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Orlando Magic waive Adreian Payne in wake of Michigan State scandal

ByPhilip Rossman-Reich|
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 13: Adreian Payne #33 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on December 13, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 13: Adreian Payne #33 of the Orlando Magic looks on during the game against the LA Clippers on December 13, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Orlando Magic have waived Adreian Payne after his name surfaced in a report of sexual assault in the growing Michigan State scandal.

The Orlando Magic have waived Adreian Payne in light of new allegations against him related to the growing scandal at Michigan State, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.

As of 1 a.m. Saturday, the Magic had not released an official statement announcing his dismissal or any additional comments.

Payne was on a two-way contract with the team and played Friday night for the Lakeland Magic against the Canton Charge. He was cut after the game.

Payne attended Michigan State from 2010-14 before he was selected in the first round of the 2014 Draft. He bounced around between teams his first few years, playing several stints in the G-League. He landed with the Magic this year on the new two-way contracts.

As a freshman at Michigan State, Adreian Payne, along with former Magic guard Keith Appling, were accused of raping a woman in their dorm room, according to ESPN’s Outside the Lines.

It was one of many incidents involving Michigan State football and basketball players that went either unreported, completely dismissed or ignored by university and athletic department officials.

These allegations in addition to the continue employment of Dr. Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced to 40-175 years in prison for systematic sexual abuse of female U.S. gymnasts for the past several decades.

Payne was never charged with any crime. But that may have been part of the culture that now has Michigan State facing Penn State-level criticism and penalties for its athletic department. It would appear, according to the ESPN report Michigan State did not take sexual assault investigations seriously.

In 2010, Payne and Appling were involved in an incident where the two allegedly brought another student to their room and raped her.

According to ESPN, Payne admitted to police it appeared his accuser wanted to leave. The report said he could see how there was an impression that she could not. Police investigators told the accuser that was enough to proceed with the case.

But the prosecutor did not feel the accuser would stand up to the scrutiny of charging two basketball stars. She declined to bring the case to trial and the state never charged the two.

The accuser has continued to pursue civil damages and brought a Title IX charge against Michigan State in cases that are still ongoing — you can read more about her case in the ESPN Outside the Lines article linked again here.

That falls in line with other stories that are coming out about Michigan State and its poor history of handling sexual assault cases with its athletic department.

For the Magic, distancing themselves from this scandal is the only move to make. Basketball and the Magic are the least important thing to discuss.