After a season that didn’t quite live up to expectations from players and fans, the Orlando Magic started their Summer League journey on Monday, August 8th. The Magic had quite a successful NBA Draft and looked to improve upon their young core and strengthen the team for the future. Through the Summer League, the Magic looked great and showed flashes of a team heading in the right direction.
Draft Day
Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner were the highlights of Orlando’s draft. Ecstatic to see Suggs fall to the fifth overall pick, the Magic pulled the trigger on drafting him without hesitation. Suggs played in just three Summer League games, but showed out nonetheless, averaging 15.3 PPG, an impressive 6.3 RPG and 2.3 APG. Suggs also proved he’s more than an offensive threat, too. Suggs was able to swipe 1.7 SPG to go along with his exceptional play on the offensive end.
Wagner Can Do It All
Franz Wagner truly showed why he was deserving of the eighth overall pick. The six-foot-nine forward out of Michigan looked like a jack of all trades. Wagner displayed a little bit of everything during his playing time, averaging eight points from the field on 44.8-percent shooting. Wagner also secured 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. What showed at the Summer League was that even when Wagner might not have a “pretty” game on the stat sheet, he will impact the game in other ways; whether that is having a high basketball IQ or cutting to the basket when the ball isn’t in his hands. Without a doubt, Wagner is a player that will add significant growth to the Magic’s young core.
Looking to Prove Themselves
Other than Suggs and Wagner, many lesser-known Magic players looked to make a lasting impression during the Summer League.
One player that stood out was D.J. Hogg. The 6-foot-9 sharpshooter looked to prove why every championship and playoff level team has a player whom they know if they are open for a three-pointer, more often than not, the ball is going through the net. Hogg drained some threes in the Summer League while reuniting with his championship teammates from the G-League Ignite team.
Cole Anthony shined as well, showing Magic fans why he should be the point guard of the future. In just four games, Anthony averaged 7.5 points per game on 28.9-percent from the field and 30.8-percent from three.
Furthermore, RJ Hampton displayed that explosive athleticism that the Magic loved when trading for him last season. Hampton also shot really-well from behind the arc (44.4-percent).
The young core is stacked to the brim with talent, and Magic fans should be ready for an exciting future.
Camaraderie in the Locker Room
Even before the whistle blew in the Magic’s first Summer League game, the players were already getting to know one another, both on and off the court.
D.J. Hogg stated in an interview when asked about the team, “We had a lot of team activities for what we could do with quarantine. You would do a lot of zoom calls. It gave me a chance to get to know everybody before coming here now in Summer League.”
The coaches and staff made it a point for the players to begin that bond of brotherhood. Championship teams treat each other not only as teammates, but like family.
Looking Forward
Although the Magic went 2-3 in the Summer League, the team as a whole showed true promise and grit. Every game, no matter the score, saw this young team going out and competing, not only for themselves, but for the person next to them. Battling to the wire in some close contests showed that Orlando is a team that isn’t just going to roll over and let the rest of the league push them around. Orlando is full of players looking to change the culture.