Although the Magic lost all five summer league exhibitions they played in Las Vegas, coach Ameer Bahhur still had plenty to like from what he saw throughout the team’s 10 days out west.
In fact, Orlando lost to three of the four teams that reached the tournament semifinals — two of which it fell to by a combined 6 points (Raptors and Kings).
“The word for this summer league has been relentless and our guys have been exactly that,” Bahhur said. “We played some really good, experienced teams and we hung right them in some one-possession games, and it speaks volumes about our guys and their ability to play for each other.”
Fortunately for the Magic, wins and losses in summer league are far less important compared to development and growth of younger players on their roster.
That includes rookies Jase Richardson and Noah Penda, who got their first taste of NBA competition, and Tristan da Silva, who returned to Las Vegas for a second year.
Here’s what stood out about the Magic across the entirety of summer league:
Rookies made their mark
It’s easy to see why the Magic targeted Richardson late in the first round of June’s draft and then traded up in the second round to take Penda from France.
In two summer league games, the 6-foot-1 guard from Michigan State averaged 16.5 points, 2.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds. 50% from 3-pointers on 3 attempts per contest. He controlled the ball for Orlando, attacked the basket consistently and didn’t shy from contact on either end of the court.
“He played two really tough, physical teams and he did a heck of a job commanding our offense, getting his teammates involved when he needed to and looked to score when he needed,” Bahhur said about Richardson. “Defensively, for his first taste of NBA minutes, he did a great job of matching physicality and battling.”
Penda ended up appearing in three summer league games and moved well for his size. At 6-7 with a 6-11 wingspan, the French forward showcased his ability to find his spots on the floor on offense and defend at a high level.
In three contests, he averaged 11.3 points shooting 51.7% from the floor, 7.7 rebounds, 3 assists, 1.7 steals and nearly a full block (0.7).
“Noah did a great job playmaking for himself and then showing at his size he can be versatile and make plays for others,” Bahhur said. “Defensively, we asked him to guard bigs [and] smalls, and he took on whatever challenge we gave him.
“He showed why we’re so excited about him because of his ability to do it on both sides of the ball,” the Magic summer league coach added.
da Silva solid
Similarly to Richardson, da Silva suited up for only two games in Las Vegas, which was plenty for the sophomore wing who appeared in 74 NBA consists as a rookie.
The 6-8 forward believed he grew more comfortable on the court with the ball in his hands and as a vocal leader for a young squad. Facing mostly rookies drafted and undrafted, da Silva took advantage of his matchups and delivered quality offense for Orlando when it was needed.
In two games, he averaged 18.5 points while shooting 38.5% from 3 on 6.5 long-range attempts per contest with 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and a block.
“He took steps on all sides of all the ball,” Bahhur said. “Offensively, he was aggressive, shot the ball well, did a great job of being physical [and] created offense for himself and others. Defensively, he took on the challenge of guarding some really good players. Two great steps for Tristan, and we’re going to continue to build on it.”
Added da Silva: “There were some good glimpses in there … There’s also stuff to still improve upon and learn from this experience. But I feel like this was a really good thing for me.”
Moore two-way worthy
During an in-game TV interview Friday when the Magic lost to Dallas, Richardson highlighted Wendell Moore Jr. when the rookie was asked who has impressed throughout summer league.
It’s hard to disagree.
The 6-foot-5 guard from Duke who has three years of NBA experience averaged 13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and a steal during 22.7 minutes per game across 5 summer league contests for Orlando.
He’s previously appeared in 90 career NBA regular-season games with Minnesota, Detroit and Charlotte as well as spending time in the G League.
Whether it’s with the Magic or another club, Moore showed why he could end up on a two-way contract this upcoming season. Orlando has a pair of two-way deals available but is full of guards.
Regardless, Moore believed he did enough to earn his next opportunity in the NBA.
“I showed that I deserved to be in this league,” he said. “I showed I can be one of the best defenders out here. I can make shots, I can get downhill [and] play secondary lead-guard, if needed. I showed I can do a bunch of things on the floor that can help teams win.”
What’s next
With the draft, free agency and summer league behind them, the Magic will have time off to continue to work on their game and recover before training camp in the fall.
Some members of the team will compete for their home countries at FIBA EuroBasket 2025, a tournament that takes place across Europe late August through mid-September. Franz Wagner has made his intentions clear to suit up for Germany while Goga Bitadze will play for the Republic of Georgia.
After that, the 2025-26 NBA season and the 37th year in Magic history will be around the corner.
Orlando’s team media day at the AdventHealth Training Center is set for Sept. 29 with training camp starting the next day.
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
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