Romero Osby, 4 others coming to Magic camp
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Barring any unforeseen negotiation issues, Romero Osby will be in Magic training camp and likely an official member of the Orlando Magic very soon.
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic intend to invite their second round pick to training camp, thus using his draft rights. While the final terms of a contract are still being negotiated, Schmitz reports, it likely means Romero Osby will be making the Magic's final roster barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Many believed the Magic would not bring Osby into camp unless they were sure he would make the team and gain development. Otherwise, they would encourage him to play overseas. Remember, though, the contract is not finalized.
In addition, Schmitz reports four others will get training camp invites: centers Michael Eric and Solomon Jones and guards Kris Joseph and Manny Harris.
The last bit of news from Schmitz, the Magic and Hedo Turkoglu are still working on a buyout. Not much progress to report though other than that.
But let's focus now on who is coming to camp.
We already know a lot about Romero Osby. The Magic took him with the 51st pick in the Draft. He played the five games at Summer League and averaged 11.0 points and 4.4 rebounds per game.
His hard work and work ethic struck the Magic both in pre-Draft workouts and during Summer League. He was definitely a player the Magic wanted to keep around as someone who fit in well with the players on the team and the culture the team is trying to build.
It was merely a matter of numbers in determining whether Osby would make the roster or not. It sounds like that issue has been resolved.
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The other four names are an intriguing bunch, but all four will have to really shine in training camp to make the roster (and that could mean unseating Kyle O'Quinn who has an unguaranteed contract until opening night).
Michael Eric played for the Sixers at the Orlando Pro Summer League and had an impressive showing, at least on the defensive end. Eric averaged 5.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in the five game tournament. The 6-foot-11 center came from Temple where he averaged 9.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Eric is a big body who is not afraid to throw his weight around — he committed 18 fouls in five games.
Not that the Magic do not have enough power forwards and centers on the roster. Eric will be a good addition for hustle and competition.
Solomon Jones is another center prospect. He comes with some NBA experience.
The 6-foot-10 forward from South Florida has been in and out of the NBA since the 2007 season. He last played with Knicks for two games last year and has posted career averages of 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. His best season was his 2010 season with Indiana where he averaged 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.
He has not had an impactful career in the NBA. But he is a solid defender and a workhorse guy. Notice the cliches I tend to use when talking about the players the Magic want to bring in.
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As for the guards, Manny Harris and Kris Joseph, they have a decent shot of making the roster because the Magic need some depth at guard with so many players likely playing multiple positions in the backcourt.
Harris played two seasons with the Cavaliers ending in the 2012 season. He averaged 6.7 points per game and shot 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. Harris is a scorer. That is what he did at Michigan for three years where he averaged 18.0 points per game his senior year. Last year, he played in the Ukraine BC Azovmash. He averaged 14.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in Euroleague last year.
Harris has the potential to be a scorer. It depends on whether he can beat out E'Twaun Moore (just like in college when Moore played at Purdue and Harris played at Michigan!) for playing time as a wing and potential backup point guard. Harris is more of a shooting guard/small forward type than a point guard.
Kris Joseph is a small forward at 6-foot-7 and played 10 games last year for Boston and Brooklyn. In four years at Syracuse he averaged 10.5 points per game and shot 44.9 percent.
Again, all four of these players will have difficult time making the roster. The odds are long just because of the reality of the team's roster and who already seems entrenched on the roster. Then again, competition is the ultimate decidor.