RealGM Basketball Wiretap

Clippers Continue Bledsoe For Afflalo Talks With Magic, Waiting On Better Offer

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:03:29 EDT

The Los Angeles Clippers have held ongoing talks with the Orlando Magic on a trade involving Eric Bledsoe for Arron Afflalo.

The Clippers prefer to hold onto Bledsoe in the interim in hopes of landing a better offer, according to sources.

Afflalo is owed $23 million over the next three seasons.

Magic Considering Nine Different Prospects With No. 2 Pick

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 12:46:12 EDT

The Orlando Magic have the second overall pick and sources say they are considering nine players.

The Magic have the biggest need at point guard, though they could target a veteran such as Eric Bledsoe.

If the Magic trade Arron Afflalo, it could open up a need at shooting guard for a player such as Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore.

McLemore Thinks He'd Be Perfect Fit For Magic

Thu, 30 May 2013 21:04:18 EDT

Ben McLemore think he'd fit in nicely with the Orlando Magic.

"The Orlando Magic, I think that's a great program," McLemore said. "I think I could fit perfectly in that system and that organization and help that team in different kinds of ways."

McLemore already feels a kinship with Jacque Vaughn, who attended Kansas and played four seasons for the Jayhawks during the mid-1990s.

McLemore met with Vaughn during the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

"It was great just walking in and just seeing that face and seeing that connection as soon as we saw each other," McLemore recalled. "Big smiles came on our faces. He was great."

Magic Interested In Trading For Eric Bledsoe

Wed, 29 May 2013 13:04:10 EDT

The Orlando Magic are considering Trey Burke with the No. 2 overall pick, but sources say they are not sold on him with that high of a pick and could instead target Eric Bledsoe via tarde.

The Magic would be willing to trade Arron Afflalo for Bledsoe and the expiring contract of Caron Butler.

Afflalo would give the Los Angeles Clippers a more traditional shooting guard to pair with Paul in the backcourt.

With the No. 2 pick, the Magic could then target Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore.

Trey Burke Scheduled To Work Out For Magic

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:35:38 EDT

Trey Burke is scheduled to work out for the Orlando Magic before the June 27 draft.

Burke has scheduled just one workout thus far.

"I may do three or four (workouts with teams), two or three, I don't know (yet),” Burke said. "Everything's not (totally) scheduled yet still."

Burke doesn’t have a preference for where he could end up.

"Wherever I go, it doesn't matter," he says. "Wherever I go, I'm going to be ready to play right away.

"Try and contribute at a high level."

Stan Van Gundy: 'It Is Possible' I Don't Coach Ever Again

Thu, 23 May 2013 13:41:51 EDT

Stan Van Gundy knows his family has become comfortable living together in Orlando and has made it clear that he will not coach in the NBA next season.

Furthermore, Van Gundy is leaving open the possibility of never coaching in the league ever again.

"It is possible and that scares me," Van Gundy said. "Coaching is all I've ever done and all I know.

"Every year, you're out of it, it gets harder and harder to get back in."

For now, Van Gundy has decided not to pursue head coach openings and has turned down offers.

"We love where we're living and quite honestly it would be hard for us to leave Central Florida," Van Gundy said. "... As much as I would like to be back in coaching, we're all real happy here. I don't know what will happen in the future, but for right now we've decided not to pursue anything."

Cavaliers Win Lottery; Magic, Wizards In Top-3

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:52:23 EDT

The 2013 NBA Draft Lottery was held on Tuesday in Times Square with the Cleveland Cavaliers winning for the second time in three years and third time in ten years. The Washington Wizards moved up from the eighth slot to draft third.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Orlando Magic
3. Washington Wizards
4. Charlotte Bobcats
5. Phoenix Suns
6. New Orleans Pelicans
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Detroit Pistons
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Portland Trail Blazers
11. Philadelphia 76ers
12. Toronto Raptors
13. Dallas Mavericks
14. Utah Jazz

Gani Lawal Intrigues NBA Teams After Breakout Season In Italy

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:15:10 EDT

After a breakout season in Europe, Gani Lawal has intrigued NBA teams and could receive consideration for a contract, league sources told RealGM.

