The Orlando Magic are set to head west for the Las Vegas Summer League, and they’ll open Thursday against the Charlotte Hornets, a team bringing two first-round rookies in Hannes Steinbach and Christian Anderson. Orlando doesn’t have a 2026 first-round pick in the mix, but there are still plenty of names worth tracking once the games start.
Richardson is the obvious headliner. The Magic’s 2025 first-round pick should get a real chance to show more in Las Vegas after averaging 4.4 points across 54 appearances as a rookie. Going into his second season, he could be looking at a bigger role, and the first few games in Summer League may put him front and center for Orlando.
Council is another player with plenty on the line. Orlando has a two-way contract spot open before Summer League, and he looks like a strong candidate to land it.
He brings 105 games of NBA experience from his time with the Philadelphia 76ers between 2023-25, though he didn’t play in the league last season. Instead, he spent time in the G League with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the affiliate of the Houston Rockets.
Now in his fourth NBA season, he remains eligible for a two-way deal, and a strong showing in Vegas could make Orlando his next stop.
Penda also enters the showcase with a lot to prove. He averaged 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 59 appearances last season, and a productive Summer League could help him make a case for a larger role in the year ahead. If he stands out, he could catch the attention of Sean Sweeney's new coaching staff and make his path to rotation minutes a little clearer.
Nelson is the lone draft pick from this year’s class, taken No. 51 overall out of the University of South Florida. He signed a two-way deal, which means he should spend most of his first NBA season with Osceola, but Las Vegas should still give him plenty of court time. That stretch will be his chance to show the Magic he deserves some looks in Orlando when the opportunity comes next season.
Castleton is in a similar spot, though his situation carries a little more pressure. He also signed a two-way deal and is entering his fourth professional season in the NBA.
This is the final year he can be on a two-way contract, and Nelson’s arrival could push the Magic toward moving on from him. For now, though, he remains part of the group, and he should be a major piece of Orlando’s Summer League plans.
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Nikola Vucevic Return Puts New Pressure On The Magic
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For Vucevic, the fit appears to be as much about role as reputation. He has been open about being willing to come off the bench and accept fewer minutes, while also pointing to Orlandos chance to move beyond the first round as a reason the move made sense. The bigger question now is how much his presence changes the ceiling for a team that has spent the past few seasons trying to turn promise into a deeper spring run. [Read more 🡒]