Magic excel defensively, shift to assessing totally free agents at summer league

The Orlando Magic sat down No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero for the remainder of summertime league engage in in Las Vegas to give additional players on their roster an opportunity beginning with Monday’s video game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Magic lost to the Thunder 84-81 just after lacking two 3-issue pictures to tie and send the sport into extra time.

Together with sitting Banchero, the Magic also sat out third-calendar year veteran R.J. Hampton. It is normal for a a lot more professional player or a superior draft decide on to eventually sit out in the course of summertime league so other people, largely cost-free brokers hoping to get recognized and picked up instruction camp invitations for September, get actively playing time.

“We brought a ton of guys to summer months league and we want to see everyone get an possibility,” Magic summertime league mentor Jesse Mermuys mentioned. “It was time to take a look at some other guys. They’ve attained that.”

The players who experienced the most eyes on them had been middle Emanuel Terry and ahead Justin James. Terry experienced a video game-significant 14 rebounds and scored 10 factors when James went 6-for-9 on industry-target tries and scored a group-superior 16 details. The pair played for a combined complete of 45 minutes.

“We’re receiving terrific heat on the basketball,” Mermuys said. “The physicality has been significant level. I’m really happy of the team’s energy defensively.”

No. 32 choose Caleb Houstan performed a tough 30 minutes, heading 2-for-10 on field-aim attempts (together with -for-6 from 3), and scored 4 details.

The Magic’s next sport will be Thursday against the New York Knicks at 7:30 p.m. on NBA Television.

The Magic have 16 gamers signed to typical contracts which is 1 much more than what is allowed the moment the normal period commences. NBA teams can have as lots of as 20.

This implies the gamers who’ll be showcased to stop summer time league by Orlando are generally auditioning for other NBA groups to get training camp invites for September, the G League and overseas possibilities.

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