The Orlando Magic are set to call up Lakeland Magic star Rodney Purvis on a 10-day contract after Rashad Vaughn suffered an injury.
The Orlando Magic are planning on waiving Rashad Vaughn before the expiration of his second 10-day contract. And they will call up the best player from their G-League franchise.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic will call up Rodney Purvis to the team, signing him to a 10-day deal. When that will officially occur is still uncertain or unknown.
The Magic have waived Rashad Vaughn, whose sore knee wasn't likely to be healed before the end of his second 10-day contract. Rodney Purvis of Lakeland in the G-League is the likely candidate to be signed to a 10-day to take Vaughn's place on the roster.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) March 7, 2018
Ian Begley of ESPN New York confirmed Purvis is en route to join the Magic.
Rodney Purvis is scheduled to leave the Lakeland G League team and head to Orlando shortly to finalize a deal with the Magic, per sources. https://t.co/jN3uvIq6GG
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 7, 2018
The Magic gave Vaughn the first shot at a 10-day contract following the trade deadline. He played admirably in his few minutes showing good length and shooting ability. His relationship with general manager John Hammond seemed to help build the rapport needed to get a chance.
But a knee injury has knocked him out of the lineup. And it does not seem like the Magic are optimistic Vaughn would be ready to play before his second 10-day expires. It seemed unlikely the Magic would sign Vaughn for the rest of the year. He scored five points in 35 minutes across five games for the Magic.
Observers for the Magic have long wanted the team to give Purvis his shot at the NBA.
Rodney Purvis leads the Lakeland Magic in scoring with 20.5 points per game (Byron Mullens has eclipsed him in three games). He is shooting 42.2 percent from the floor and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc.
Purvis has put in some impressive scoring performances this year. Including a 37-point, 9-for-15 shooting performance in a come-from-behind win over the Delaware 87ers in December. He has had four total games scoring more than 30 points this year.
That made him a G-League All-Star and got him an invite to Team USA’s qualifying for the FIBA World Cup. Purvis performed well there, leading the team in scoring in two blowout victories.
It was a matter of time before the 6-foot-4 guard made his way to the NBA. Someone was going to give him that chance. He was just playing too well.
And so now he will get his chance at the NBA. With the team that gave him that initial shot in preseason. Purvis went through training camp with the Magic with the option of playing for Lakeland. He has made the most of that opportunity.
Next: Meet Shelly Wilkes, the Lakeland Magic's president
Now comes the next one. Whenever he joins the Magic.