Ben Simmons is headed to the Kings, and Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel doesn’t think the Heat missed out by passing on him. Winderman’s view is that Simmons remains too much of a mystery after sitting out last season and dealing with injuries and uneven play in the years before that. In his estimation, Miami’s win-now approach would have made Simmons a poor match, while Sacramento’s rebuilding timeline gives the Kings room to gamble on a player who once looked like he could become much more.
The rest of the Southeast Division has been busy in its own way, starting with a Hornets offseason that looked very different after the team moved former franchise player LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges. ESPN’s Insiders projected a committee approach in Charlotte, saying coach Charles Lee will have to spread out the responsibility of replacing Ball’s production. Ball averaged 20.1 points and 7.1 assists with a 32.0 usage rate, and the expectation is that Brandon Miller and Kon Knueppel will carry most of the scoring load, with help from Coby White and newly acquired Dennis Schroder.
Orlando took a quieter path this summer, with the coaching change standing out as the main shift. ESPN’s Insiders pointed to Jalen Suggs as the team’s key swing player, but availability remains the issue.
Suggs played 57 games last season, his second-highest total in a career that has been interrupted too often. The other concern is his perimeter shooting, which has fallen off over the last two seasons and needs to rebound.
The Magic also made a broadcast move, announcing a partnership with Gray Media to air about 70 regular-season games this season for fans in Gainesville, Panama City and Tallahassee. According to the team’s press release, all regular-season games except nationally televised matchups will be shown over the air on WTGB 34.3 in Gainesville, WJHG 7.6 in Panama City and WCTV 6.3 in Tallahassee.
In Other News...
Magic NBA Cup Opener Just Got A Lot More Complicated
Kawhi Leonards move from the Clippers to the Raptors has dragged out in a way that matters well beyond Toronto, and Orlando is feeling the ripple effect. After an investigation into salary cap circumvention delayed the trade, Leonard was fined $700,000 but will not be suspended, clearing the way for him to play and immediately raising the stakes for a Raptors team the Magic will see twice early in the season.
For Orlando, the timing could hardly be worse with an Emirates NBA Cup meeting already on the schedule. The Magic were set to get an early read on a Toronto roster that had suddenly become more complicated to project, and now they have to prepare for the possibility of Leonard being available when those games arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Fans Have A Real Reason To Watch Victor Oladipo Again
Victor Oladipos name surfaced again this summer as the Kings looked at veteran help, and for Magic fans, that alone is enough to bring back a familiar mix of curiosity and what-if. Oladipos NBA journey began in Orlando, where he flashed the kind of two-way potential that made him one of the most intriguing young players in the league before his career took him elsewhere.
Now working his way back from a patellar tendon rupture, Oladipo hosted a workout during Summer League and made his case to general managers in a letter, making it clear he still wants another shot in the league. Sacramento ultimately went another direction, but his presence in the veteran market is a reminder that one of Orlandos notable former guards is still trying to write the next chapter of his career. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Face One Big Backcourt Question With Bane And Suggs
Orlandos offseason has kept the spotlight on continuity, and the backcourt is a big reason why. Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs are heading into their second season together, with the pairing offering the kind of balance every team wants: Suggs bringing the edge and defensive pressure, Bane supplying the scoring and the steady offensive presence that can anchor a possession. The fit looks natural on paper, and the Magic have reason to believe the two can settle into a larger rhythm with another year of shared reps.
The bigger question is how coach Sean Sweeney puts that blend to work in ways that maximize both players instead of forcing either into a narrower role. Suggs has already established himself as the defensive specialist in the group, while Banes availability and scoring consistency last season gave Orlando a reliable base to build around. If the Magic get the spacing, usage and defensive balance right, this backcourt could become one of the defining pieces of their next step. [Read more 🡒]