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Orlando Magic On SI •

Magic's Anthony Black & Jett Howard Embracing Leadership Role This Summer

ORLANDO — Anthony Black and Jett Howard have gone from rookies trying to find their way a year ago to second-year players leading the charge for the Orlando Magic head into the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas. With a roster that's mostly comprised of players either trying to break into the league or earn another shot, Black and Howard are the ones most familiar with how the Magic operate and the standard they hold each other to. With the task that lies ahead, Black know his leadership will b...
Orlando Magic On SI •

Magic Pick da Silva Makes Strong Impression in NBA Summer League Prep

ORLANDO — It hasn't taken long for Tristan da Silva, the Orlando Magic's first-round draft pick, to make a strong first impression.da Silva, the 6-foot-8 forward from Germany, is set to participate in the NBA 2K25 Summer League, which kicks off Friday in Las Vegas. Through two practices, da Silva has caught the attention of 2023 first-round pick Jett Howard. "He's amazing," Howard said of da Silva on Monday. "He's killing it so far. You can tell he's a little older. He carries himself that way."...
Orlando Magic On SI •

Magic Banking on Internal Growth to Improve Biggest Need

ORLANDO — As the Orlando Magic sought to build on their best season in over a decade, their outside shooting stood out as the biggest factor keeping them from becoming a bona fide contender in the Eastern Conference.Orlando took a big step in addressing that need by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a three-year, $66 million deal on the first day of NBA free agency. Caldwell-Pope, 31, has been one of the best three-and-D players in the league, making better than 40 percent of his 3s in three o...
Orlando Magic On SI •

Why Signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was the Right Move for the Magic

ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic took the first step in a potential landmark offseason by signing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the opening moments of free agency on Sunday. The deal for the two-time NBA champion is for three years and worth $66 million according to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt. Given Orlando's need for more shooting and more experience, it's tough to dispute the Magic giving KCP the contract they did, but with Paul George still available at the time, would it have hurt them to wait befor...
Orlando Magic On SI •

Magic's Tristan da Silva 'Living The Dream' For Family & Friends

ORLANDO — For many players who pursue their dream of playing in the NBA, the journey they embark on is rarely taken alone. Family, friends, and coaches are often a driving force and play invaluable roles in helping someone on their path to reaching the pro ranks. As for Orlando Magic rookie Tristan da Silva, he reached the pinnacle of his young career on Wednesday when he was taken with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. What was once a dream had become a reality. Now, da Silva is fo...
Orlando Magic On SI •

2024 NBA Draft: Magic Bosses Met Their Match in Tristan da Silva

ORLANDO — It didn't take long for the Orlando Magic and Tristan da Silva to connect. A pre-draft dinner with the Magic general manager Anthony Parker and President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman helped da Silva realize that he wanted to play for this organization. On Wednesday, Orlando took him with the No. 18 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft. "For my dinner interview, Jeff and Anthony told me that usually, those interviews go maybe like an hour, hour-and-a-half," da...
Orlando Magic On SI •

Magic President on Team's Focus: 'We Haven't Done Anything Yet'

ORLANDO — Despite having one of the franchise's best seasons in over a decade, Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman doubled down on the work that is required to become a perennial playoff team."We don't want to lose the north star of our team," Weltman said Monday. "I want to really emphasize this: There's no one in this building, no one — players, coaching staff — that's patting themselves on the back right now. We haven't done anything yet. We've got to work to get bac...
Orlando Magic On SI •

Magic Study Celtics' Model but Plot Their Own Path this Offseason

ORLANDO — The Boston Celtics ran roughshod through the playoffs, losing only three games en route to winning the 18th NBA title in franchise history. They did it with a complementary roster built through free agency, trades, and the draft. The Orlando Magic were watching.President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman said Monday that Boston's winning model is important to study, but hard to emulate."There's so many different ways to get the job done," Weltman said. "Much of it is dependent upon...
Orlando Magic On SI •

How Magic PF Paolo Banchero Can Become Superstar in NBA Playoffs

ORLANDO — For much of his second season, Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero has flown under the radar despite spearheading one of the best turnarounds in the NBA this season. With a strong performance in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Banchero can go from one of the NBA's best-kept secrets to a bonafide superstar. While the playoffs mark uncharted territory for Banchero and a young Magic team, the preparation for Cleveland hasn't been much d...
Orlando Sentinel •

Orlando City's investment with Facundo Torres pays off

As is the case whenever a team signs a player to a record-breaking deal, the hope isn’t just that they play to the level that warranted it but that they elevate the team.Facundo Torres has been worth every penny for Orlando City (18-7-9) since it acquired him in January 2022 with a club-record $7.5 million fee and $1.5 million in bonuses for 100% of his rights from Club Atlético Peñarol in his native Uruguay.In his second season with Orlando City, the forward has taken more initiative offensivel...