The Orlando Magic are in Las Vegas this week preparing for Summer League to begin Friday. The results may not matter, but there is still a lot to learn.
NBA free agency takes up a lot of oxygen this time of the year. There has been a flurry of surprising and shocking news — LeBron James heading to the Los Angeles Lakers was only topped with DeMarcus Cousins taking the taxpayer mid-level exception to join the Golden State Warriors.
The Orlando Magic have made their own free agent move in keeping Aaron Gordon. But this team will have a lot more of its focus on the growth and development internally. There are not a lot of avenues to get a good look at the team until they all convene for training camp in late September.
The team’s trip to Las Vegas for Summer League this week will give some instruction.
Jonathan Isaac, Mohamed Bamba, Wesley Iwundu, Khem Birch and Rodney Purvis headline a team that is loaded with roster talent. That does not even get into the Magic’s second-round picks in Melvin Frazier and Justin Jackson.
There are a lot of players to watch and analyze in the five games the team will play at UNLV starting Friday at 5 p.m. ET against the Brooklyn Nets. The other two games the Magic have in round robin play include Mohamed Bamba taking on Jaren Jackson Jr. and the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday and Deandre Ayton and the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Orlando will get a lot of information about its rookie. But the team will also get a look at Jonathan Isaac’s development. And this will mark Steve Clifford and his staff’s first chance to install a little bit of their offense and their philosophy.
This is what Summer League is about. Gaining some early information. The play on the court is not super important — it is nice to win. But you learn more about who cannot play rather than who can play.
Still, several players will have a lot on the line. Especially elsewhere on the Magic’s roster. Orlando is likely looking to fill the Lakeland Magic’s roster and add a few two-way players too. Several players on this Summer League roster could be in line for that.
So what should we watch for as the Magic arrive in Las Vegas and begin practicing Tuesday? It turns out there is plenty.