The NBA has discussed adding a third two-way slot to help teams through the pandemic season. While the Magic have not been as hampered by COVID-19, the additional two-way could prove to be quite useful.
After a hot start, the Orlando Magic have quickly fallen to below .500.
With Evan Fournier out with back spasms for the past eight games, Markelle Fultz out with a torn ACL and Michael Carter-Williams out with a foot sprain, the Magic’s roster is starting to look thin.
The team is hopeful that Fournier and Carter-Williams’ return is coming soon. There is some light at the end of the tunnel so long as the Magic can keep themselves afloat.
The Magic are now ranked 22nd in defensive rating and an even worse 26th in offensive rating. The once capable three-point shooting team has now dropped to the worst in the league at 31.8 percent.
It is clear the Magic are in dire need of help. And while Fournier and Carter-Williams’ return should alleviate some of the issues they are facing, it may not be enough. The team will still be down a point guard and relying on either Michael Carter-Williams or Cole Anthony to lead the team.
Injuries have significantly hampered their progress. Fortunately, the Magic have not been significantly impacted by COVID-19 — Mohamed Bamba has missed the road trip because of contact tracing from someone outside the team and the team had a game postponed because the Boston Celtics did not have enough players to field a legal team.
The league has not been so lucky with more than a dozen games already postponed and growing. The league is scrambling to keep its season afloat.
In reaction to the spread of the virus, the NBA has discussed adding a third two-way contact slot to give teams another option. It is a move that several coaches have favored.
With seven of the 17 players on the roster injured, there are not many options for Steve Clifford to pick from.
One of the Magic’s two-way players, Jordan Bone, has played more than 20 minutes in the past three games. While he has shown effort on the defensive end, he is only shooting 26.3 percent from three, limiting his impact.
Aaron Gordon has also seen an expanded playmaking role by default to Markelle Fultz, Evan Fournier and Michael Carter-Williams being out. Gordon totaled eight assists against the Milwaukee Bucks and six against the new-look Brooklyn Nets.
Cole Anthony has also been asked to step up and while he has had several rookie moments, he has been able to provide substantial value on multiple occasions.
Both have played well to a certain extent, but adding another player could lighten the playmaking and scoring load on the two but also lighten the load for Nikola Vucevic who is amidst a career season.
With that being said, the Magic would rely on the two-way contract to add another player. Or, if they decide to cut a player to make space for a free agent, the Magic could look towards veterans to fill the gap.
Veteran Options
The Orlando Magic will not be eligible for the special hardship exception to create a new roster spot with one of their veteran players set to come off the injured list soon.
And it should be made clear the NBA’s third two-way spot would have to go to a young player. Two-way contracts are limited to players 25 years and younger.
Still, the Magic are likely aiming for a player who can help them compete for the postseason. They will likely look to veterans first if they could create the extra roster space.
Isaiah Thomas has recently been reported to be in talks with several NBA teams about a potential return. The former MVP candidate most recently played for the Washington Wizards where he appeared in 40 games.
Orlando Magic
Thomas averaged 12.1 points, 3.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game last year. Most notably, he shot 41.3-percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game. After a small resurgence, the Washington native opted not to play the NBA Bubble and underwent resurfacing surgery on his right hip.
Thomas is still a capable player and while he may not be in the position to drop 50 points on any given night, his ability to shoot but also create opportunities for himself and his teammates is a valuable skill set, especially for the Magic.
Furthermore, Thomas has experience with playing with floor-spacing big men as he played with Al Horford during his tenure with the Boston Celtics. This could allow Thomas to play alongside Vucevic with little issue.
Another player that has been available is also a player that looking to make an NBA comeback.
Jeremy Lin has recently signed a contract with the Santa Cruz Warriors, the Golden State Warriors’ G-League affiliate.
Lin last played for the Beijing Ducks, a team in the CBA, and was previously on the Toronto Raptors’ roster that won the NBA Finals in 2019. Although it has been two years since he has played in the league, Lin could still produce in a small role.
In 50 games for the Atlanta Hawks, Lin averaged 10.7 points, 3.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 33.3 percent from three. He also had the highest effective field goal percentage of his career at 52.3 percent.
Lin could play 10 to 15 minutes of competent guard play which would give Clifford one more ball handler in his rotation.
However, until the Magic decide to cut one of their 15 players, they will have to rely on G-league prospects or former players.
Here are three players the Magic could sign to their third two-way contract.
Devin Cannady
The Orlando Magic saw enough in Devin Cannady to sign him to an Exhibit 10 contract before the season began. He is set to play for the Lakeland Magic when the G-League bubble begins.
Although he did not make the final roster, the Magic could look into bringing the former Princeton guard back.
