<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/best-free-agent-destinations-for-damian-lillard-after-guard-was-waived-by-bucks');   ga('set', 'title', 'Best free-agent destinations for Damian Lillard after Bucks waived him');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/757053298-best-free-agent-destinations-for-damian-lillard-after-guard-is-waived-by-bucks.jpg"></figure><h1>Best free-agent destinations for Damian Lillard after Bucks waived him</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-01T10:33:12-07:00">July 1st, 10:33am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-01T10:34:10-07:00">July 1st, 10:34am</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Milwaukee Bucks shocked the basketball world and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-milwaukee-ditches-damian-lillards-113-million-contract-make-room-myles-turner">waived Damian Lillard</a> on Tuesday. The Bucks made the decision to let go the point guard and stretch his contract out over the next five years to make room for <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/bucks-news-myles-turner-poaches-pacers-107-million-milwaukee-free-agency">Myles Turner, whom the Bucks signed to a four-year, $107 million deal</a>.</p><p>The decision puts Lillard in an interesting spot. The point guard will likely miss all of next season while rehabbing a torn Achilles tendon, but he is still one of the best point guards in the NBA when healthy.</p><p>That makes it unclear if Lillard will seek a big contract right away or if he will stay on the open market until next season, when there will be a clearer picture on the state of his injury and the NBA as a whole. Either way, there will be a market for the nine-time All-Star at some point, so check out the gallery to see the best free-agent fits for Lillard.</p><h2><b>3. Kings</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Damian-Lillard_110d91.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>It’s common knowledge that the Sacramento Kings have a need for a point guard. Domantas Sabonis <a href="https://motociclismo.pt/en/domantas-sabonis-declares-sacramento-kings-need-a-point-guard-like-dennis-schroder-to-ignite-playoff-dreams/#:~:text=Home%20nba-,Domantas%20Sabonis%20declares%20Sacramento%20Kings%20need%20a%20point%20guard,Schroder%20to%20ignite%20playoff%20dreams&amp;text=As%20the%20Sacramento%20Kings%20embark,moment%20in%20their%20restructuring%20efforts." rel="noopener">made that known</a> at the end of the season. Of course, the Kings’ lack of a lead guard is their own fault, as they’ve traded Tyrese Haliburton and De’Aaron Fox in recent seasons.</p><p>The Kings have already set free-agent <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=westbrook+brogson+meetngs+kings&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8" rel="noopener">meetings with</a> Malcolm Brogdon and Russell Westbrook, and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-news-dennis-schroder-leaves-pistons-free-agency-contract">Dennis Schroder was already signed to a $45 million deal.</a></p><p>All of those point guards are solid rotation options, but none of them are clear-cut starters at this point in their careers. Even if the Kings sign another guard after Schroder, all of those players are just stopgap options, which would leave the door open to the Kings finding a more long-term starter.</p><p>Damian Lillard could be that player. Not having Lillard for the upcoming season, and, therefore, risking a season of below-average point guard play, would be less than ideal for the Kings, but they might not have a better option.</p><p>Upon returning to health, Lillard’s shooting would thrive alongside a passing big man like Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Malik Monk could help take some of the scoring burden off of the guard, who is currently 34 years old.</p><p>The Kings don’t rank higher on this list of Lillard destinations because, although they need a point guard, he’d be a bad fit on defense for a team that is already lackluster on the less glamorous side of the court.</p><p>The Kings would really struggle to defend anybody if they were to bring in Lillard, especially considering he will be coming off of a career-altering leg injury once he returns to action.</p><h2><b>2. </b><b>Heat</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Damian-Lillard-looks-on.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Lillard has long interested the Miami Heat, and <a href="https://x.com/ByTimReynolds/status/1940085405187035350?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" rel="noopener">reports suggest</a> that they once again will pursue the Weber State product. The Heat were viewed as the front-runners for Lillard’s services in 2023 before the Portland Trail Blazers instead <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/nba-news-jrue-holiday-drops-truth-bomb-bucks-damian-lillard-trade-backfiring">traded Lillard to the Bucks</a>. Miami is clearly infatuated with Lillard’s play style.</p><p>He is one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/ranking-20-best-shooters-in-nba-history-stephen-curry-ray-allen-klay-thompson">best 3-point shooters the NBA has ever seen</a>, and before going down with injury, Lillard was averaging 24.9 points per game. He averaged as much as 32.2 points per game just two seasons ago.</p><p>However, players are often not the same after Achilles tears, but Kevin Durant has managed to find success after suffering that injury. Perhaps there is still enough left in the tank with Lillard that would allow him to become the third member of a big three that already includes Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro.</p><h2><b>1. Magic</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Damian-Lillard-Kyle-Kuzma.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Orlando Magic have already addressed their biggest need this offseason, shooting. Orlando ranked last in 3-point shooting last season. They made a blockbuster <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/desmond-bane-trade-grades-magic-grizzlies-blockbuster">trade for Desmond Bane</a> and drafted Jase Richardson, both whose best trait is shooting. The Magic also <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-tyus-jones-contract-desmond-bane-trade">signed Tyus Jones</a>, a player who has improved to become a 40-plus percent shooter from deep in recent seasons.</p><p>They might not stop adding shooting talent, and Lillard ranks fourth all-time with 2,804 makes from beyond the arc. After all, the Magic only signed Jones to a one-year deal, so Lillard could take over come next season.</p><p>He would fit perfectly alongside a defensive-minded guard in Jalen Suggs and slashing wings in Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Damian Lillard is the player who could potentially get the Magic over the hump. He has tons of big playoff moments to his resume, and his clutch-ability could be the missing piece for the Magic.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Best free-agent destinations for Damian Lillard after Bucks waived him

