The Orlando Magic had a chance to bring in veteran shooting guard John Konchar, but the deal never got across the finish line.
Konchar instead landed with the defending champion New York Knicks, where he’ll head into training camp with a real shot at one of the last spots on the 15-man roster. For Orlando, that leaves a hole in a backcourt search that at least showed some interest, even if the fit never quite lined up.
The biggest reason is simple: roster math and money. The Magic already have 14 guaranteed contracts for next season, and while they technically have room to add a 15th player, it does not sound like that’s the plan. Orlando is also carrying the league’s third-highest payroll at a little more than $226 million, trailing only the Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors, and that figure is tied to just 14 players.
League rules also shape the decision. Teams must keep at least 14 players on the roster during the season, though they can dip to 13 for only 14 days at a time. Orlando has usually preferred to leave that 15th spot open early in the year so it can keep some flexibility later on.
That approach was on display last season. The Magic stayed at 14 roster spots until the very end of the year before signing Jamal Cain to a standard contract after he had been on a two-way deal. Cain earned that promotion with his play and eventually turned it into rotation minutes in the playoff series against the Detroit Pistons.
Konchar, a seven-year veteran, wasn’t eligible for a two-way deal, which meant the Magic would have needed to give him only a training camp guarantee. Orlando already added two guards in Malaki Branham and JD Davison, and neither is expected to crack the final roster, though the team could keep their G League rights.
New York could offer something Orlando couldn’t: a clearer path to a roster spot. The Knicks have only 13 guaranteed contracts, so Konchar can compete to be their 14th man. That made the opportunity more appealing, and it’s why the Magic missed out.
Still, the reported interest says something about where Orlando may be looking. The team appears to be keeping an eye on the backcourt, even if a player like Konchar wasn’t going to be the one to push them into a bigger move.
In Other News...
Wendell Carter Jr. Just Earned Rare Respect From Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic doesnt hand out defensive praise lightly, which is why Wendell Carter Jr. getting mentioned as one of the toughest players he faces carries real weight for Orlando. Carter has never built his reputation on national buzz, but his size, strength and versatility have made him a steady problem for opposing big men, especially when the matchup turns into a grind rather than a highlight reel.
Last seasons numbers backed up the eye test, too, with Carter limiting Jokics scoring efficiency and finishing fourth in points allowed among players matched up against the Nuggets star. For a player who often works outside the usual spotlight, that kind of acknowledgment says plenty about how respected he is inside the league, even if he still doesnt get talked about like the NBAs elite defenders. [Read more 🡒]
Orlando Magic Core Faces Early Pressure Trade Rumors Could Get Real
The Magic have spent the early stretch of the offseason insisting the roster they built is good enough to compete, but the conversation around the team has already turned toward what happens if it does not look that way once games count. With payroll pressure and higher expectations comes the usual noise, and in Orlandos case the chatter has been loud enough that trade ideas are circulating well before any official move has been made.
If the season opens with the kind of uneven play that turns patience into urgency, the front office could be forced into a tougher evaluation of its core sooner than planned. For now, the organization is standing behind the group it has, but the gap between belief and results is where these rumors tend to take on a life of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Magic Enter Next Season Facing A Ceiling Fans Will Debate
The Magic are heading into next season with a fresh voice on the bench, Sean Sweeney stepping in for Jamahl Mosley as the East keeps shifting around them. Orlandos outlook still points to a team in the mix for a solid playoff position, especially with so many roster changes elsewhere in the conference, but the path upward looks crowded and unforgiving.
Much of the conversation around Orlando now is less about whether it can stay relevant and more about how far it can push once the games tighten. Getting past the play-in range and into a stronger seed will depend on health, consistency and how well the Magic handle the leagues tougher divisional and conference matchups, which is where the debate over their ceiling is likely to start all over again. [Read more 🡒]