Orlando Magic Notebook: Magic rounding out training camp roster

The Orlando Magic are still rounding out their roster as they add an Exhibit 10 contract and are still figuring out what to do with DaQuan Jeffries.

The Orlando Magic roster still has a bit of mystery to it.

The team has already used its two-way contract spots, officially signing Josh Magette on Tuesday with the likely announcement Amile Jefferson will get a second two-way contract coming soon. There are still two open roster spots available — one presumably reserved for unsigned first-round pick Chuma Okeke.

The team though can carry up to 20 players for training camp, using many of those spots to help fill out the Lakeland Magic roster. The team is likely to go after some young players on Exhibit 10 contracts to help fill out Lakeland — giving players a training camp invite and a little extra money to incentivize a year in Lakeland.

Orlando will certainly be adding more players to the team before training camp — even though many of them will not make the final roster.

The first of those appears to be former Kentucky Wildcats center Isaac Humphries.

Olgun Uluc of FOX Sports Australia reports the Australian-born big man will sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Magic and join the team for training camp. From there, the team will likely cut him and place him with Lakeland to spend the year in the G-League.

Isaac Humphries averaged 11.3 points per game and 7.0 rebounds per game with 1.1 blocks per game for the Erie BayHawks last year. It was a solid season for him in the G-League.

He played Summer League with the LA Clippers, averaging 6.3 points per game and 3.7 rebounds per game in limited minutes. He shot 35 percent during Summer League.

Hardly impressive numbers from Humphries.

Humphries has good mobility for a player his size and can hold his position well. He will work well around the basket and can even attack slow-rotating bigs off the dribble if he has the open lane. He had his moments with the G-League.

Humphries played five games for the Atlanta Hawks last year. He scored 15 points and made 3 of 11 3-pointers. The majority of his shots came from beyond the arc, suggesting teams believe him to be a stretch-5 who can spend his time on the perimeter. His skill set certainly suggests he can play that way.

Humphries will be a body for training camp. He probably will not even play during the preseason — the team has not typically even used Exhibit 10 players in preseason games.

Jeffries’ spot still uncertain

The Magic still have two roster spots open on their main roster.

One of those will presumably go to rookie Chuma Okeke. He remains the only unsigned first-round pick left. There is at least the potential the Magic opt to have him rehab the entire year with Lakeland.

But the other the guy the Magic want to add is DaQuan Jeffries. It was long thought he would get a two-way contract. Orlando has obviously spent both of those already.

The idea it appears is that Jeffries is hoping to get a main roster spot. Orlando has the room.

David Baumann of 407Area.com reports Jeffries is still set to camp with the Magic, but he is hoping to earn a roster spot and declined the two-way contract.

https://twitter.com/DavidBaumannORL/status/1154055223607906304

Jeffries was one of the standouts for the Magic during the Summer League — and judging by who the Magic have chosen to bring into camp so far, there were very few standouts. He averaged 13.2 points per game on 42 percent shooting.

He is certainly betting on himself if he believes he can get a roster spot without a two-way deal. The Magic seem like they are going to give him that chance. But it is still unclear whether he will actually sign with the Magic.

Orlando reportedly already agreed to some contract with Jeffries before Summer League. But it is not clear if it was just a camp invitation or something more. It seems like Jeffries is still fighting for his spot on the roster.

Alternate court coming?

In non-roster moves, the Magic might be adding another item to their repertoire.

Rumors have run rampant on the Internet that the team would be adding a new design to its City Edition jersey, replacing the space theme the team has used the last two years. The rumors have been about some orange- or citrus-themed jersey to replace it.

You can search the Internet for mock-ups of these jerseys. Nobody really knows what it will look like.

But the rumor that does have legs is that the team will have an alternate court.

Terrence Ross is really open on his Instagram. He answered some fan questions on his Instagram story and showed that Orlando’s current court is still down on the Amway Center floor. But he hinted that the team will get an alternate court this year.

There is no confirmation of what the Magic’s City Edition jerseys might be or what new design is in the works. All there is the anticipation.

Orlando, having made the playoffs, will also get an Earned Edition jersey. It is not clear what design the team has in mind for that. The team probably will not have another Classic Edition jersey, so do not expect to see the classic pinstripes back.

One final note, that we will expand on later, Jonathan Isaac was named to the U.S.A. Basketball Select Team, the group of young players who train with the roster heading to the FIBA World Cup. No word as of this writing on Aaron Gordon‘s inclusion on that main roster.