The Orlando Magic’s Summer League is over. They should have at least one player to add to the roster on a two-way deal in DaQuan Jeffries.
In Summer League, it is the subtle things that get a coach’s attention. The kind of things that tell a coach and a team that this player can fill a role and work hard, doing the thankless work of playing in practice with little promise of playing in a game.
They want the guys who push everyone on the roster and work their way up the food chain and onto the main roster. These are not players who are guaranteed anything. They will end up working in anonymity for the most part.
Then again, sometimes it is staring you straight in the face. And sometimes it announces itself very loudly.
Putting an exclamation point on a solid week for the Orlando Magic, DaQuan Jeffries made his case for more than a training camp invite — or exhibit 10 contract or even a two-way contract — with an emphatic slam.
With the Magic clinging to their lead in the middle of the third quarter, he stole a cross court pass from Coby White and raced to the other end of the court to throw down an emphatic one-handed slam over Chandler Hutchison.
It sent the Cox Pavilion buzzing as the Orlando Magic pulled away in the third quarter for an 85-73 win over the Chicago Bulls in their final Summer League game.
Jeffries finished with what might otherwise look like a pedestrian eight points on 3-for-6 shooting. But it was all those little things that made that standout play shine brighter. It is those little things that will get him a chance with the team.
It was the three blocks he added in this game — including a flying block in transition which was not his first time making that kind of a play in this Summer League. It was the steals and the calm 3-point shooting. Or even the athletic shifting he made on drives to score around the basket or on floaters.
Jeffries displayed a lot throughout the Summer League schedule. Enough to keep intrigue up throughout the week and get that invite to the team.
By some accounts — although it is hardly confirmed firmly — Jeffries has already signed a contract with the Magic. It has never been reported what kind of contract. But it does seem the Magic have some assurance Jeffries will be with them for camp.
They should go ahead and turn it into a two-way contract with the chance they turn it into a full contract mid-season (when it helps them avoid the tax). Jeffries earned it throughout his week in Las Vegas.
His final stats read pretty impressively — 13.2 points per game, 1.40 steals per game, 1.00 blocks per game and 42 percent shooting. He hit 3-pointers at a consistent and solid rate, perhaps proving to be a better 3-point shooter than he was in college at Tulsa. He shot 37.7 percent for his collegiate career from that range.
The week saw him gain more confidence with his shot with each week. He looked more comfortable and played better as the week went on.
It was not like Jeffries dominated every game. The Magic never asked him to do that.
They wanted him to play within himself and within the offense. He was not going to dominate the ball and work too much one on one, although he had plenty of times where he played that way.
Jeffries stood out instead by doing the little things. He competed well on defense and fought hard through any mistakes he might have made. Jeffries displayed how he could fit into an offense and made shots when he was open.
That is all anyone could ask for from him.
To make it in the NBA, Jeffries will have to take another step defensively. It will take more than effort and energy to be a good defender in the NBA.
Jeffries’ 3-point shot will have to continue coming around. He was in a good rhythm at Summer League, but that is not going to get him all the way there either. Summer League was Jeffries showing hints of what he can do.
Jeffries will still take some investment still. He is not quite NBA ready. And some time gaining confidence in the G-League will help him get ready for the stage.
Jeffries will have to continue refining his technique. But energy and effort are a good place to start.
He certainly has the athleticism. He showed that on the blocks and dunk he had in Saturday’s win. That is a good place to start too.
And with a good place to start, Jeffries can keep himself in the mix with the Magic.
Other Summer League Notes
—Amile Jefferson again put in yeoman’s work to finish Summer League, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. He was solid on the block and did a good job taking advantage of mismatches and pulling big men away from the basket to drive and create deep post position.
Amile Jefferson has been stellar throughout the Summer League. But all of this is wrote for him. These are the kind of performances Jefferson has had for several years now.
It appears the Magic have officially moved on. Keith Smith of Yahoo! Sports reports the Magic rescinded their qualifying offer on Jefferson, turning him into an unrestricted free agent. That likely means Jefferson’s time with the Magic is over.
The Orlando Magic have withdrawn the qualifying offer for Two-Way player Amile Jefferson. Jefferson is now an unrestricted free agent.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 13, 2019
–This Summer League run has been noticeable for its lack of much star power or consistency from anyone on the roster. It is hard to figure out who the Magic might be looking at for a second two-way contract. No one else really emerged.
Braian Angola-Rodas is the house favorite to get one of the Magic’s two-way contracts. But he has played sparingly in the last few games and was relatively meager in his time playing. it is not clear how the team feels about him.
Erik McCree had some nice games early on, but he required a lot of the ball. Not the subtlety that is necessary for players coming up through the Summer League.
Point guard Jeremiah Hill had a solid game against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. But he followed that up by missing all eight of his shots. It was not pretty for him or for the Magic.
–There has to be a tinge of disappointment from the home fans that UCF Knights stalwarts B.J. Taylor and Chad Brown played in only one game and for only part of one quarter at that.
Those players were long shots to make the roster anyway. They might both be better suited for the G-League at this point. But their absence even in Summer League games was discouraging.
The Magic finished their Summer League at 2-3.