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-tyus-jones-contract-desmond-bane-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic add Tyus Jones on $7 million contract after Desmond Bane trade');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1743.jpeg"><figcaption>John Hefti-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic add Tyus Jones on $7 million contract after Desmond Bane trade</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T17:49:24-07:00">June 30th, 5:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T17:49:24-07:00">June 30th, 5:49pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-contract-decisions-moe-wagner-caleb-houstan">Orlando Magic started off their offseason moves</a> before the NBA Finals were even over when they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/magic-news-chris-broussard-contender-claim-desmond-bane-trade">acquired Desmond Bane in a trade</a> with the Memphis Grizzlies. The trade was a move towards becoming a legitimate contender in the Eastern Conference. And with the NBA free agency negotiation period beginning on Monday, the Magic made another big move with veteran point guard Tyus Jones.</p><p>The Magic and Tyus Jones <a href="https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/1939841570427076949" rel="noopener">agreed to a contract</a> in free agency for one year and worth $7 million, as per ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel. Jones spent last season with the Phoenix Suns after signing as a free agent in the offseason. The No. 24 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, Jones has long been considered one of the best backup point guards in the NBA.</p><p>Last season, Jones’ role with the Suns was split between starting and coming off the bench. He appeared in 81 games, including 58 starts, at a little over 26 minutes per game. He averaged 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 5.3 assists with splits of 44.8 percent shooting from the field, 41.4 percent shooting from the three-point line and 89.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Now entering his 11th season in the NBA, Jones began his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves after they acquired his rights via a draft day trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jones played the first four seasons of his career with the Wolves before signing as a free agent with the Memphis Grizzlies. His Grizzlies stint spanned four seasons as well. Jones also played one season for the Washington Wizards after being traded by the Grizzlies ahead of the 2023-24 season.</p><p>He will now help a Magic team looking to move into the upper-echelon in the Eastern Conference. His role will likely be the primary backup point guard to Jalen Suggs. This past season, the Magic finished with the seventh seed in the East after defeating the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in. They were eventually eliminated in the opening round of the NBA playoffs by the Boston Celtics.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic add Tyus Jones on $7 million contract after Desmond Bane trade

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/nba-rumors-how-magic-contract-decisions-tyus-jones-suns-chris-paul-reunion');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: How Magic’s contract decisions impact Tyus Jones, Suns’ Chris Paul reunion');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Chris-Paul-and-Tyus-Jones.jpg"><figcaption>Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: How Magic’s contract decisions impact Tyus Jones, Suns’ Chris Paul reunion</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-30T06:47:40-07:00">June 30th, 6:47am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-30T06:47:40-07:00">June 30th, 6:47am</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/magic-news-orlando-contract-decisions-moe-wagner-caleb-houstan">Magic are looking to make some moves</a> when free agency arrives, as it seems like they’re going all in for next season. After trading for Desmond Bane, it was obvious that they were looking to take that next step, and now they will have to fill in some holes on their roster.</p><p>With the recent moves that the Magic have made, it is setting up for a potential backup guard to <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/the-latest-freshest-and-hottest-nba?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167147450&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">sign with them</a>, which also has something to do with Chris Paul, according to the Stein Line.</p><p>“It is believed Orlando’s Sunday business — declining the $11 million team option for Moe Wagner along with the $2.1 million team option for Caleb Houstan — represents two steps toward creating the financial wiggle room needed to finally land Tyus Jones in the Magic Kingdom after the veteran point guard has been linked to them for years,” the Stein Line wrote.</p><p>“If Jones indeed exits Phoenix, that would open the door for Paul’s potential reunion with the Suns,” they continued.</p><p>There were many questions on where <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-chris-paul-reunion-suns-clippers-possibility">Paul might land this offseason</a>, and teams such as the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers have come up. The Suns is where Paul made it to the NBA Finals in 2021, and he was a good fit for what they were trying to do, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he returned there.</p><h2><b>Magic looking to make a move for Tyus Jones</b></h2><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/nba-rumors-magic-interested-signing-desmond-banes-ex-grizzlies-teammate">Jones has been connected to the Magic</a> for about a week now, and it makes sense with their need for a solid backup guard.</p><p>“Sources say that the Orlando Magic are among the teams to express interest in Jones, who played alongside new Magic marquee acquisition Desmond Bane for three seasons in Memphis. Bane posted on Twitter in April 2024 that ‘doors [are] always open’ for a reunification with Jones,” Jake Fischer wrote.</p><p>Jones has been a solid backup guard for most of his career, and last season he was put in a starting role with the Suns. That experience was probably up and down for him, especially with the Suns not having a great season. If Jones decides to sign with the Magic, hopefully, he’s put in a role that works best for him, and he can help the second unit. It’ll be interesting to see what Jones decides to do when free agency opens.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: How Magic’s contract decisions impact Tyus Jones, Suns’ Chris Paul reunion

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/orlando-magic-2025-nba-draft-grades-every-pick');   ga('set', 'title', 'Orlando Magic 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/267b3094-5561-11f0-b357-0242ac120005.jpeg"></figure><h1>Orlando Magic 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T23:07:32-07:00">June 29th, 11:07pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T23:07:32-07:00">June 29th, 11:07pm</time><address><a href="http://hoopnut.blogspot.com/">Enzo Flojo</a>Enzo Flojo is an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints and a columnist for Asian basketball at FIBA. He brings a dynamic spirit and background, having expertise that spans writing, analytics, coaching, and broadcasting. He is also currently an Assistant Coach on Scouting &amp; Analytics for the Philippine national youth basketball team.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic entered the 2025 NBA Draft as a young, frisky team rich in talent but poor in polish. With the Eastern Conference deepening and expectations growing, Orlando approached this draft needing more than just “upside.” They needed real answers. For a front office that’s too often played it safe or late, this year’s picks suggest a meaningful shift. By targeting proven skillsets and high-IQ prospects, the Magic may have finally started forging a path to actual playoff viability.