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Jett Howard Jett Howard leads Magic with 21 points vs. MEM
Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 3:10 PM
Jeff Howard shot 6-of-14 from the field and 6-of-9 from the foul line in Wednesday's 104-98 loss to Memphis, tallying 21 points, one rebound, three assists, and three 3-pointers in 29 minutes.
Analysis: Howard has surpassed the 20-point mark in two of his three games in Las Vegas, providing needed offensive production as one of Orlando's more experienced players in summer league. He could not crack the regular season rotation as a rookie, and the signing of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will make that task difficult in 2024-23. However, Howard appears better equipped to compete than he was last year. |
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Cory Joseph Report: Magic signing Cory Joseph
Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 8:34 AM
Michael Scotto on Twitter
According to a report from Hoops Hype's Michael Scotto, Joseph is signing a two-year deal with Orlando.
Analysis: Joseph averaged 11.4 points per game for the Warriors last season. The reserve guard will likely have a hard time finding significant minutes next season, though. The Magic added Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a backcourt group that includes Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, and Anthony Black. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Joseph to be an impact player any time soon. |
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Anthony Black Magic's Anthony Black out with sprained ankle
Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 7:11 AM
Jason Beede on Twitter
According to a report from The Orlando Sentinel, Black suffered the injury during his last Summer League outing. He won't play against the Timberwolves on Wednesday.
Analysis: Black posted a modest five points and six assists in his last Summer League performance. His absence will give other guards more of a chance to impact games. |
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Jett Howard Jett Howard hits two 3-pointers, scores 14 points
Sun, Jul 14, 2024, 3:46 PM
Jett Howard finished Sunday's 91-86 win over New Orleans with 14 points (6-of-14 FGs), three assists, and two 3-pointers in 28 minutes.
Analysis: After scoring 22 points in Friday's blowout of the Cavaliers, Howard had another solid performance on Sunday. While he could potentially add value as a 3-point shooter, cracking the rotation became more difficult when the Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency. However, Howard's play in Las Vegas should get him on the radar regarding the competition for bench minutes. He doesn't need to be selected in most redraft leagues, but there is some late-round dynasty value. |
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Tristan da Silva Tristan da Silva scores team-high 23 points in win
Sun, Jul 14, 2024, 3:43 PM
Tristan da Silva finished Sunday's 91-86 win over New Orleans with 23 points (8-of-13 FGs, 4-of-4 FTs), four rebounds, two assists, two steals, and three 3-pointers in 27 minutes.
Analysis: After attempting six shots and scoring 13 points in his summer debut on Friday, da Silva was more aggressive in game two. The 18th overall pick out of Colorado led the Magic in scoring, shooting 3-of-6 from beyond the arc while recording two assists and two steals. da Silva's perimeter shooting is one of the encouraging signs for Orlando this summer, as this was perceived to be where he needed to improve the most. He was not a high-volume shooter at Colorado; hence the questions, but da Silva has looked very comfortable in Las Vegas. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner inks 5-year max extension with Magic
Fri, Jul 5, 2024, 9:23 AM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Franz Wagner has agreed to a $224 million rookie max extension to remain with the Magic through the 2029-30 season.
Analysis: Woj notes that the deal could be worth as much as $269 million if Wagner is selected to an All-NBA team. The Michigan product averaged career highs across the board with19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals across 72 appearances, and he's now locked in as one of Orlando's core players for what looks to be a bright future after the success of last season. |
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Trevelin Queen Trevelin Queen returning to Magic on two-way deal
Thu, Jul 4, 2024, 8:40 AM
Chris Haynes on Twitter
TNT's Chris Haynes reports that Trevelin Queen will return to the Magic on a two-way deal.
Analysis: Queen played on a two-way deal last season and appeared in 14 games for Orlando. In three games with 25 or more minutes, the New Mexico State product averaged 7.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks and 1.0 triples. |
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Jonathan Isaac Woj: Magic extending Jonathan Isaac for five years
Tue, Jul 2, 2024, 11:29 AM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Isaac is signing a five-year deal worth $84 million.
Analysis: Isaac appears set to stay with Orlando for the foreseeable future. The two-way swingman was once seen as a potential cornerstone but was derailed by injuries for several seasons. The Magic were able to get the most out of him in shorts bursts throughout their 2023-24 campaign and he'll likely continue to play a key role off the bench next season. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect too much from him with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the fold. |
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Moritz Wagner Mo Wagner, Mo Money: Wagner returns on 2-year deal
Tue, Jul 2, 2024, 9:53 AM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that Mo Wagner has agreed to a new, two-year, $22 million deal with the Magic.
