Orlando Magic Starting 5: Damian Lillard Trade Benefits

The Orlando Magic, like the rest of the NBA, will feel the ripple effects from the Damian Lillard trade.

Jeremy Brener | Sep 30, 2023

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Orlando Magic

1. DAME DEAL "Current roster constructions do not impact the Magic any more than other teams in the league, but after what can only be described as a disappointing offseason for the Miami Heat, Pat Riley and company are desperate to get back to the NBA Finals. Adding Lillard was supposed to make Miami a shoo-in to win the East, and now they need to make moves to bolster their roster."

2. MAGIC SIGNS D.J. WILSON The Orlando Magic is filling out its training camp roster.

The team announced Friday that it had signed seven-year NBA veteran D.J. Wilson to an Exhibit 10 deal.

Wilson, 27, last played for the Toronto Raptors in the 2021-22 season.

3. MOSLEY'S GRATITUDE "There was so much gratitude for being there with Steve Kerr, Ty Lue, Erik Spoelstra, Mark Few, Jim Boylen, Matt Painter, and Jeff Van Gundy," Mosley said on the HoopsHype Podcast. "I think there was so much knowledge in that room. The one thing that stood out more than anything with that group of guys with the knowledge they had was the low ego."

4. FRANZ BREAKOUT? "The Magic are going to bump up his usage even more, and he is going to be firing over five 3-point attempts per game," The Athletic said. "If he continues to grow as a shooter and playmaker, he could average more than 20 points and four assists per game, which would hopefully catch the attention of most around the NBA, even if the Magic still struggle as a team."

5. HAMPTON TO HEAT "R.J. Hampton is back in Florida."

Published Sep 30, 2023

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.