Two weeks ago, Hassani Gravett and Admiral Schofield were wrapping up a homestand in Lakeland and preparing for the G-League Showcase in Las Vegas the following week.
The Showcase is a big opportunity for G-League players to show themselves off as the NBA world gathers in one place to review the young talent in the G-League and begin the gossip rumor mill.
They would never make it to Vegas.
The Orlando Magic were dealing with COVID going through the roster. Eventually, six players would enter health and safety protocols. That might not be a disaster except the Magic had five players out with long-term injuries.
The Orlando Magic signed four players off the team’s G-League roster right off the bat just to be able to field a legal roster for their game against the Miami Heat. Suddenly Lakeland’s four best players were given a huge opportunity.
Hassani Gravett and Admiral Schofield got huge opportunities from the Orlando Magic as they filled in for an injury- and COVID-ravaged roster.
The goal for the Magic from the players they have added was simply to bring energy and help fill in for the team. But these players had a lot of motivation to play hard and show out.
COVID is hardly an ideal situation, but the silver lining it gave was to give so many players their NBA opportunity. And potentially an opportunity to stick in the league. Every game is an audition and an opportunity to show out.
Now with players returning from the health and safety protocols — R.J. Hampton, Ignas Brazdeikis and Moritz Wagner are now out of COVID protocols — the Magic’s need for these emergency relief players is waning. Soon everything will go back to the way it was.
For B.J. Johnson (now also in the league’s health and safety protocols) and Aleem Ford, the brief NBA audition is over. The Magic though are extending the stay for their teammates Hassani Gravett and Admiral Schofield.
The team signed both to a second 10-day contract as the team still deals with the COVID outbreak throughout the team and wait for players to clear the league’s health and safety protocols.
That wait got shorter as the NBA agreed to shorten the time players stay in quarantine after a positive test from 10 days to six days among vaccinated players. Players would still have to test negative and show they are no longer transmissible to rejoin the team.
Until Terrence Ross, Chuma Okeke, Mo Bamba and Mychal Mulder are back, the Magic will still rely on these emergency signings. The opportunity will continue.
Fortunately for the Magic, Gravett and Schofield have been huge success stories for them and certainly deserving of a second 10-day contract at a minimum and perhaps even more — whether with the Magic or elsewhere.
"“I’m so proud of these guys,” coach Jamahl Mosley said after Sunday’s loss to the Miami Heat. “These guys came into the first run basically playing three games in four nights, having to understand the protocols and stepping in and being ready to play their minutes, encouraging our guys in the locker room. When their number was called they stepped right in ready to play.”"
Hassani Gravett and Admiral Schofield both made starts in Sunday’s loss as Cole Anthony sat out the game with a sprained ankle and Chuma Okeke entered the league’s health and safety protocols. But they had earn that through their short time with the team.
Gravett is averaging 7.6 points per game and shooting a 60.3-percent effective field goal percentage, making 9 of his 20 3-pointers. He was a key player in the Orlando Magic finishing off the Brooklyn Nets for a win last Saturday, scoring seven points in that game.
He scored a career-high 12 points in the loss to the Heat on Sunday. Scoring has not been an issue with Gravett and he is at least a decent floor spacer.
His defense is also solid, albeit sometimes a bit overeager to help by his own admission. Gravett plays hard and that stands out.
Schofield had a bit of a slow start, but is playing well too. He has shown improvements in some key areas he needed to improve to stick in the league.
Schofield is averaging 5.8 points per game while shooting an 80.6-percent effective field goal percentage. Beware those small sample sizes.
Schofield though has been effective inside and out. He cuts hard to the basket and has the strength to finish at the rim. And he has improved as a shooter, making five of his nine shots from long range in total.
These two — and all the other players including Freddie Gillespie and Tim Frazier, whose 10-day contracts will run through Thursday (they signed Dec. 21) — have had to stay ready and play major minutes for a new team. They have all had their moments.
This was an opportunity that is rare but important for these young players.
"“I was ready,” Gravett said after Sunday’s game. “Ready at any given moment. I knew coming into this year what could take place with COVID or injuries or anything. I was just waiting for my moment. Being ready when my name is called, stepping up to the plate and handling my business.”"
They have all handled their business and done it well. The Magic are certainly very thankful and seemingly excited for the contributions they have gotten from these signings so far.
But the clock will strike midnight eventually.
The Magic have a full roster currently. And two-way contracts have been extended for the whole season without significant limits on their usage because of the pandemic. The Magic do not have to worry about the clock on two-way contracts this season.
For Orlando to keep players like Gravett or Schofield, they would need to free up a roster spot. There is no indication the team is ready to part with any players they have so far. Although Orlando very easily could cut a two-way player and add a new two-way player.
The Magic are going to face this conundrum soon as these contracts expire and players return. As well as they have played, they have not played so well to guarantee themselves a spot in the team’s fully healthy rotation.
But Gravett and Schofield clearly earned their way to a second 10-day run with the team. They have made the most of this opportunity and have fit in snugly to a team that is fighting to improve.
They have made a statement and are ready to make another to put pressure on the Magic and some of these roster decisions.