</p><h2><b>What-Ifs and Asterisks</b></h2><p>The Magic concluded the regular season <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/orl">with a 41-41 record</a>, clinging to a playoff spot before succumbing to the Boston Celtics <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic-bold-predictions-for-celtics-series-in-2025-nba-playoffs">in the opening round</a>. If Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner had not been absent for lengthy periods of time, Orlando’s year might have turned out quite differently. Similarly, if Jalen Suggs and Mo Wagner never <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/magic-news-cole-anthony-strong-message-paolo-banchero-franz-wagner-injuries">had season-ending injuries</a>.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Paolo-Banchero-5-reacts-with-forward-Franz-Wagner-22-after-making-a-shot.jpg"><figcaption>© Rob Gray-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>This successfully explains why the Magic are not in the 50-win range. They also didn’t do enough in the prior summer to improve the offense. Their headline offseason move, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, will end the season shooting less than 35 percent from three. He was also never going to provide the shot-making and initiation that this team severely lacks in the half-court.</p><p>The loss against the Celtics was not unexpected. However, it proved what many had suspected: the Magic are caught in a perilous middle zone. They are maybe one offensive gear away from actual prominence.</p><p>Here we will hand out our grades for every player whom the Orlando Magic picked at the recent 2025 NBA Draft.</p><h2><b>Jase Richardson, SG, Michigan State</b></h2><p><b>Grade: A</b></p><p>The Magic finally attacked their shooting woes with purpose. In Jase Richardson, they may have found <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic-jase-richardson-5-biggest-steals-2025-nba-draft-round-1">the kind of backcourt bolt</a> they’ve lacked for years.</p><p>Richardson isn’t just a name that pops thanks to his NBA pedigree (he’s the son of two-time Slam Dunk Champion Jason Richardson). He’s a genuinely savvy, skilled guard who slipped further in the draft than expected. At 6’1”, he’s undersized by modern combo guard standards. However, he more than compensates with basketball IQ, work ethic, and a smooth offensive game that fits snugly beside Orlando’s jumbo creators.</p><p>Richardson showed strong off-ball instincts at Michigan State. That’s where he shot well from deep, made quick reads, and played bigger than his frame on defense. He handled a growing role late in the season with maturity and versatility. This suggests untapped playmaking upside that Tom Izzo’s system may have hidden. That’s not just intriguing; it’s a potential ceiling-raiser.</p><p>The concerns are real, though. His size makes him a mismatch risk. Unless he tightens his handle, he may struggle to take over possessions. Still, the fact that Orlando found a player this polished, this intelligent, and this ready to contribute where they drafted him? That’s smart team-building. It seems like they finally have a front office that goes beyond “project potential.”</p><p>If Desmond Bane, whom the Magic acquired via trade, represents the big-ticket remedy for spacing, Richardson represents the quiet steal that could quietly help tie it all together. The Magic didn’t overthink this, and they’re better for it.</p><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_1410.jpeg"><figcaption>Brett Davis-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h2><b>Noah Penda, F, Le Mans (France)</b></h2><p><b>Grade: C</b></p><p>If Richardson was a value pick with upside and clear fit, Noah Penda feels more like a long-view gamble.</p><p>A 6’8″ forward from Le Mans in France, Penda brings versatility and maturity beyond his years. He reads the floor well, doesn’t force the issue, and defends multiple positions without blinking. His playmaking from the wing position evokes a veteran’s mind. That matters for a Magic team that often gets too “stiff” in its half-court actions.</p><p>Still, the upside here depends heavily on development. Penda shot just 30 percent from three overseas. His form isn’t yet fluid enough to inspire confidence that he’ll stretch defenses soon. Without a reliable jumper, he risks becoming a ball-mover without gravity. That’s a problem Orlando already has too much of.</p><p>What saves this pick from criticism is context. The Magic weren’t desperate for high-floor contributors. They also don’t need Penda to break into the rotation immediately. In the best-case scenario, he becomes a versatile, low-usage connector who fills gaps between stars. In the worst-case, he’s a stashable bench piece whose impact never fully materializes. This was a swing, but a cautious one. At least it aligns with the team’s broader commitment to basketball IQ and defense.</p><h2><b>Make the Step Forward Count</b></h2><p>The 2025 NBA Draft marked a promising pivot for the Magic. Instead of chasing athleticism or waiting for upside to click, they prioritized need and readiness. Jase Richardson gives them shooting and smarts in the backcourt. Noah Penda adds defensive tools and connective play. Together, they reflect a team that knows its problems and finally appears ready to solve them.</p><p>Whether that’s enough to lift Orlando out of .500 purgatory depends on health, internal growth, and what they do next. But for now, Magic fans can feel something new after draft night: optimism that’s grounded, not hypothetical.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Orlando Magic 2025 NBA Draft grades for every pick

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/nba-rumors-magic-interested-signing-desmond-banes-ex-grizzlies-teammate');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Magic interested in signing Desmond Bane’s ex-Grizzlies teammate');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane-and-Tyus-Jones.jpg"><figcaption>Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Magic interested in signing Desmond Bane’s ex-Grizzlies teammate</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T17:33:12-07:00">June 29th, 5:33pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T17:33:12-07:00">June 29th, 5:33pm</time><address><a>Malik Brown</a>Malik Brown is a multimedia reporter based in Atlanta who covers the Hawks and Dream for ClutchPoints. Malik has worked in entertainment and sports, and he specializes in the NBA and NFL.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>It looks like the Orlando Magic don’t have a problem going all in this offseason, and they’re prepared to make a run in the Eastern Conference for years to come. Their first order of business was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies</a>, and he’ll add another dynamic to the team that has been missing.</p><p>The Magic added talent throughout the draft in both rounds, and it’s evident that they’re trying to stay young while also competing. Free agency is next, and the next line of business is adding more depth behind the starting lineup. After trading away Cole Anthony, backup guard is a need for the team, and there are rumors they <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/chris-pauls-looming-free-agency-with?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=392205&amp;post_id=167117215&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=false&amp;r=39f60&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email" rel="noopener">may be interested</a> in one of Bane’s former teammates, according to Jake Fischer.</p><p>“Sources say that the Orlando Magic are among the teams to express interest in Jones, who played alongside new Magic marquee acquisition Desmond Bane for three seasons in Memphis. Bane posted on Twitter in April 2024 that ‘doors [are] always open’ for a reunification with Jones,” Fischer wrote.