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Orlando Magic hope to make D-League decision in next month

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Dec 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) defends Portland Trail Blazers forward Cliff Alexander (34) in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Trail Blazers 106-97. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Kent Bazemore (24) defends Portland Trail Blazers forward Cliff Alexander (34) in the fourth quarter at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Trail Blazers 106-97. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic are closing in on making a decision for the site of their D-League team next season in either Lakeland or Kissimmee.

The Erie BayHawks will begin their season Nov. 11 with the rest of the D-League. It will be their final as the one-to-one affiliate of the Orlando Magic. Next season, the Magic will have their D-League team in Central Florida — either in Kissimmee or Lakeland.

It appears the Magic are moving closer and closer to a decision on that front.

Magic CEO Alex Martins told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel the Magic hope to make a decision on the site for their D-League team within the next 30 days. It is a big step for the franchise and certainly one that is a long time coming.

Lakeland’s Lakeland Center and Kissimmee’s Silver Spurs Arena have put in bids as more and more NBA teams bring D-League teams into their organizational fold. The Magic will join that club next year.

The benefits are undeniable. And frankly they are needed this year.

Magic coach Frank Vogel said the team will likely have rookie Stephen Zimmerman spend some time in the D-League this year. It was one of the reasons Arinze Onuaku made the Magic’s roster this year.

Certainly it would be easier to monitor Zimmerman’s development if he was playing games an hour and a half away rather than a 4.5 hour flight.

Teams like the Golden State Warriors (with the Santa Cruz Warriors), Oklahoma City Thunder (with the OKC Blue) and San Antonio Spurs (with the Austin Toros) among others can send players to the D-League for a game and then recall them for practice the following day.

“I think that will be great for them to be closer to us and be around us,” Vogel said Sunday. “It’s going to be convenient for the organization for sure.”

With the Magic loaded at center, getting Stephen Zimmerman playing time in the D-League would be a major boost for his development. It would be even better if he could still spend the majority of his time with the Magic.

Vogel noted the D-League’s real value may come in that ability to have a player shootaround with the main team in the morning, but then leave to play in a D-League game that afternoon or evening before returning for practice with the main team the next day.

That will be a benefit next year’s rookie or young players may get. Especially if the new collective bargaining agreement includes two-way contracts.

Erie is still putting its team together. The Magic have control over the BayHawks’ basketball operations. The players on the team are there because the Magic want them there.

The players the Magic put on waivers last week and Sunday are still yet to find homes for the most part.

Cliff Alexander will join the Bayhawks, according to Chris Reichert of The Step Back.

It is also very likely Brandon Dawson will join the Bayhawks. He played for them last year and the Bayhawks own his D-League rights. It is also possible for the Bayhawks to acquire Nick Johnson‘s D-League rights from the Austin Toros.

Next: 5 reasons to watch the Orlando Magic in 2017

Those final decisions have not been made yet with the D-League season still a few weeks away.