Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon authored two of the greatest performances in NBA Slam Dunk Contest history, but neither of his efforts resulted in wins as Zach LaVine and Derrick Jones Jr. beat him in 2016 and 2020, respectively.

He arguably could have won both, and his performances should have won him the title nearly every other year. That didn't happen, however, and Gordon now wonders if he "ruined" the contest because his epic performances didn't result in wins.

Gordon said, per Jeff Zilgitt of USA Today:

"I have some fears that I ruined the dunk contest, that people aren't going to want to do it anymore. I hope that people see Mr. 50 and are inspired and continue to elevate that dunk contest because there are still dunks that haven't been done. I'm not going to do them, but I hope somebody comes in and does them. It's a great event. It's beautiful for the game."

Mr. 50 is a documentary short chronicling his experience at last year's competition. The "50" is in reference to a perfect score a dunker can achieve for any individual slam (five judges, 10-point top score for each).

Per HoopsHype, Gordon has the most perfect dunks ever with eight, one more than LaVine and two more than NBA legend Michael Jordan.

His 2016 highlight reel, spotlighting his duel with LaVine, is here:

And his 2020 reel is here:

Gordon may not have won, but as he said (h/t Zilgitt) regarding the documentary, he ended up satisfied with his performance despite missing out on the trophies.

"But it turned into something more," Gordon said regarding the doc. "My friend and filmmaker Aaron Chapman chopped it up in a way that I had never seen before. It was much more artistic, much more poetic and raw.

"The message I wanted to get across is to conquer your fears and be satisfied in your actions more than the outcome."

Gordon has said he felt he deserved two trophies. Hardware isn't in the cards this year as he sits out the 2021 contest, which will occur in Atlanta on Sunday.

Even if he never participates in another one, though, Gordon will still go down as one of the contest's all-time legends. 

The NBA announced Thursday it fined Orlando Magic guards Terrence Ross and Michael Carter-Williams $15,000 apiece. 

The players were punished for verbal abuse toward game officials and "failing to leave the court in a timely manner" immediately after Wednesday's 115-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Magic trailed by a point in the final seconds when Ross attempted a floater from just inside the free-throw line that was just wide to the right. John Collins grabbed the rebound for Atlanta and was fouled by Carter-Williams to seal the victory for Atlanta.

After the final buzzer sounded, Ross approached the officiating crew to discuss his shot attempt as he thought he had been fouled. The NBA said in its Last Two Minute report that Hawks guard Kevin Huerter got the ball as he defended Ross and that any contact with Ross was "incidental."

Orlando felt even more slighted because Carter-Williams had been whistled for a foul on Trae Young moments earlier, which allowed Atlanta to jump ahead. The league said Carter-Williams got Young on the chin and was appropriately assessed a personal foul.

The frustration inside the Magic locker room was evident in the postgame comments from Carter-Williams and head coach Steve Clifford:

"I'll tell you with 100% certainty there was no contact to the head, so I didn't think it was a foul," Steve Clifford.

Coach said that he went back and watched the play with MCW and Trae Young and thought there was not enough contact to call a foul. #MagicTogether pic.twitter.com/aQx2UgcaML

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) March 4, 2021

"Tough call, of course I disagree with it," @mcarterwilliams.

MCW thought the call should have been different and said they weren't in their rotations defensively and gave up too many three's in the 4th quarter. #MagicTogether pic.twitter.com/TRrLy7Wzfk

— FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun (@FanDuelSN_FL) March 4, 2021

That Orlando dropped its fifth game in a row might have had something to do with the reaction.

Back on Feb. 21, the Magic were only 0.5 games back of the 10th-place Hawks, which will be good enough to qualify for the play-in tournament. Now, the team owns the Eastern Conference's second-worst record (13-23).

The Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets are reportedly among the teams interested in a trade for Nikola Vucevic ahead of the March 25 deadline, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

If the Orlando Magic do trade the center, though, it would likely take a "massive" haul from an interested team.