</p><p>Jones has been a solid backup and starter in his career, as he just spent time with the Phoenix Suns last season. He was solid in his role, but with the up-and-down season that they had, he wasn’t able to fully flourish. With the Magic, he may be able to thrive in their offense and be a key part of the bench.</p><h2><b>Magic making roster moves ahead of free agency</b></h2><p>The Magic recently made some decisions on some of their key players, as they’ve <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-contract-decisions-moe-wagner-caleb-houstan">declined the team options on Moritz Wagner</a> and Caleb Houstan. Wagner, who is the brother of Franz Wagner, was having one of his best seasons of his career before tearing his ACL during the year.</p><p>For Houstan, he’s been with the Magic for three seasons but has only appeared in 168 total games and averaged 4.1 points per outing. He shot a career-high 40.1 percent from the 3-point line in the 2024-2025 season, and only reached double figures just eight times this year.</p><p>It’s not certain if the Magic will let both players walk or will they re-sign them to different deals, but the team has shown that they are looking to make an upgrade wherever they can. With the Eastern Conference looking open for the taking next season, the Magic are pushing all their chips to the front.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Magic interested in signing Desmond Bane’s ex-Grizzlies teammate

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-contract-decisions-moe-wagner-caleb-houstan');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic make contract decisions on 2 key bench players');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Magic-C-Moritz-Wagner.jpg"><figcaption>Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic make contract decisions on 2 key bench players</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T15:18:07-07:00">June 29th, 3:18pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T15:18:07-07:00">June 29th, 3:18pm</time><address><a>Jaren Kawada</a>Jaren Kawada is a former full-time sports bettor and is now a NFL, College Football and Betting Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. Kawada was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, but now resides in Indianapolis, Indiana, after graduating from Butler University with a B.A. in sports media. Aside from football, Kawada is an avid combat sports and basketball bettor.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/the-next-trade-orlando-magic-must-make-after-desmond-bane-blockbuster">Orlando Magic have a lot to consider</a> during the 2025 NBA free agency window. In preparation for the process, the Magic opted to decline team options on center Moritz “Moe” Wagner and Caleb Houstan.</p><p>While Wagner and Houstan will <a href="https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1939431415973912692" rel="noopener">become unrestricted free agents</a>, Orlando retains their Bird rights and can potentially re-sign them, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Wagner would have been owed $11 million in 2025-2026, with Houstan’s option worth $2 million.</p><p>Wagner, the older brother of Magic star Franz Wagner, averaged a career-high 12.9 points per game in 2024-2025, making his move somewhat of a surprise. However, his season was cut short by a torn ACL after just 30 games, putting his future in limbo.</p><p>Houstan, a 2022 second-round pick, has never made the same impact in his three years with the team. Houstan has appeared in 168 total games for Orlando, averaging just 4.1 points per outing. While he did shoot a career-high 40.1 percent from deep in 2024-2025, Houstan reached double figures just eight times all year.</p><p>Both Moe Wagner and Houstan came out of Michigan, but never overlapped in Ann Arbor. Wagner declared for the 2018 NBA Draft after three years with the Wolverines, four years before Houstan went one-and-done in 2021-2022.</p><h2><b>Magic enter NBA free agency with internal focus</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Magic-G-Caleb-Houstan.jpg"><figcaption>Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Even without Wagner and Houstan’s contracts on their books, the Magic do not have much flexibility in free agency. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">Orlando went all-in on the Desmond Bane trade</a> with the Memphis Grizzlies before seemingly shifting its focus internally.</p><p>The Magic now have nine players under contract for the 2025-2026 season, not including recent draft picks Jase Richardson and Noah Penda. Orlando’s biggest concern will be extending All-Star forward Paolo Banchero, who will enter the final year of his rookie deal in the fall.</p><p>After a three-year playoff drought, the Magic have made the playoffs in consecutive seasons. However, they have not gotten past the first round in either year and have yet to get over the hump. The Bane deal certainly shifts their outlook. With long-term injuries to stars Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton and Damian Lillard, the Eastern Conference is wide open in 2025-2026, something Orlando clearly intends to exploit.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic make contract decisions on 2 key bench players

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/nba-rumors-ty-jerome-suitors-expected-cavs-exit');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: Ty Jerome suitors lining up amid expected Cavs exit');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ty-Jerome.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: Ty Jerome suitors lining up amid expected Cavs exit</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-29T08:15:26-07:00">June 29th, 8:15am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-29T08:15:26-07:00">June 29th, 8:15am</time><address><a>Troy Finnegan</a>Troy Finnegan is a Senior Editor and College Sports Lead at ClutchPoints. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 with a degree in journalism and minors in communications and sports media, as well as a critical sports studies certificate. He has had a passion for sports his entire life, and enjoys covering and writing about all sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Charlotte Hornets</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>This NBA free agency cycle doesn’t have the stars that it sometimes does, but there are still plenty of quality players who can make an impact in a playoff series that will be hitting the open market. Ty Jerome, who played some of the best basketball of his career at the end of the 2024-25 regular season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, is one of the names on that list.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/ranking-3-best-ty-jerome-free-agency-destinations-leaves-cavaliers">Jerome is hitting the open market</a> as an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he should have a pretty solid market for his services. However, the Cavs likely don’t have any room for him on the roster or in the rotation for him after <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/cavs-news-acquiring-lonzo-ball-trade-bulls">trading for Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls</a>.</p><p>However, there will be plenty of teams that would love to have Jerome’s size and shooting ability in the backcourt off the bench. The Detroit Pistons, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets are four <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/siegels-scoop-latest-warriors-jonathan-kuminga-nba-free-agency-intel">teams that could make a run</a> at the Virginia product, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.