Cannady played in only two of the Magic’s four preseason games, playing a total of nine minutes and scoring six points. Yes, his stats and his play were mostly underwhelming during the preseason but having to compete with Jordan Bone, Karim Mane and Cole Anthony made his journey to the final roster all the more difficult.
but, in his four years at college, Cannady averaged 14.6 points and shot 40.3-percent from behind the arc. While he went mostly under the radar during the draft, he found himself with the Brooklyn Nets’ G-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.
In the G-League, Cannady averaged 14.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists. Most importantly he averaged 35.8 percent from the three-point line on eight attempts per game.
During the 40 games he played in the G-League, Cannady showcased surprising athleticism and his 3-point shooting. His 33-point game against the Erie BayHawks is a good example of why Cannady would be a good player to play spot minutes for the Orlando Magic.
Cannady shot 6 for 13 from behind the arc and while this was a career game, and most likely will not be scoring at this volume, the way in which he scored these 18 points is important.
He was able to score on pull-ups, rolling off screens or in iso situations. As the Orlando Magic continue to struggle from the three-point line, Cannady could provide semi-competent shooting.
It also helps that Cannady was present during training camp and played in two preseason games. His familiarity with the team should make him one of the options the Magic consider signing.
Frank Mason
Frank Mason III most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2020 season. Despite not seeing much playing time, the former second-round pick could find himself on an NBA team soon.
Since entering the league, Frank Mason III has yet to find himself a home. He was originally drafted by the Sacramento Kings where he averaged 7.9 points, 2.8 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game in 18.9 minutes per game.
But after taking a step back in production in his sophomore year, the Kings ended up waiving him. He would eventually sign a two-way contract for the Bucks where he appeared in only nine games.
As the Orlando Magic continue to struggle with injuries, their once stable defense and inconsistent offense, Mason III could provide some stability off the bench.
During his time with the Bucks’ G-League affiliate during the 2020 season, he averaged a league-high 26.4 points per game on 50.6-percent shooting. Another notable statistic is that he shot 42.5-percent from behind the arc. His play earned him the 2020 NBA G-League MVP award.
While the competition between the G-League and the NBA is quite different, along with the fact Mason III has not had a statistically productive NBA career so far, there is still potential.
Despite being undersized at 5-foot-11, Mason III is adept at taking advantage of slower defenders. Reading the defense and punishing the opposing team’s mistakes is what made him so deadly in the open court.
Playing for the Bucks, a team that already had Eric Bledsoe, Donte DiVincenzo and George Hill, made it difficult for Frank Mason to get the necessary playing time to showcase his skills.
He clearly improved during his time with the Wisconsin Herd which is evident by him being the best G-League player during the 2020 season. His improvement and skill set should make him an enticing option for the Magic.
Both Jordan Bone and Karim Mané being relatively inexperienced, and Michael Carter-Williams being a more defensive focused guard, Frank Mason III could balance the Magic’s point guard rotation when needed.
Dusty Hannahs
The Miami Heat are notorious for developing players into quality NBA players, one of them being Duncan Robinson. Dusty Hannahs, although not as tall, shares a similar skill, shooting threes.
Hannahs was one of the G-League’s best shooters during the 2020 season. He shot 44.7-percent on 7.1 attempts per game. During his three seasons with the Memphis Hustle, Hannahs never shot worse than 40-percent from behind the arc and did so while playing more than 20 minutes a game.
But his production in the G-League has not necessarily translated over to the NBA as he has only been able to sign 10-day contracts with the Memphis Grizzlies since going undrafted in 2017.
Despite his ability to torch teams from three, Dusty Hannahs is not quite as multi-skilled as Frank Mason III. Although the 6-foot-3 guard averaged 21.4 points per game, he is a limited playmaker and defender.
Hannahs road to the NBA perhaps may not amount to anything more than 10-day contracts or two-way contracts but he does possess a valuable skill. A skill the Orlando Magic are in desperate need of.
During his G-League career, Hannahs has shown he is a confident shooter with NBA range. Whether it is pulling up from the logo or curling around screens and shooting off the catch, he is clearly a capable shooter.
His quick release enables him to get shots off before the defender can prepare to contest. His frequent movement on and off the ball keeps defenders on his heels and in turn, opens up opportunities for him.
Although he is mostly known for his shooting, he also has shown an ability to attack defenders and finish in control despite there being contact.
Whether or not he will be able to replicate his success in the G-League in the NBA, especially against longer and more athletic defenders, remains to be seen. But the Magic should consider bringing Hannahs on for his pure shooting ability.
Especially with the return of Michael Carter-Williams, Dusty Hannah’s defensive shortcomings may not be as evident if the two play together.