9:24am CST by Luke Adams

The Magic have reduced their roster count to the regular season limit, waiving camp invitee Braian Angola-Rodas, according to Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter). The team confirmed the move with an announcement of its own (via Twitter). Orlando now has 15 players on standard NBA contracts and two more on two-way deals.

Angola-Rodas, who began his college career at North Idaho State before transferring to Florida State, went undrafted this year and caught on with the Magic for Summer League and then training camp. The 6’6″ shooting guard averaged 12.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, and 3.0 APG in his senior year for the Seminoles, knocking down 1.8 threes per game at a 37.6% rate.

Because he was on a non-guaranteed contract, Angola-Rodas won’t leave a cap hit on Orlando’s books. He’s on track to join the team’s G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, for the start of the 2018/19 season, per Robbins.

Magic Waive Devin Davis, John Petrucelli

October 12th, 2018 at 1:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic have released a pair of players from their 20-man preseason roster, announcing today (via Twitter) that they’ve requested waivers on forward Devin Davis and guard John Petrucelli.

Both Davis and Petrucelli were recent additions to Orlando’s roster, and were never considered likely to make the team’s 15-man regular season roster. Instead, they’re good bets to end up playing for the Lakeland Magic, Orlando’s G League affiliate. Because they were on Exhibit 10 contracts, they’ll be eligible for bonuses worth up to $50K if they stick with Lakeland for at least two months.

The Magic now have 18 players under contract. If they don’t sign any more new players within the next couple days, they’ll just need to cut one more player in order to get down to the regular season roster limit.

Aaron Gordon's Agent Starts Own Company

October 10th, 2018 at 4:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA agent Calvin Andrews, who represents players like Aaron Gordon (Magic) and Josh Okogie (Timberwolves) has left BDA Sports to form his own agency called Serving Athletes with Integrity, tweets Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal.

Magic Waive B.J. Johnson, Sign John Petrucelli

October 10th, 2018 at 3:49pm CST by Luke Adams

3:49pm: The Magic have officially signed Petrucelli and waived Johnson, the club confirmed in a press release.

12:51pm: The Magic are making a pair of procedural roster moves, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that the club will sign John Petrucelli and waive B.J. Johnson. Both players are expected to ultimately end up with the Lakeland Magic, Orlando’s G League affiliate, Robbins adds.

Petrucelli, a 6’4″ guard, spent last season with the Magic’s G League squad, averaging 8.3 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 43 games (20.9 MPG). Lakeland holds his returning NBAGL rights, but signing him to an Exhibit 10 contract and then cutting him will allow Orlando to give him a bonus worth up to $50K, which won’t affect the club’s salary cap.

As for Johnson, he completed his college career this past spring before joining the Magic for training camp. In his senior year at La Salle, the 6’7″ shooting guard recorded 20.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG, earning Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors.

Orlando’s roster will remain at the 20-man preseason limit once the team officially finalizes both of these moves.