</p><p>“After trading for Ball, it looks increasingly unlikely that the Cleveland Cavaliers Sixth Man of the Year finalist Ty Jerome will return in free agency,” Siegel wrote. “Plenty of teams will hold interest in potentially signing Jerome using their full mid-level exception in free agency. Keep an eye on teams like the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, and Sacramento Kings as potential landing spots for Jerome. These four teams have a key need for backcourt depth.”</p><p>The Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies are <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/sunday-best-lots-more-of-the-latest" rel="noopener">two teams that are also interested</a> in Jerome, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line.</p><p>“Charlotte and Memphis are two teams that keep coming up as likely suitors for Ty Jerome, who is now regarded as a lock to leave Cleveland to find the deal he is known to be seeking that starts at (or at worst adjacent) to the full $14.1 million midlevel exception,” Stein wrote.</p><p>Zach Lowe also mentioned the Golden State Warriors as a potential landing spot for Jerome after he played one season there in 2022-23.</p><p>Jerome struggled at times in the Cavs’ second-round loss to the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs, but he was being a bit overtasked due to the injuries in Cleveland, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/darius-garland-toe-surgery-announced-amid-cavs-trade-rumors">particularly to Darius Garland’s toe.</a> If one of these teams in free agency is able to scale his role back down, he could be a big pickup this offseason.</p><p>The 27-year old played in 70 games this season, scoring a career-high 12.5 points per game while shooting an incredible 43.9% from 3-point range. While it won’t make the biggest headlines, a deal for Jerome is something that could play a major factor over the next few seasons.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: Ty Jerome suitors lining up amid expected Cavs exit

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/nba-stories/orlando-magic-jase-richardson-5-biggest-steals-2025-nba-draft-round-1');   ga('set', 'title', 'Orlando Magic’s Jase Richardson headlines 5 biggest steals of 2025 NBA Draft Round 1');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jase-Richardson.jpg"><figcaption>David Banks-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>Orlando Magic’s Jase Richardson headlines 5 biggest steals of 2025 NBA Draft Round 1</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-27T12:28:04-07:00">June 27th, 12:28pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-27T12:28:04-07:00">June 27th, 12:28pm</time><address><a>Rishav Bhat</a>Rishav is a seasoned NBA and sports journalist and editor with over seven years of experience working for reputed organizations. A novelist first and foremost, he has written three fiction books. His high threshold of knowledge combined with his writing skills gives him the ability to write uniquely insightful pieces across basketball, soccer, cricket, lawn tennis, eSports, and a variety of other sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The 2025 NBA Draft resulted in plenty of headline-making moves. Cooper Flagg officially joins the Dallas Mavericks, while Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe emerged as the No. 2 and 3 picks on the night. On the other hand, round 1 of the draft also gave us some surprisingly low picks for highly-rated prospects, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-pick-former-player-son-nba-draft">including Orlando Magic’s new guard Jase Richardson</a>. </p><p>In his solitary season at Michigan State, Richardson averaged 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists while being named third-team All-Big Ten. The son of former Orlando star Jason Richardson, Jase was selected as the No. 25 pick and has the potential to immediately make an impact. He joins a list of several highly-rated prospects who could easily have gone earlier in the 2025 NBA Draft.</p><h2><b>1. Jase Richardson – Orlando Magic (No. 25)</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Jase-Richardson-joins-Orlando.jpg"><figcaption>Junfu Han-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Orlando Magic held on to this one pick despite trading away a host of picks for Desmond Bane earlier. What sets Richardson apart is the fact that the 19-year-old can immediately contribute while also holding potential to become a future star.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-basketball/jase-richardson-reveals-michigan-state-dream-that-could-delay-nba-draft-plans">Jase Richardson averaged 12.1 points</a>, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 41.2% during his freshman year. His stock had gone down in the buildup to the draft due to his small frame. However, Jase’s midrange jumper and basketball IQ make him a player who can excel on both ends of the court. Jase is a gritty defender capable of taking on much bigger players and should excel in the NBA once he settles.</p><h2><b>2. Hugo Gonzalez – Boston Celtics (No. 28)</b></h2><p>The Celtics opted for Real Madrid’s Hugo Gonzalez with the No. 28 pick. A 19-year-old wing who has a tendency to create high-intensity plays, Gonzalez is a walking highlight reel. Gonzalez was not a starter at Madrid, and still has plenty to improve offensively.</p><p>He averaged 5.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 14.2 minutes per game for Madrid last season. Celtics president Brad Stevens expressed after the draft that Gonzalez <a href="https://nesn.com/2025/06/watch-brad-stevens-draft-call-to-celtics-first-round-pick-hugo-gonzalez/#:~:text=Stevens%20appeared%20to%20confirm%20that,fan%E2%80%9D%20of%20how%20Gonzalez%20plays.">will immediately join the first team</a>, per NESN. While he may not immediately make a major impact, Gonzalez’s drive and intensity made him an attractive proposition for the Celtics.</p><h2><b>3. Kasparas Jakucionis – Miami Heat (No. 20)</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kasparas-Jakucionis-picked-by-Miamia.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Drafted 20th overall by the Miami Heat, Jakucionis is another player many thought might be drafted earlier. The 6-foot-6 Lithuanian guard has consistently shown a high level of basketball IQ and scoring ability. He averaged 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists per game, did not even work out with Miami as he was expected to be drafter much earlier.</p><p>Jakucionis is an elite playmaker and has all the ingredients to develop into a proper star at Miami. His offensive maturity and vision more than make up for his inconsistent defence, something the 19-year-old can eventually improve. </p><h2><b>4. Cedric Coward – Portland Trail Blazers (No. 11)</b></h2><p>Coward was immediately traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, who sent the No. 16 pick Yang Hansen, a 2028 first-round pick via Orlando, and two future second-round picks for him. While the assets are considerable, the Grizzlies get a 21-year-old 3-and-D star capable of making an immediate impact in return. </p><p>Coward has shot 38.8% in his career from the 3-point zone and is a disruptor on the other end of the court. He has a combined 2.5 blocks and steals per game, which means he has all the tools to become an elite two-way star. Crowder could easily have been a top-10 pick considering his immediate value, and averaged 17.7 points and seven rebounds for Washington State last season.</p><h2><b>5. Khaman Maluach – Phoenix Suns (No. 10)</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Khaman-Maluach-picked-by-Suns.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>Khaman Maluach is another player who adds immediate value. The Phoenix Suns needed a starting center to replace Mark Williams, and in Maluach have one who was initially expected to be a lottery pick. Alongside Orlando Magic, they seem to be the biggest winners from the 2025 NBA draft.</p><p>A 7-foot-2, 253-pound center with a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Maluach averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season for Duke. The Suns are looking to move on from Kevin Durant and have added a polished youngster who can eventually become their defensive anchor. His stock, as well as the fact that Phoenix needed interior presence, makes him a standout pick. </p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Orlando Magic’s Jase Richardson headlines 5 biggest steals of 2025 NBA Draft Round 1

