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Dan Savage: Anthony Black (right ankle injury management) will be out for the @OrlandoMagic 's home game against the Washington Wizards tonight. Orlando is on the second night of a back-to-back.
Jason Beede: Orlando is leaning towards starting Jase Richardson in place of Paolo Banchero tonight at New York, #Magic coach Sean Sweeney said when I asked pre-game. Sweeney added that they’re still working on the decision.
The Orlando Magic have waived Malaki Branham, JD Davison and Kevin Knox II, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Branham (6’5”, 202, 5/12/03) played in all four preseason games with Orlando, averaging 6.8 ppg. and 2.5 rpg. in 11.0 minpg. Davison (6’4”, 215, 10/3/02) appeared in all four preseason games with Orlando, averaging 4.3 ppg., 2.3 apg. and 1.3 rpg. in 7.8 minpg. Knox (6’8”, 215, 8/11/99) played in all four preseason games with Orlando, averaging 6.3 ppg. and 2.3 rpg. in 9.9 minpg.
Beyond individual skill work, the internal focus in Orlando remains fixed on elevated expectations and coaching standards. Carter highlighted the valuable perspective brought in by assistant coach Sean Sweeney, whose experience coaching at the highest levels with top-tier organizations provides a roadmap for Orlando’s core. Carter’s own passing out of the short roll and switchability in drop coverages fit directly into Sweeney’s defensive philosophy. “The group that we have here, these guys want to win,” Carter emphasized. “They’re going to do whatever it takes to win, and I think a guy like Coach Sweeney coming from coaching at the highest level, playing for a championship, understanding what it looks like and what it’s not supposed to look like. You mix those two things together, you have a recipe for a chance to shock the world. When you have a team who’s willing and able to adapt to what championship habits look like, and then you implement those championship habits, the sky’s the limit.”
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As national media attention frequently shifts toward Eastern Conference heavyweights like Philadelphia and New York, the Magic continue to build under the radar. After finishing 45–37 as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference and taking the No. 1 seeded Detroit Pistons to a full seven-game first-round playoff series last season, Carter welcomes the underdog label without hesitation as Orlando aims to make the leap from playoff contender to true threat. “For sure, for sure,” Carter admitted. “But I like being there. You don’t have to think we’re going to be good, you can think that the East is too loaded for us now, but at the end of the day, it’s still five guys on each team who have to lace up and go out there and win the game, and I like us against anyone.”
Jason Beede: More news: After waiving Mike Sharavjamts, the #Magic are signing Johnell Davis to an Exhibit 10 contract and plan to waive him tonight, @orlandosports learned. Both players spent Las Vegas Summer League with Orlando, and now they’ll likely head to Osceola in the G League.
Jason Beede: #Magic forward Franz Wagner said it’s “definitely a little weird” being alone at the house without his brother Moe Wagner by his side. Called it bittersweet but said they’re super grateful for the five years they had together in Orlando.
It’s been a priority for Sweeney to touch base with every player up and down Orlando’s roster this summer. And with so many of them returning to the City Beautiful prior to training camp, it’s made that job even easier. To a man, he’s been impressed with the character and makeup of the group. From Bane, who Sweeney sees as “leadership and team personified,” to Suggs’ effort and commitment this offseason, there have been a number of elements that have stood out. “All these guys have shown different things across the board, and it's exciting to see that,” he explained. “And now, it's our job to try to mold it and blend it together, so that way we can get more.”
Jason Beede: After signing them to Exhibit 10 deals, Orlando is waiving Council IV, Toney, Baldwin and Cumberland, per league source. More news: The #Magic are signing Kevin Knox II to an Exhibit 10 deal. Knox II will be with Orlando for training camp, a league source told @orlandosports.
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What are you most proud about in terms of getting in? Doc Rivers: Winning a title almost makes you a Hall of Fame coach. Getting to the Finals twice, you’re definitely going to get in. For me, though, it’s the wins when you shouldn’t have won. You don’t get credit for the wins you’ve had when you lose. I go to being in Orlando and up 3-1 in the Detroit series [in 2003]. We were the eighth seed. There’s no way we should be up 3-1. I felt like that is as good as you can coach a team. But then we lose three. That [Pistons] team went on to win a title [in 2004]. We ended up breaking the whole team up because we weren’t good enough.
After earning the league-wide recognition last year, the Magic executed an extensive strategy in Germany that extended far beyond Orlando‘s regular-season game against the Grizzlies in Berlin. The multi-phase approach included “an in-market summer tour, an immersive fan hub called ‘Magic Kiez,’ youth basketball clinics, business summits, watch parties, and integrated activations with multiple partners across Germany,” the team said.
Shamit Dua: Taberner has done stints at Everton, the Orlando Magic, and Manchester City (Academy). Taberner has a doctorate in applied sport and exercise science from Liverpool John Moores University. Like David Cosgrave, extensive experience in professional soccer