Lawal has already scheduled workouts – private and as part of mini-camps – with the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and Orlando Magic, sources said. Four to five other teams have discussed bringing him in to work out, too.

Lawal, the 6-foot-9 athletic, scrappy forward, had his best professional season with Italy’s Virtus Roma, averaging 13.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. Virtus Roma has gone 20-10 this season and ranks third in the league standings.

Since leaving the Phoenix Suns organization that drafted him in the second round in 2010, Lawal, 24, has lost weight and added strength. Lawal played one game with the Suns two seasons ago and was in the San Antonio Spurs’ training camp in 2011, but he was derailed by injuries and didn’t figure into a long-term plan. He was drafted after three years at Georgia Tech.

Afflalo Wants To Play To His Strengths Next Season

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:51:45 EDT

Arron Afflalo is looking forward to playing to his strengths next season.

"I'm kind of getting to the age now where I'm kind of settling into being great at something," Afflalo said. "Whether it's being a high-level defensive player, a high-level shooter, an efficient scorer, doing the things where I'm really playing to my strengths. That's something I'm looking forward to."

With Afflalo often acting as the team’s go-to scorer, the Magic lost 62 games this season.

"It is what it is," Afflalo said. "We had a lot of firsts in terms of role definition, in terms of learning, in terms of the coaching staff. And when you're fully committed to doing better and trying to win it all at some point in time, you have to go through experiences like this. All we can do is try to learn from what happened this year and move forward into next year."

Magic, Pelicans Could Draft Trey Burke 1st Overall If They Win Lottery

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:48:37 EDT

Trey Burke is a projected top-5 pick and could become the first player selected depending on who wins the lottery.

According to reporting from Chad Ford, the Orlando Magic and New Orleans Pelicans could select Burke with the first overall selection.

Strength Of 2014 Draft Class Could Help Noel's Case With Magic, Bobcats

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:26:50 EDT

Nerlens Noel was widely considered the consensus best player available in the 2013 NBA Draft, but his status in that position became questionable after tearing his ACL.

Noel is targeting a return of December, but could be out longer depending on how the rehab progresses.

With the 2014 NBA Draft expected to be incredibly strong with Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, Julius Randle and Marcus Smart, amongst others, teams could be more comfortable being patient with Noel.

"I actually think that's helping Noel's case with teams like Orlando and Charlotte," wrote Chad Ford of the scenario of letting Noel rehab slowly to improve their lottery position for 2014. "Going for the double-play."

Amaechi: Magic Teammates Knew Sexuality, Protected Me

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:16:06 EDT

John Amaechi said several of his Orlando Magic teammates knew that he was gay when he played for the franchise between 1999 and 2001.

"I just thought I would lose my job," Amaechi said during an interview on Wednesday. "My teammates knew. We didn't talk about, but they knew. ... My teammates took care of me."

Amaechi said that the climate of the United States at that time, as well as playing for a conservative owner like Rich DeVos whose family has donated money to anti-gay marriage groups, made coming out publicly not something he was comfortable doing.

Source: Magic Wouldn't Rule Out Drafting Nerlens Noel

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:17:54 EDT

Rob Hennigan has been risk-averse when it comes to acquiring players with injury histories, but according to a source with direct knowledge, Hennigan wouldn’t be afraid to select Nerlens Noel with the Orlando Magic’s lottery pick.

The Magic finished with the NBA’s worst record (20-62) and are guaranteed one of the top four picks -- with a 25 percent chance of receiving the No. 1 pick.

Noel is still recovering from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered on Feb. 12.

Noel fractured the growth plate in his left knee as a sophomore in high school and missed the remainder of the season.

Get Your Latest NBA News From RealGM's Basketball Wiretap

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 23:17:02 EDT

Get all the latest news and happenings from around the NBA with RealGM's Basketball Wiretap.