Orlando Magic training camp invitees Peyton Siva, Drew Crawford heading overseas

Former Orlando Magic training camp invitees Peyton Siva and Drew Crawford will not return to Erie. Both have reportedly signed new contracts overseas.

Last training camp, the Orlando Magic began their D-League experiment. They invited four players — Seth Curry, Peyton Siva, Drew Crawford and Kadeem Batts — to training camp with the express purpose of optioning them for the season to go to Erie.

They would get a guarantee in their training camp contracts for more than their D-League contracts would likely pay and probably a closer look again at Summer League the following year. They would not play at all during the preseason, not even showing up on the bench in uniform.

This was the deal. It kept them close to a NBA program and gave them the opportunity to get back with a NBA franchise. It was an inside track.

Two of Orlando’s players from that training camp experiment got to play again with the Magic this summer. But it looks like they will not get a second chance with the Magic.

Peyton Siva and Drew Crawford both played for the Magic’s main Summer League team this past summer in addition to with Erie during the season. They have now both signed with teams overseas, likely unable or unwilling to spend another year in the D-League or not receiving a camp invite from the Magic.

Siva has agreed to a contract with Italy’s Pastia Reggia Juve Caserta, Eurobasket reports (h/t Jonathan Linter of The Louisville Courier-Journal). Siva signed early with the Magic last summer getting a guarantee worth an estimated $100,000 according to Basketball Insiders. That would be more than what he would get at the D-League.

Siva is well known for his play at Louisville and he had a great year with Erie last year averaging 13.5 points per game and 6.7 assists per game. In Summer League this past July, he averaged 5.0 points per game and 4.5 assists per game.  It was not good enough for him to get a roster spot as the Magic have reportedly invited fellow Erie teammate Keith Appling over him.

Magic training camp invitee and Erie forward Drew Crawford also will not be back with the Magic or in the D-League this year. He signed a contract with B’Nei Herzliya in Israel, he announced (h/t Joshua Welge of the Naperville Sun).

Drew Crawford also had a solid year for Erie and got an invite back to Magic Summer League. He averaged 5.7 points per game and shot 14.3 percent from beyond the arc in three games with the Magic. He also played for the Raptors in Las Vegas. He averaged 9.6 points per game and shot 47.6 percent effective field goal percentage.

With Erie, Crawford averaged 16.0 points per game and posted a 53.1 percent effective field goal percentage. Crawford has improved as a defender and still has a streaky 3-point shot. It can be valuable. He just needs to get more consistency. He may remain a valuable prospect to keep on the radar.

But he, like anyone in the D-League, likely passed up more lucrative offers to play close to the NBA. Anyone can only do that for so long.

The Magic likely will have more training camp invitees destined for Erie. It appears Keith Appling and Melvin Ejim will be on that path. They will get their chance to stay close to the Magic and their program and get a hefty guarantee for training camp to make up for the lack of pay in the D-League for the year. But they will not have any guarantee of ever donning a Magic uniform past training camp and media day.

It is good to see the Magic’s training camp invitees getting their opportunities elsewhere and continuing their NBA careers. It is part of what Erie coach Bill Peterson wanted to accomplish with them. Their careers continue.

Maybe it will cross with the Magic one day.

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