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5 changes to the NBA’s CBA the Orlando Magic need to watch

By Matthew Costello

Apr 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman speaks during a press conference for the new Orlando Magic G-League stadium at Osceola Heritage Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 11, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman speaks during a press conference for the new Orlando Magic G-League stadium at Osceola Heritage Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Wendell Carter, Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic, Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter are strong players but both could struggle when the Orlando Magic reach the postseason. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /

5 changes to the NBA’s CBA the Orlando Magic need to watch

In-Season Tournament

Hoping to add some extra excitement and relevance to the regular season — the CBA also brings us the long-discussed In-season NBA tournament.

In what seems to be an attempt to capitalize off the exciting tournament format of March Madness as well as multiple soccer leagues — the NBA will unveil its inaugural group play rounds in November and then conclude in early December after the completion of the eight-team, single elimination, knockout round.

The tournament will feature payouts of $500,000 for each player on the tournament-winning team, $200,000 for the runners-up, $100,000 for third place and $50,000 for fourth place. In addition to the games, at the tournament’s conclusion, an “All-Tournament Team” and “Tournament MVP” will be named, creating more potential accolades for players to achieve.

Interestingly however, the reviews of the new tournament from the players and former players have been a bit of a mixed bag.

Many players are confused about why they should care about the tournament when their ultimate goal is still to win an NBA Title. Others on teams without title hopes may embrace the opportunity to win something during a season they do not anticipate making a deep playoff run.

As the inaugural In-Season tournament this year unfolds, it will be interesting to see the type of audience it garners as well as how the players themselves treat it.

For the Magic specifically – this tournament is absolutely something they should lay it all on the line for.

The team has not made the playoffs since 2020 and they have not won a playoff series since 2010 when they lost in the Eastern Conference Finals.

This lack of expectation is exactly why the Magic should seize the opportunity of the In-Season Tournament. The chance to gain not only exposure, but additional relevance as well as building a winning culture are invaluable to the Magic Organization, its players, and fans.

Orlando got a favorable draw for the tournament too. They will have to contend with the Boston Celtics but the other teams in their group are a manageable group of the Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls. There is an opportunity for the team to be a surprise team in this tournament.