Earlier this month, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel reported that the Magic were in the market for scoring help, and were expected to explore potential deals that could help them add a player with that skill set. Robbins didn’t specify any players or positions the Magic were eyeing, but in an ESPN TrueHoops podcast this week, Brian Windhorst reports that Orlando is “calling around looking for point guard help.”
Although Windhorst adds that the Magic are seeking scoring help in general, the focus on the point guard position is interesting. Elfrid Payton, now 22 years old, hasn’t taken significant steps forward, having averaged a modest 10.9 PPG and a career-low 5.7 APG this season. His backups, D.J. Augustin and C.J. Watson, provide decent depth, but neither player is the type that will fill up the score sheet on a given night.
While we wait to see if Orlando can find a trade that will upgrade their offense, let’s check in on a few more Southeast notes…
- As John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com details, the Magic see several benefits to moving their D-League franchise to Lakeland and gaining complete control over it. “Our Basketball Operations department will be able to set out a plan that can utilize and interact on a daily basis with our minor-league team,” said GM Rob Hennigan.
- Magic guard C.J. Wilcox requested a D-League stint for this weekend as he recovers from an Achilles injury, sources tell Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Because the team’s Lakeland franchise won’t be ready to go until 2017/18, Wilcox will head up to Erie to report to the BayHawks.
- Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel takes a look at how the NBA’s new CBA will impact the Heat, noting that the team won’t have an amnesty clause available to create another option for Chris Bosh.
- In a conversation with Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders, Derrick Williams explains why he chose the Heat in free agency over the summer.