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Orlando Magic announce Summer League roster featuring Jonathan Isaac, Mohamed Bamba

By Philip Rossman-Reich

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 9: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic gets introduced into the starting lineup against the Sacramento Kings on March 9, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 9: Jonathan Isaac #1 of the Orlando Magic gets introduced into the starting lineup against the Sacramento Kings on March 9, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic announced their Summer League roster featuring their two first-round picks from the last two years and a lot of promising young prospects.

The Orlando Magic’s last two first-round picks will highlight the team’s return to the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas next week. The team announced its Summer League roster on Thursday naming the group that will try to make the Magic roster.

The two headliners are obviously the Magic’s two first-round picks of the last two years.

Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba will receive the most scrutiny and review for their performances in Las Vegas. It may not necessarily matter that they dominate, but it will be important to see just how much they have progressed and where they are at. Both are extremely young and raw and have a lot of room for growth the Magic undoubtedly want to see.

Not to mention, the Magic want to see how the two play with and off each other especially on the defensive end. Both Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba are still raw prospects who trade mostly on their length and athleticism. They clearly have a lot of growing still to do.

I mean, just look at Mohamed Bamba in a recent pick-up game that featured Joel Embiid (warning video below is NSFW).

Bamba still has a lot of work to do to build his body to withstand the punishment of a player like Embiid. But Bamba still seemed to hold his own, just getting out-positioned. And it is a pickup game. The effort did not seem like a huge thing there.

Bamba will get the chance at Summer League to show what he can do defensively and how much he can pick up of Steve Clifford’s defensive schemes quickly. Even at the rudimentary level they will teach it at Summer League.

Isaac too will have a lot to show. Limited to just 27 games last year, Isaac never really established a good rhythm on either end. He struggled to shoot but stood out on defense. He naturally understood where he needed to be and recovered well to affect and change shots.

That is all the team asked of him as a rookie, especially as he dealt with injuries.

Now with a few months working out at the Amway Center and preparing for the season, the Magic surely expect to see him take a significant leap. It is clear he has transformed his body some. But now he has to turn that strength into ability on the court. The Magic want to see him have a good Summer League.

Also on the Magic’s roster are second-round picks Melvin Frazier and Justin Jackson. Wesley Iwundu will also be on the team. Those three players all play very similar roles and positions on the court — especially Melvin Frazier and Wesley Iwundu.

The team will also feature last year’s G-League standouts Khem Birch and Rodney Purvis. Both seem to have an inside track to make next year’s main roster. They will need another good showing at Summer League to cement that spot further.

Khem Birch will join the team next week when practice opens up July 3 after he plays in Canada’s World Cup qualifying games.

Other names to watch are Florida State Seminoles guard Braian Angola-Rodas. He was a strong shooter off the bench for the Seminoles last year. He fits a clear need for the team for that reason.

Lakeland Magic guard Troy Caupain appears to have an inside track on a two-way contract or something more after manning the point for the G-League team last year. Caupain was a candidate to get a 10-day contract toward the end of last season. He remains a player the Magic likely have an interest in keeping.

They may also look to keep center Byron Mullens. The former first-round pick joined the Lakeland Magic midway through the season. He put up some stellar numbers, averaging 19.6 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game.

Orlando also added Isaiah Briscoe to the roster. He is a former Kentucky Wildcats player and highly recruited player out of high school.

Next: Rumors: Orlando Magic may be third party to Kawhi Leonard trade

The Magic will tip off their Summer League on July 6 against the Brooklyn Nets. They will then take on the Memphis Grizzlies on July 8 and the Phoenix Suns on July 9 before beginning to the tournament phase of the league. All the games will take place in Las Vegas at UNLV.