The Orlando Magic have added to their training camp and G-League roster, adding Troy Caupain and Kalin Lucas to the roster for training camp.
The Orlando Magic continue to add to their training camp roster (and likely their G-League roster with the Lakeland Magic). The team announced it has signed Troy Caupain and Kalin Lucas.
Barring any absolutely stellar play in training camp, it would appear both players are sure bets to spend training camp with the Magic and then possibly head to the Lakeland Magic for the year. Both are promising young players who can add some depth at point guard.
Lucas is likely more familiar to Magic and NBA fans.
He spent last year with the Erie BayHawks and Iowa Energy. In 48 total games, he averaged 18.1 points per game and 5.0 assists per game. Lucas is a proven scorer at the G-League level and, more importantly, a solid shooter, making 40.4 percent of his 3-pointers last year.
Lucas was one of the leaders on the Magic’s Summer League team this year, averaging 12.5 points per game and 3.0 assists per game. He struggled to shoot though, making just 4 of his 16 3-point attempts.
It is better to take the long view with Lucas. He can clearly play and shoot it well. And the Magic knew that from their familiarity with him last year with the Bayhawks. He has been knocking on the door for the NBA for some time.
Orlando Magic
At 6-foot-1, he still has to develop some as a point guard. He averaged 5.0 assists per game. But Lucas is certainly capable enough to play in the league if he can crack the roster.
Rookie Troy Caupain will have a bit of a tougher road.
Caupain finished a solid four-year career with the Cincinnati Bearcats and is a strong driver to the basket and scorer in the paint. He averaged 10.5 points per game last year. But he shot only 39.6 percent from the floor, including 32.5 percent from beyond the arc.
Caupain made his mark with Cincinnati as a solid defender and decent distributor — he set Cincinnati’s all-time mark for assists.
Both players will have a long journey ahead if they want to make the Magic roster. Orlando has Elfrid Payton, Shelvin Mack and D.J. Augustin at point guard. Elfrid Payton is in the final year of his contract. Shelvin Mack signed a two-year $12 million contract and D.J. Augustin still has three years left at $7.3 million per year remaining. It is hard to see the Magic cutting any of those players.
But it certainly seems likely Lucas and Caupain will get a shot at playing for the Lakeland Magic. A player like Lucas might even have a shot at earning a two-way contract depending on the team’s needs and how things turn out during camp.
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Orlando is still piecing together its G-League roster and building up who it will bring in for training camp. Training camp will begin Sept. 26.