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NBA Denies Magic’s Jonathan Isaac DPE Request

January 31st, 2020 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has denied the Magic‘s request to receive a disabled player exception for injured forward Jonathan Isaac, according to Josh Robbins and Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

As we outline in a glossary entry, a team can apply for a disabled player exception to replace a seriously injured player. In order for the exception to be granted, an NBA-designated physician must determine that the player is “substantially more likely than not” to be sidelined through at least June 15 of that league year.

The fact that the league turned down Orlando’s request for an Isaac DPE is both good news and bad news for the team. The Magic will lose out on the ability to add another cap exception worth $2,903,220, but the denial means the NBA believes Isaac has a good chance to be healthy before June 15.

Back on January 2, the Magic announced that Isaac had been ruled out indefinitely with a posterior lateral corner injury and a medial bone contusion in his left knee, noting he’d be re-evaluated in eight-to-10 weeks.

That means an update should be provided at the end of February or at some point in March, and there still could be a chance of Isaac returning for the end of the regular season or the playoffs. The Magic figure to play it safe with one of their long-term building blocks, so it’s certainly possible we don’t see him again this year, but the NBA’s decision suggests that’s not a given.

Although Orlando’s request for an Isaac DPE was denied, the franchise was granted a disabled player exception earlier this month for Al-Farouq Aminu. The DPE is worth $4,629,000, half of Aminu’s 2019/20 salary. It can only be used to sign a player for the rest of the season or to trade or make a waiver claim for a player with an expiring contract. Since the Magic are safely below the tax line, they may try to take advantage of the DPE before the March 10 deadline.

Eastern Notes: Simmons, Parker, Magic

January 30th, 2020 at 7:28pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Sixers could reduce Ben Simmons‘ role as a primary ball-handler, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes.

“That needs to be continued to be grown,” coach Brett Brown said of the primary ball-handling role. “It will mean. It will mean. I’m not saying, ‘It may mean.’ I’m saying it will mean that he’s not the primary ball-handler when you put him in those situations …

“So really, it’s a goal and sort of the growth of Ben to put him in all these environments where he’s really good at and can impact the game at.”

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

With the Sixers in action against Atlanta tonight, I examined which Hawks players Philadelphia should have interest in trading for. Jabari Parker might be the best fit, as the 76ers could use another scorer off the bench.
Orlando’s grip on a playoff spot is slipping and Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel takes a look at what strategy the Magic should take heading to the trade deadline. The team could use another wing if it intends on being a buyer at the deadline.
Should the Hornets trade Malik Monk? Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer gives his take on the former No. 11 pick.

Timberwolves Called Magic About Aaron Gordon

January 30th, 2020 at 8:21am CST by Luke Adams

The Timberwolves called the Magic about Aaron Gordon earlier in the season, league sources tell O’Connor. If Minnesota made an offer for Gordon, it’s unclear what exactly that offer consisted of, per O’Connor. However, he notes that the Wolves are shopping Robert Covington.

[SOURCE LINK]

Magic Sign Gary Clark To Second 10-Day Contract

January 29th, 2020 at 11:17am CST by Luke Adams

11:17am: The Magic have officially signed Clark to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release. The timing is a little surprising, since Orlando doesn’t play again until Saturday and the new deal will only cover four games instead of five or six. It’ll run through February 7.

10:51am: The Magic have reached a new deal with forward Gary Clark and will sign him to a second 10-day contract, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). No corresponding move will be required, since Orlando has an open spot on its 15-man roster.

Clark, 25, signed his first 10-day deal with Orlando earlier this month after being waived by Houston. He appeared in five games for the Magic during those 10 days, averaging 4.0 PPG and 3.6 RPG in 13.8 minutes per contest before the contract expired last Thursday night.

Previously, Clark had appeared in 69 games for the Rockets since the start of the 2018/19 season, averaging 3.2 PPG and 2.3 RPG with a .348/.312/.929 shooting line in 12.4 minutes per contest. He was released by Houston before his 2019/20 salary became fully guaranteed.

Clark’s new 10-day contract would run through February 7 if it’s officially signed today, but Orlando may wait at least one more day to ensure that it will cover five games instead of four. Once Clark’s deal expires, the Magic will either have to sign him to a rest-of-season contract or let him return to free agency.