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-gm-admits-desmond-bane-trade-great-magic');   ga('set', 'title', 'Grizzlies GM admits Desmond Bane trade is ‘great’ for Magic');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Desmond-Bane.jpg"><figcaption>Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Grizzlies GM admits Desmond Bane trade is ‘great’ for Magic</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-25T23:12:34-07:00">June 25th, 11:12pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-25T23:12:34-07:00">June 25th, 11:12pm</time><address><a>Abdullah Imran</a>Abdullah Imran works as an Associate Editor for All Sports at ClutchPoints. He’s been a sports fan his entire life and enjoys writing about every sport. He has spent three years in sports journalism and loves analyzing games. In his free time, he very much enjoys binge-watching shows and playing video games.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Memphis Grizzlies</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/desmond-bane-trade-grades-magic-grizzlies-blockbuster">Memphis Grizzlies kicked off their 2025 offseason with a seismic trade</a>, sending star guard Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and multiple draft picks. The move, <a href="https://x.com/DrewHill_DM/status/1938080726785699920" rel="noopener">though controversial</a> among Grizzlies fans, was acknowledged by general manager Zach Kleiman as a significant gain for Orlando.</p><p>“I think it’s a great trade for Orlando. I hope it will be a win-win over time,” Kleiman said during his first public comments following the trade, via Drew Hill of The Daily Memphian.</p><p>He cited financial constraints under the new CBA’s first and second apron restrictions as a major factor in moving Bane. With Jaren Jackson Jr. due for a contract extension, retaining both Jackson and Bane would have likely pushed the Grizzlies into an unsustainable cap situation, with three players potentially earning over $40 million annually.</p><p>Bane’s departure left a notable void on the roster, and Memphis acted swiftly to address it. Initially holding the 16th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Grizzlies traded up to No. 11 in a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers. In exchange for the higher pick, Memphis sent Portland the rights to Yang Hansen (No. 16), a future first-rounder, and two future second-round picks.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/memphis-grizzlies/grizzlies-news-memphis-cedric-coward-no-11-pick-trade-blazers">With the 11th pick, the Grizzlies selected Cedric Coward</a>, a 6-foot-5 wing from Washington State. Despite a limited sample size, just six games due to injury, Coward posted impressive averages of 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. He also shot 55.7% from the field, 40.0% from 3, and 83.9% from the free-throw line. Prior to transferring, Coward was named to the 2023–24 All-Big Sky First Team and NABC All-District 6 First Team at Eastern Washington.</p><p>Coward is viewed as a high-upside replacement for Desmond Bane, especially given his three-point shooting ability and defensive potential. He possesses a 7-foot-2 wingspan and demonstrated the athleticism to guard multiple positions.</p><p>With Coward joining promising rookie Jaylen Wells on the wing, the Grizzlies are leaning into a younger core to support Morant and Jackson Jr. Memphis still holds the 48th and 56th picks in the second round of the draft, leaving the door open for further roster changes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Grizzlies GM admits Desmond Bane trade is ‘great’ for Magic

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-pick-former-player-son-nba-draft');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic pick former player’s son in 2025 NBA Draft');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IMG_1647.jpeg"><figcaption>David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic pick former player’s son in 2025 NBA Draft</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-25T20:49:37-07:00">June 25th, 8:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-25T20:49:37-07:00">June 25th, 8:49pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">NBA</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic had one first round pick and No. 25 in the 2025 NBA Draft, and they used that pick to select Jase Richardson from Michigan State. The pick is significant not only because of his talent, but because his father Jason played for the Magic during his NBA career. The Magic <a href="https://x.com/CodyTaylorNBA/status/1938076741664444694" rel="noopener">had actually targeted</a> Jase Richardson with the No. 16 pick in the NBA Draft before trading it away, as per Cody Taylor of Rookie Wire.</p><p>“We actually brought Jase in to look at with the 16th pick. Throughout the process, you never know how these drafts are going to go,” Magic executive Jeff Weltman said after the draft. “We were wondering if he could get into our range, and here we are. This is how the draft works, it’s all a matter of what teams need at what position, what they’re looking for. Jase for us, fits a lot of needs.”</p><p>The Magic opted to trade the No. 16 pick in the draft to the Memphis Grizzlies in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">deal that brought Desmond Bane to Orlando</a>. The Magic sent Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four unprotected first round picks to the Grizzlies in the trade.</p><p>With Richardson, the Magic are getting a talented scoring guard, albeit a little undersized, who has a knack for creating his own shot. He appeared in 36 games, including 15 starts, at a little over 25 minutes per game in his lone season at Michigan State. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists with splits of 49.3 percent shooting from the field, 41.2 percent shooting from the three-point line and 83.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line.</p><p>Richardson’s father Jason played two seasons for the Magic from 2010-2012. He was originally acquired by the team in a trade with the Phoenix Suns ahead of the 2009-2010 season. Despite signing a four-year contract extension with the Suns in 2011, the team opted to trade Jason to the Philadelphia 76ers the following offseason.</p><p>Following the Bane acquisition, some feel the Magic took a leap towards becoming a contender. As a team on the upswing, Richardson landed in a solid spot.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Magic pick former player’s son in 2025 NBA Draft