Analysis: Wagner appeared in 80 games last season and averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds across 17.7 minutes, shooting 60.1% from the floor and 81.4% from the charity stripe. He'll be a deep-league option in fantasy hoops when someone ahead of him on the depth chart is forced to miss time. |
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Gary Harris Woj: Magic sign Gary Harris to two-year contract
Mon, Jul 1, 2024, 2:32 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Magic have signed Gary Harris to a two-year, $14 million contract.
Analysis: Due to injury, Harris was limited to 51 games in 2023-24. He started 27 appearances, averaging 6.9 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.4 3-pointers in 24.0 minutes. The combination of playing time and availability limited Harris' fantasy value, and he won't be a must-draft player in most leagues. The Magic signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and he is expected to be the starting two-guard come Opening Night. |
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Goga Bitadze Woj: ORL, Goga Bitadze agree to 3-year, $25M deal
Mon, Jul 1, 2024, 12:02 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Magic and Goga Bitadze have agreed to a three-year, $25 million deal.
Analysis: Bitadze has re-signed with Orlando, which was the expected outcome once he hit free agency. He appeared in 62 games in his first full season with the Magic, averaging 5.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 15.4 minutes. Bitadze was most impactful in fantasy basketball when starting center Wendell Carter Jr. was out due to injury, with he and Moritz Wagner offering solid streaming value. Look for more of the same in 2024-25, especially if Orlando also re-signs Wagner. |
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Report: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope headed to Magic
Sun, Jun 30, 2024, 1:30 PM
Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter
According to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has agreed to a three-year, $66 million deal with the Magic.
Analysis: The Magic have addressed an area of need (3-point shooter) while adding another solid defender to the roster. Caldwell-Pope, who declined a player option worth $15.4 million that would have kept him in Denver, shot 40.6% from three last season and 42.3% during the Nuggets' run to the title in 2022-23. KCP will have solid fantasy value in Orlando, as he'll be in the starting lineup alongside Jalen Suggs. This transaction likely takes Orlando out of the Paul George sweepstakes. |
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Moritz Wagner Woj: Magic declining team option for Moritz Wagner
Sat, Jun 29, 2024, 12:00 PM
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Magic are declining Moritz Wagner's team option for 2024-25.
Analysis: Orlando is declining Wagner's $8 million option but both sides are willing to negotiate a new deal to keep him with the team. He has a chance to step into a bigger role next season behind Wendell Carter Jr., as Goga Bitadze is also entering free agency this summer. |
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Joe Ingles Woj: Magic to decline Joe Ingles' player option
Sat, Jun 29, 2024, 5:02 AM
Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Magic are declining Joe Ingles' $11 million team option for next season, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Analysis: While Ingles will be an unrestricted free agent when free agency opens on Sunday evening, this does not mean his time in Orlando is over. According to Wojnarowski, the two sides will continue to have dialogue on a potential agreement. Ingles appeared in 68 games during his first season with the Magic, averaging 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.0 3-pointers in 17.2 minutes. Given the presence of Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, Ingles' fantasy impact was muted last season. |
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Tristan da Silva Tristan da Silva drafted by Orlando at No. 18
Wed, Jun 26, 2024, 9:04 PM
Shams Charania on Twitter
Tristan da Silva was selected by the Magic with the No. 18 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Analysis: The younger brother of former Stanford standout Oscar da Silva, Tristan played four seasons at Colorado, with the final two being his best production-wise. As a senior, he accounted for 16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.1 steals, 0.6 blocks, and 1.9 3-pointers, shooting 49.3% from the field and 83.5% from the foul line. While da Silva landed in the middle of the pack among forwards in the standing and max vertical tests, he was one of the best regarding lane agility and sprints. He has good size and lateral agility for a wing, but da Silva is not considered to be a lockdown defender at this stage in his career. The perimeter shooting is something teams can work with, however, as the league is always on the prowl for capable catch-and-shoot wings. His long-range shooting is particularly valuable to an Orlando team that ranked dead-last in made three-pointers last season. |
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Wendell Carter Wendell Carter Jr. records 13/7/1/3 line Sunday
Sun, May 5, 2024, 3:56 PM
Wendell Carter Jr. logged 34 minutes in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers, tallying 13 points (5-of-10 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), seven rebounds, one assist, three steals, and two 3-pointers.
