The Orlando Magic tried to sign one of the D-League’s leading scorers to a 10-day contract in January. They never really gave Anthony Brown a chance.
With the Orlando Magic reeling and falling lower in the standings in late January, everyone began to wonder if the team would dig into the D-League to find some help. Not that a D-League player is any guarantee to stick in the league or help the team. But the Magic needed help and an infusion of talent. They at least needed to try to add some depth for practice.
At the time, Orlando was still holding onto a glimmer of playoff hopes. The team needed a few extra bodies in practice, particularly on the wing. The Magic could also use some wing scoring.
And so they went to the D-League to try to add something to the roster.
So for 10 days in late January, Orlando called up the best scorer for the Erie BayHawks. Someone who seemed just on the outside of the NBA picture. He just needed a chance.
Anthony Brown arrived in Orlando with little fanfare. His 10-day tenure with the Magic was a short blip in a season that was already careening off the rails. And it would have been easy to miss Brown while he was on the Magic.
Brown played in just 16 minutes across two games. He played the final quarter against the Boston Celtics in a 30-point blowout. And then he was gone. The team opted not to keep him for a second 10-day contract with some belief they might turn to him again if the need arose.
By the time the Magic needed a 10-day contract signee again, Brown’s season was over. He was injured and missed the last month of the season, playing his last game March 10. It was possible the Magic would have called Brown up and given him the chance they gave to Marcus Georges-Hunt or Patricio Garino to end the season. The Magic seemed willing to give him the chance.
Brown looked impressive in his limited minutes with the Magic. He showed a propensity to shoot the ball, but never overplayed his hand. He did not force anything when he was on the floor. Most importantly for a D-League player, he looked like he belonged.
Orlando Magic
Brown had a stellar season for the Erie BayHawks. He averaged 20.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting 46.6 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from beyond the arc. Brown was one of the best players in the D-League this year.
His opportunity was inevitable. It was only the Magic did not give him much of an opportunity. The team did not play him at all. Just 16 minutes in two games and two games in five games he was eligible to play.
That part was somewhat confusing. The Magic, it seemed, brought him in to use him in practice. It was not for games. Another shortsighted move in a Magic season that was so frustrating to watch.
Brown, to his credit, looked like he belonged. He has good length and athleticism. Brown is not someone who played beyond himself. He waited for his opportunity and moved the ball.
In his 16 minutes, Brown scored nine points and hit four of his nine shots overall. Those are solid numbers. It would have been interesting to see him play later in the season with the Magic trying to get their young players some more minutes. But that was not in the cards.
It is unclear what Brown’s status with the Magic organization is. He was the top overall selection in the D-League draft for the BayHawks. It is up to the Magic whether they will keep him there, give him a chance in Summer League and maybe even a chance at training camp.
His track record with the Bayhawks certainly suggests he is on the fringe of the NBA. He should get a shot at a training camp somehwere — he started the year with the New Orleans Pelicans after going through training camp with the Los Angeles Lakers. It is unclear if the Magic are going to be that team.
Quite simply, the Magic did not give Brown much of a chance to make an impact or do much of anything with the Magic. He was solid in the minutes he did get. But they were so few it was hard to make too many conclusions about him.
Brown seemed like he was on his way to carving out a more sure role in the NBA. He just needed the opportunity.
That did not come in Orlando in his 10 days. It may have come later in the season if he were healthy. The timing was not right for Brown.
Next: 2016-17 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Jeff Green
The Magic never really got to see what Brown could do.