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-stephen-a-smith-urges-mavericks-coach-to-join-jamahl-mosley');   ga('set', 'title', 'Stephen A. Smith urges legendary Mavericks coach to join Magic, Jamahl Mosley');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Stephen-A.-Smith-urges-legendary-Mavericks-coach-to-join-Jamahl-Mosley.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Stephen A. Smith urges legendary Mavericks coach to join Magic, Jamahl Mosley</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-25T09:05:24-07:00">June 25th, 9:05am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-25T09:05:24-07:00">June 25th, 9:05am</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Dallas Mavericks</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On Wednesday morning’s broadcast of ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith publicly called on longtime Dallas Mavericks player development coach God Shammgod <a href="https://x.com/WeltGawd/status/1937892472471851101" rel="noopener">to leave the franchise</a> and join the Orlando Magic under head coach Jamahl Mosley.</p><p>“I also saw some reports about Orlando being interested in God Shammgod Wells. He is an assistant coach on the Dallas Mavericks,” Smith said. “I covered this brother when he was in high school in New York City. We go back a long ways or whatever… I’m advising him on national television: leave. Get the hell up out of Dallas.”</p><p>Shammgod, a New York City native and former Providence standout, has served in a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/luka-doncic-is-the-perfect-blank-canvas-explains-mavs-coach-god-shammgod">player development role with the Mavericks</a> since 2016. He is widely respected for his ball-handling expertise and has worked with numerous All-Star players during his tenure.</p><p>Smith’s comments follow reports that the Orlando Magic are targeting Shammgod to join Mosley’s coaching staff. Mosley previously served as a Mavericks assistant for seven seasons before becoming Orlando’s head coach in 2021. The two coaches share a long-standing professional relationship that could be rekindled as the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-orlando-makes-leadership-change-after-desmond-bane-trade">Magic continue to reshape their identity</a>.</p><h2><b>Stephen A. Smith cites Mavericks’ changes, backs God Shammgod-to-Magic move</b></h2><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Stephen A Smith to God Shammgod:</p><p>“Go to Orlando with Mosley, you know who that brother is. Get the hell up out of there.” <a href="https://t.co/hAxBIEEyy5">pic.twitter.com/hAxBIEEyy5</a></p><p>— WeltGawd (@WeltGawd) <a href="https://twitter.com/WeltGawd/status/1937892472471851101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 25, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>“With new ownership and some of the decisions that they’re making to curve course of whatever have you… they seem to be more about numbers rather than taking care of the people they need to take care of,” Smith said. “And I’m not saying it’s an awful thing because I understand business decisions need to be made every day, but with Kyrie Irving, I think he’s been lowballed… and God Shamgod get the hell up out of there.”</p><p>He continued: “Go to Orlando with Mosley. You know who that brother is, get the hell up out of there and start anew. By the way, there’s no state income taxes in Florida too. You’re good, get the hell up out of there.”</p><p>Smith cited Irving’s contract as one of his concerns with the Mavericks’ direction. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-kyrie-irving-contract-option-119-million-deal">Irving declined his $42.9 million player option for the 2025–26 season</a> and is instead expected to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/dallas-mavericks/mavericks-news-kyrie-irving-message-social-media-new-contract">sign a three-year, $119 million extension with Dallas</a>. The deal includes a player option for the 2027–28 season.</p><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-rumors-1-factor-that-allowed-la-to-not-trade-farm-for-luka-doncic">Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers</a> at the 2025 trade deadline, signaling a shift in organizational priorities. Meanwhile, the Magic have retooled their core around Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs, recently <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-news-demarcus-cousins-explains-luka-doncic-reason-orlando-overpaid-desmond-bane">acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies in a blockbuster deal</a> last week. As they continue to build under head coach Jamahl Mosley, Orlando is looking to reinforce its player development system. Shammgod’s potential addition could bring veteran experience and skill development expertise to one of the league’s most promising young teams.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Stephen A. Smith urges legendary Mavericks coach to join Magic, Jamahl Mosley

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/orlando-magic/magic-10-worst-nba-draft-day-mistakes-history');   ga('set', 'title', 'Magic’s 10 worst NBA Draft day mistakes in history');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031231-victor-oladipo-draft.jpg"><figcaption>Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Magic’s 10 worst NBA Draft day mistakes in history</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-06-25T08:18:03-07:00">June 25th, 8:18am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-06-25T08:18:03-07:00">June 25th, 8:18am</time><address><a>Bailey Bassett</a>Bailey Bassett is a sports writer from Denver, Colorado, covering major sports events and athlete backgrounds at ClutchPoints. He has experience covering and writing on high school, collegiate, and professional sports.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Orlando Magic have held the first overall pick four times over their relatively short existence. They’ve hit the mark with those picks, drafting Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Dwight Howard, and Paolo Banchero. They haven’t had as much success when not selecting at the top of the draft, though. So, check out the gallery to see the worst NBA Draft day mistakes in Magic history.</p><h2><b>10. Chris Webber – 1993</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031200-chris-webber-broadcasting.jpg"><figcaption>Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>O’Neal and Howard became two of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/25-greatest-centers-nba-history-ranked">greatest centers in NBA history</a> after Orlando took them first overall, and they remain the b<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/magic-10-greatest-players-franchise-history-ranked">est players in Magic franchise history</a>. Banchero has quickly become one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-top-100-player-rankings-2024-25-season">best players in the NBA</a> since being drafted number one in 2022. Chris Webber was the team’s other first-overall pick, and although he had a successful career, it didn’t come in Orlando. Instead, the Magic traded his draft rights to the Golden State Warriors on draft night in 1993 for Penny Hardaway – who was the third overall pick that year – and three future first rounders.</p><p>Initially, this seemed like a solid deal. Hardaway is one of the most iconic players in Magic history, and the era in which he formed a duo with O’Neal was arguably the peak of the organization’s existence. Hardaway was a tall point guard with a flashy set of moves, and he helped lead the Magic to an NBA Finals appearance. However, his prime was short, and the future draft capital didn’t amount to much besides cap relief and even more trades involving draft capital down the road.