Analysis: After coming off the bench in the series' first two games, Carter returned to the starting lineup ahead of Game 3 and remained in that role. Sunday's series decider was his best game of the seven, with WCJ recording series-highs in points and steals. Beginning the season with a Yahoo ADP of 104.5, Carter's value was again hampered by injuries. He appeared in 55 games this season and has surpassed six just once in his three full seasons in Orlando. Carter has two seasons remaining on his contract. Still, the injury history makes it difficult to trust him entirely in most fantasy leagues, especially when he failed to crack the top 150 in 8- and 9-cat formats. |
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Gary Harris Gary Harris hits two triples in Game 7 defeat
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:49 AM
Gary Harris (hamstring) accounted for six points (2-of-4 FGs), two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 27 minutes in Sunday's Game 7 loss to the Cavaliers.
Analysis: Questionable for Sunday's game after sitting out Game 6 with a strained hamstring, Harris started and played 27 minutes. While he did make two 3-pointers, the overall impact was muted. Unfortunately for Harris, injuries have been a significant storyline since the nine-year pro arrived in Orlando via the Aaron Gordon trade. He played 54 games this season, finishing ranked well outside the top 200 in 8- and 9-cat formats. Harris will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and regardless of where he could land, fantasy managers don't need to consider selecting him in most drafts. |
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Jalen Suggs Jalen Suggs shoots poorly, scores 10 points Sunday
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:43 AM
Jalen Suggs finished Sunday's Game 7 loss to Cleveland with 10 points (2-of-13 FGs, 4-of-5 FTs), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two 3-pointers in 40 minutes.
Analysis: Despite opening the game making six of its first 11 3-pointers, the Magic received a harsh reminder of their most significant weakness in Game 7. Orlando would finish 10-of-31 from beyond the arc, with Suggs making two of his 10 attempts. The third-year guard reached double figures in six of the series' seven games, but he shot below 40% from the field and 29% from three. While injury-related questions and limited production when healthy during his first two seasons negatively impacted Suggs' ADP (141.9), he provided top 100 value in 8- and 9-cat formats. Whether or not this season gives his value a boost ahead of drafts in the fall depends on what changes Orlando makes to its perimeter rotation via the draft and free agency. Also, Suggs will be eligible for an extension this offseason. However, unlike Franz Wagner, the decision does not appear as clear-cut for the Magic front office, even with his improved 2023-24 campaign. |
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Franz Wagner Franz Wagner endures brutal Game 7 performance
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:34 AM
Franz Wagner shot 1-of-13 from the field and 4-of-4 from the foul line in Sunday's 106-94 loss to the Cavaliers, scoring six points with six rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one blocked shot in 34 minutes.
Analysis: Playing in the biggest game of his brief NBA career, as were many of his Magic teammates, Wagner struggled mightily on Sunday afternoon. He could not make anything happen offensively, missing all five of his 3-point attempts while shooting 1-of-8 from two. Cleveland's Isaac Okoro certainly deserves some credit for that, but this performance was a severe departure from the norm for Wagner. Based on the Yahoo ADP (66.6), 2023-24 went as expected for Franz, who finished the regular season as a 6th-round player in 8- and 9-cat formats. Sunday wasn't a good way for him to go out, but Wagner will be one of Orlando's solid building blocks moving forward. He's eligible for a contract extension this offseason; it would be surprising if the front office did not make that happen. |
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Paolo Banchero Paolo Banchero records 38/16/2/3/1 line in Game 7
Sun, May 5, 2024, 10:05 AM
NBA on ESPN on Twitter
Paolo Banchero logged 41 minutes in Sunday's 106-94 loss to Cleveland, amassing 38 points (10-of-28 FGs, 15-of-18 FTs), 16 rebounds, two assists, three steals, one block, and three 3-pointers.
Analysis: Between the field goal percentage and his five turnovers, Banchero did not have the most efficient Sunday afternoon. However, his overall play was the primary reason why Orlando had a chance to win Game 7. The lack of consistent help from others factored into Banchero's efficiency issues. Still, he gained a significant amount of respect from mainstream followers of the NBA with his play throughout the series. Orlando lost all four games its standout forward committed at least five turnovers. And that category significantly impacted his fantasy value during the regular season. While a top 100 player in 8-cat formats, Banchero finished the regular season outside the top 150 in 9-cat. How Orlando handles its needs on the perimeter (consistent shooting and playmaking) will impact whether Banchero comes off in the fifth round of most drafts (as he did last fall) or slightly higher. |
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