With a contemporary begin and new alternatives now that the NBA calendar has formally turned, the Orlando Magic wish to additional consider younger expertise throughout the Las Vegas summer time league.
The occasion is scheduled for tip-off Thursday at Thomas and Mack Center and Cox Pavilion when the Magic tackle the Houston Rockets within the opener.
Wins aren’t the precedence. The Magic go in targeted on development and improvement.
“Our young guys need to get accustomed to the foundations that we built,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned. “We need to continue to grow with the continuity with this team that we have out there.”
The Magic’s latest additions, No.1 draft choose Paolo Banchero and No. 32 choose Caleb Houstan, headline Orlando’s summer time league squad. They will play alongside third-year guard RJ Hampton and Devin Cannady, who signed a 3-year non-guaranteed contract with the Magic earlier than the 2021-22 season ended.
Entering his fourth season, Hampton volunteered to play in summer time league. Players together with his expertise can’t be required to take part. He hopes to familiarize himself together with his new teammates and sharpen his expertise.
“I’m looking to get to know the guys on our summer league team and honestly just compete,” Hampton mentioned. “I thought, why not play with the Magic organization in summer league and get better?”
The development and improvement from the gamers will stem from the aggressive edge that the Magic want to have in addition to pleasure for the sport.
“One thing about these guys, they’re becoming much better decision-makers,” Mosley mentioned. “The ability to switch pick-and-rolls, the ability to protect the rim at a high level, then offensively finding mismatches.”
Banchero hasn’t performed 5-on-5 for the reason that Final Four in early April.
The summer time league practices and video games will enable him to stand up to hurry with the trials of the NBA.
“You have to pick up on things faster in the NBA compared to college,” he mentioned. “That’s what I’ve noticed. I’m just keeping up to speed.”
Banchero will draw essentially the most consideration throughout summer time league play. The younger star is not going to solely want to indicate willpower to face out however bodily ability units as properly.
“[Banchero] is a very strong individual,” Mosley mentioned. “I don’t think he understands how strong he really is, and that’s the great part about his willingness to learn. He’s going to find out how he can use his body in different ways to punish defenses.”
The Magic imagine all of the items matter main as much as summer time league, and the drills utilized in follow will transition to the video games and that will likely be their testing floor.
All 30 NBA groups will compete in Las Vegas, and the Magic are set to play 4 video games that embody the Rockets, Kings, Thunder and Knicks. A fifth opponent is to be decided.
Summer league for the Magic will likely be checked out as a place to begin coming off a 22-60 season. A robust begin right here can set the tone for important enhancements.
“Some of these guys haven’t played since April, so it was smart that we get them to understand the foundation that we’re building first,” Mosley mentioned. “Understanding the concepts and terminology, things we’re trying to accomplish from the ground floor will progress as we go forward.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com