</p><p>Injuries derailed Hardaway’s career and turned him into one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/biggest-what-if-players-in-nba-history">biggest what-ifs in league history</a>. He made four All-Star games, but he really only had four healthy seasons with the Magic. Webber, meanwhile, was scoring close to 20 points per game in 13 straight seasons. This trade can be viewed as a draft day mistake for the Magic because Webber had the superior career to Hardaway, but the Warriors actually got the shortest end of the stick. They had to trade Webber just a year later, although they did recoup some much-needed draft capital.</p><h2><b>9. Andrew Nicholson – 2012</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031188-andrew-nicholson.jpg"><figcaption>Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Draymond Green <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&amp;rls=en&amp;q=draymond+green+andrew+nicholsaon&amp;ie=UTF-8&amp;oe=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&amp;vld=cid:db41e19c,vid:wttBk84EmHg,st:0" rel="noopener">famously said</a> that Andrew Nicholson was the player drafted before him that most upset him. He justified this by saying that Nicholson didn’t even look like a basketball player. While physical looks can be deceiving, Nicholson certainly didn’t look like an NBA-caliber player during his time with the Magic. Nicholson never scored over 600 points in a season and got worse each year that he was in the league.</p><h2><b>8. Jett Howard – 2023</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Jett-Howard-13-dribbles-as-Memphis-Grizzlies-guard-Yuki-Kawamura.jpg"><figcaption>© Petre Thomas-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Jett Howard was drafted just two years ago, so he has plenty of time to improve and get off of this list. The shooting guard from Michigan has looked like a massive bust so far, though. While fellow 2023 draftee Anthony Black has established himself as a key role player during his first two seasons, Howard has been glued to the bench.</p><p>This is a bad look because Howard’s alleged best skill set is shooting, and that is something the Magic struggle with as a team. Despite that, he still hasn’t been able to earn rotation minutes. After the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-news-magic-grizzlies-desmond-bane-trade-5-1st-round-picks">Desmond Bane trade</a>, earning minutes may become even harder for the former 11th-overall pick going forward.</p><h2><b>7. Victor Oladipo – 2013</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031237-victor-oladipo-magic_1d6388.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Victor Oladipo was a talented player whose career was derailed by injuries. Lower body problems didn’t plaque him until after his stint with the Magic, though. Orlando drafted him second overall in 2013, and he played 80, 72, and 72 games in his three seasons with the team.</p><p>The reason Oladipo is one of the worst draft mistakes in Magic history was not because of injuries but because his time in Orlando was so short despite being a premier draft selection. Oladipo was traded after three seasons, along with Domantas Sabonis, for Serge Ibaka. That trade ended up being a horrible decision in its own right.</p><p>The Magic can’t be blamed too much for drafting Oladipo. The 2013 NBA Draft was one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/the-5-worst-nba-draft-classes-in-league-history-ranked">worst draft classes ever</a>, and Oladipo still had some really great years. Teams just need more out of a number two pick than what the Magic got out of Oladipo.</p><h2><b>6. Daniel Orton – 2010</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031203-daniel-orton.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Daniel Orton’s Magic tenure was practically stopped before it ever had a chance to get going. The Kentucky center was drafted 29th overall in 2010, and the plan was to have him develop in the D-League early on his career. He suffered a season-ending knee injury during just his second game, though, which delayed his NBA debut until 2012. Orton would play just 16 games for the Magic before Orlando gave up on him.</p><h2><b>5. Johnny Taylor – 1997</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031322-magic-s-10-worst-nba-draft-day-mistakes-in-history.jpg"></figure><p>Johnny Taylor played in just 12 games for the Magic after being drafted 17th overall before he packed his bags up to play for the Denver Nuggets. Taylor returned for a second stint two seasons latter, but this tenure was even shorter. After five games in Orlando, the second go around, Taylor was out of the league. Taylor has still provided some value for the Magic, though, as he has been on the coaching staff of the Magic’s G-League affiliate since 2017.</p><h2><b>4. Mo Bamba – 2018</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031218-mo-bamba.jpg"><figcaption>Kim Klement-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The Mo Bamba hype train was at an all-time high when he was coming out of Texas in 2018, largely because of the popular song that shares a namesake with the center. Bamba was drafted sixth overall because of his intriguing skill set on the hardwood, though, but he never lived up to the hype. Bamba could block shots and shoot 3-pointers and had a 7-foot-10 wingspan. Injuries and weight fluctuations prevented Bamba from ever playing a key role in Orlando, though.</p><h2><b>3. Reece Gaines – 2003</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031328-magic-s-10-worst-nba-draft-day-mistakes-in-history-2.jpg"></figure><p>The 2003 NBA Draft is known as one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/best-nba-draft-classes-in-history-ranked">best draft classes ever</a>, especially towards the top. LeBron James went first overall, for example, and Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade went a few picks later. Not all of the picks in the top half of the first round were hits, though. Reece Gaines was drafted 15th overall, and he scored just 1.8 points per game in 38 games before being traded.</p><h2><b>2. Mario Hezonja – 2015</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031210-mario-hezonja.jpg"><figcaption>Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Mario Hezonja weirdly had some legendary highlights. Notably, he had a game-winning block on James that sealed an epic comeback win for the New York Knicks. He also had a poster dunk over Giannis Antetokounmpo, where he stared down the two-time MVP after he fell to the floor.</p><p>However, the vast majority of Hezonja’s career was disappointing, and he is considered one of the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/biggest-nba-draft-busts-in-history-ranked">biggest draft busts</a> in recent memory. Hezonja averaged just 6.9 points per game over the course of his career, and the memorable highlights were too few and far between. Both of the aforementioned highlights occurred when Hezonja left the Magic and was on the New York Knicks, too.</p><h2><b>1. Fran Vazquez – 2005</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/755031340-magic-s-10-worst-nba-draft-day-mistakes-in-history-3.jpg"></figure><p>A year after drafting Howard first overall, the Magic selected a big man to pair with him. The team took Fran Vazquez 11th overall, but Vasquez never came stateside. Vasquez shocked the Magic by staying in Spain. His draft rights were finally renounced in 2024. Vasquez had a spectacular basketball career which included a EuroLeague championship, a FIBA Champions League championship, three Liga ACB championships, four Spanish Cup championships, and three Spanish Super Cup championships. Obviously, none of that helped the Magic out in any way.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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