Orlando Magic’s training camp taking shape with preseason, roster moves, procedures

Training camp is right around the corner for the Orlando Magic. Literally around the corner. The season is starting quickly as things begin to take shape.

The NBA season is unbelievably right around the corner.

Just a week after the wildness of free agency started to calm down and come to an end, the rush to the season is already beginning. December 22, the start of the 2021 season, is going to be here before everyone knows it.

And games? Games are starting in two weeks.

Coach Steve Clifford has already called the turnaround to start this season as more difficult than the run-up to the bubble. And that was incredibly difficult with players told to stay away from team facilities for nearly four months.

At least now players were able to do some individual workouts in their team facilities to get ready for the season. Players are already gearing up for a difficult run-up to the season.

Orlando Magic

There are at least finish lines and end dates now to this preparation. Players can make sure they are gearing up the right way. There just is not a lot of time to get ready.

The NBA announced the full preseason schedule giving the Orlando Magic the date they need to be ready by.

Orlando will open its preseason Dec. 11 in Atlanta against the Atlanta Hawks and play a second game in Atlanta on Dec. 13. The Orlando Magic will host the Charlotte Hornets for a pair of games on Dec. 17 and 19.

The team has not announced its television broadcasts for these games on FOX Sports Florida. And the team is still planning to announce health and safety protocols for limited attendance at games.

Everything is starting to come together.

The regular season is set to begin Dec. 22. The full regular-season schedule is expected to be released during training camp sometime next week or the week after.

Like everything else, it is coming together very very quickly.

Currently, players are allowed to work out in the team’s practice facilities, but only in individual workouts. Players are not quite playing or scrimmaging together in groups. The restrictions do not appear as strict as they were before the players entered the bubble back in July — multiple players were spotted on the court although still working together.

But with the season beginning and travel starting to take shape, the league is starting to increase its protocols for players to get set for practice. The ramp-up is still going to be fast.

It starts Dec. 1 when teams can begin doing some group workouts. Marc Stein of The New York Times detailed the procedures as teams begin to ramp up.

For now, the facility is likely closed to begin preparations for camp to begin. Clifford mentioned in a previous media availability the team has plans to begin some group workouts and coordinate things once they are able to get back to work together.

He said they hope to be able to conduct a full practice on Friday. That will be one week before the team’s first preseason game.

There is usually a week of camp before the preseason begins. But they also usually have weeks of mini-camp and conditioning before then to be ready for training camp. The Magic, like every team around the NBA will be playing catch up.

This might explain at least partially why the Magic opted to stay fairly quiet in the offseason. There simply is not time to integrate new players in a significant way. Especially with two rookies to bring along and two major injuries to finish rehab.

At least one thing feels normal. The Magic completed their training camp roster signing five players to new contracts. That included Jordan Bone and Karim Mane to two-way contracts.

Bone averaged 17.5 points per game and 7.1 assists per game in 31 appearances for the Grand Rapids Pistons last year. The 6-foot-3 point guard is considered one of the best prospects in the G-League last year.

Mane is going to go down as this year’s obsession with length from the Magic. The 6-foot-5 guard reportedly has a 6-foot-10 wingspan.

He averaged 15.9 points per game, 7.9 rebounds per game and 5.4 assists per game for Vanier College in Quebec. It is rare to see players come from Canada’s collegiate system. But the Magic clearly like him and he fits their eye and desire for length on the wings.

Orlando completed its roster moves by signing Devin Cannaday, Robert Franks and Jon Teske to Exhibit 10 contracts. They will spend their season with the Lakeland Magic after training camp begins.

Things are beginning to take shape though. At long last, the season will begin.