If the Magic make a trade on or before the February 6 deadline that requires them to open up a roster spot, Clark’s 10-day contract could be terminated before it expires. He would still earn his full 10-day salary ($81,678) in that scenario.

Terrence Ross Changes Number To Honor Kobe

January 28th, 2020 at 2:55pm CST by Luke Adams

There hasn’t yet been a league-wide push to retire Kobe Bryant‘s No. 8 or No. 24, but some players around the NBA have begun informally retiring those numbers, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. As Charania tweets, the first of those players is Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who had worn No. 8 and will be switching to No. 26. Magic sharpshooter Terrence Ross is changing from No. 8 back to his old No. 31, Charania adds (via Twitter).

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/26/20

January 26th, 2020 at 6:43pm CST by JD Shaw

Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:

The Magic have recalled Melvin Frazier Jr. from their G League affiliate in Lakeland, the team announced on social media. Orlando hosted the Clippers tonight at Amway Center.
The Heat have recalled center Chris Silva from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the team announced in a press release. Silva has averaged 3.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 8.3 minutes in 30 contests with Miami this season.

Robbins Examines Magic's Trade Options

January 24th, 2020 at 1:20pm CST by Luke Adams

Josh Robbins of The Athletic explores some potential trade scenarios for the Magic, expressing skepticism that the club will pursue veterans for a playoff push. Robbins also suggests, as he did earlier this season, that Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz look like the only Orlando players who are essentially untouchable in trade talks.

Magic Granted Disabled Player Excpetion

January 22nd, 2020 at 11:09am CST by Arthur Hill

The Magic have received a disabled player exception for Al-Farouq Aminu, tweets Josh Robbins of The Athletic, citing reporting from Shams Charania.

The DPE is worth $4,629,000, which is half of Aminu’s salary for this season. It can only be used to sign a player for the rest of the season or to trade or make a waiver claim for a player with an expiring contract. Orlando is safely below the tax line and may try to take advantage of the DPE before the March 10 deadline.

Unlike the hardship provision, the DPE also doesn’t give the team an extra roster spot. The Magic currently have a full roster, but Gary Clark is on a 10-day contract that will expire tomorrow. Orlando also applied for a $2,903,220 DPE for Jonathan Isaac and is still awaiting a decision from the league.

Aminu had surgery earlier this month to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee. The team said he would be re-evaluated in 12 weeks, but he wasn’t expected back before April. The NBA only grants DPEs when players are expected to be sidelined through at least June 15, so it appears likely that Aminu’s season is over. He has two seasons left on the three-year deal he signed with Orlando over the summer.

With the Pistons receiving a DPE for Blake Griffin earlier today, that brings the total to seven for the season, which ties a record set in 2017/18, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. The Wizards ($4.36MM), Pelicans ($3.62MM), Trail Blazers ($2.85MM), Lakers ($1.75MM) and Nets ($839K) have already been granted DPEs, as our tracker shows.

Brett Brown Is Happy For Fultz

January 20th, 2020 at 6:34pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Magic forward Gary Clark hopes his defensive skills and rebounding will allow him to stick with the club, as he told David Yapkowitz of Basketball Insiders. Clark signed a 10-day contract after getting waived by the Rockets. “Just bringing some energy and knocking down shots. Being versatile defensively, being able to switch on multiple guys if need be, and use my athleticism,” Clark said. “Knocking down shots is one thing, but my activity on the glass on both ends has been solid.”
Sixers coach Brett Brown is pleased that 2017 No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz has revived his career with the Magic after his struggles in Philadelphia, Rich Hofmann of The Athletic tweets. “From a human standpoint, with complete sincerity, you’re happy for him,” Brown said. “It’s a journey that none of us could have imagined and good for him. Like he didn’t blink, he kept moving forward and I wish him well.”

Clifford To Talk To Weltman About Possible Roster Move

January 17th, 2020 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

With Michael Carter-Williams still battling a shoulder injury and fellow point guard D.J. Augustin out for at least the next three or four weeks with a knee issue, Magic head coach Steve Clifford said he’d speak to president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman about whether or not the team will make a roster move, per Josh Robbins of The Athletic. Orlando has a full 15-man roster, but Gary Clark is on a 10-day contract.