Unless you’re a die-hard fan of the Orlando Magic, it’s hard to know who is on the team, who is receiving playing time and what to expect following last week’s trade deadline.
But if you are fan of the Magic, you know this is suddenly an intriguing bunch. Gone are center Nikola Vucevic (Chicago), forward Aaron Gordon (Denver) and Evan Fournier (Boston). In their place are the likes of center Wendall Carter Jr., forward Otto Porter Jr., guard Gary Harris Jr. and rookie guard R.J. Hampton.
Other reasons for promise and perhaps pizzazz include rookie forward Chuma Okeke, rookie guard Cole Anthony (when healthy), point guard Markelle Fultz (ditt0) and forward Jonathan Isaac (double ditto).
Obviously, some holdovers remain and will also continue t0 play roles. That list includes guard/forward Terrence Ross, point guard Michael Carter-Williams and center Khem Birch.
Steve Clifford is left to try to figure all of this out, coaching an almost entirely new team on the fly, with no training camp or preseason.
“We are going to be younger,” Clifford said. “I think guys like Otto Porter, Gary Harris, they can do for the younger guys a lot of the things (Vucevic) did for them. You definitely need that, and I think it’s wise to understand that there could be some tough stretches in games when you have all younger guys on the floor.”
But it’s gone OK so far, with the new-look Magic upending the mighty Los Angeles Clippers for a road win Tuesday night.
More from the Southeast
- Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins was forced to leave Wednesday’s loss to the Phoenix Suns with a sprained left ankle, and an MRI confirmed the injury. “It was pretty sore and I saw him grimacing out there, so we got a sub for him and was told at halftime that he wasn’t able to come back,” interim coach Nate McMillan said, via Sarah K. Spence of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Collins will miss at least a week, the Hawks said.
- How much of a tear has Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook been on lately? Well, it’s been a tear the NBA hasn’t seen in quite some time. Per the Wizards game notes: “Westbrook is averaging 25.3 points, 16.0 rebounds and 15.0 assists per game over his last three outings.” That makes him just the second player in NBA history to average at least 25.0 points, 15.0 rebounds and 15.0 assists over a three-game span since Wilt Chamberlain in 1968.
- In case you missed it, here’s some extension chatter regarding Charlotte Hornets and point guard Terry Rozier. Given his season, it may be worth considering if you’re Charlotte.
- The Hornets are also still contemplating offseason runs at veteran centers. Read more here.