Vucevic is heading to his second career All-Star game with averages of 24.6 points, 11.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The only other players currently averaging 24 and 11 are MVP candidates Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, while Vucevic's 41.2 percent three-point shooting is a career high.

With the Magic struggling to a 13-23 record after five straight losses, it could be time to part with the 30-year-old to help the team rebuild.

The Celtics already have a pair of veteran big men in Tristan Thompson and Daniel Thies, but Vucevic could be a legitimate difference-maker as they try to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

Vucevic averaged 28 points and 11 rebounds per game in the first-round playoff loss to the Milwaukee Bucks last season, including 35 and 14 in a Game 1 win. The center almost single-handedly kept Orlando competitive against the No. 1 seed, showing the impact he could have with more talent around him.

With two more All-Stars on the roster in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Boston could go from middle seed to contender.

The veteran would have a similar impact on the Hornets, providing some balance around perimeter-oriented scorers like Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier and LaMelo Ball. As an obviously massive upgrade over Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo, Vucevic could help get Charlotte past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2002.

The Orlando Magic reportedly may be willing to part with two key players in Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier as the trade deadline approaches.

According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst on his Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective podcast, NBA executives have discussed the notion that Orlando is "possibly" willing to trade away Gordon or Fournier.

"The Orlando Magic possibly could be willing to part with a guy like Evan Fournier," Windhorst said. "Maybe a guy like Aaron Gordon, that is being chatted around about executives."

Selling is becoming a greater possibility for the Magic as they continue to slide down the Eastern Conference standings. They are currently 13th at 13-20, leaving them three games out of the No. 8 spot.

Outside of center Nikola Vucevic, Gordon and Fournier are arguably the Magic's most important players, but they may not be long for the organization.

Gordon is in the penultimate year of his contract and in the midst of a multi-week absence because of an ankle injury. Prior to landing on the shelf, however, Gordon was contributing to the team in myriad ways.

The 25-year-old forward is averaging 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, a career-high 4.2 assists and 1.6 three-pointers made in 19 games this season.

He has struggled a bit with efficiency, though, shooting a career-worst 42.7 percent from the field, although his 36.9 percent conversion rate from beyond the arc is solid.

Given Gordon's versatility and relatively young age, plus the fact that he wouldn't be a pure rental, he could command some interest on the trade market.

Fournier is more of a veteran player at 28 years of age, and he would be a rental since his contract expires at the end of the 2020-21 season.

The Frenchman has battled back spasms that have limited him to 19 games this season, but when he has played, Fournier has been highly productive.

His 18.3 points per game are just a tick behind the career-high 18.5 he averaged last season, plus he is putting up a career-high 3.8 assists per game to go along with 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 three-pointers made and 1.1 steals.

Fournier is a nine-year NBA veteran with more than 500 games of regular-season experience, and he is also a quality shooter from deep, having made 37.5 percent of his three-point attempts during his career.

Trading away both Gordon and Fournier would leave Orlando hurting in the overall depth department, especially with both Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac out for the season.

The Magic have enough talent to go on a run and reach the playoffs for a third consecutive season. If they don't believe they have a chance to make any noise come playoff time, trading Gordon and Fournier for draft capital may be the best course of action for the team's future.

The Orlando Magic entered the 2020-21 season already needing to reinvent their game plan after  Jonathan Isaac tore his ACL and meniscus during the NBA bubble. 

However, the Magic's season took a further turn for the worst when starting guard Markelle Fultz tore his ACL in the first quarter of a Jan. 6 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had knee surgery and was ruled out for the year.

As a result, rookie Cole Anthony was forced into a starting role, from where he has managed 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in 17 starts before he was sidelined with a rib fracture.

Aaron Gordon sprained his ankle at the start of February and was ruled out for four to six weeks. Gary Clark stepped into the starting role, though not quite as valiantly as Anthony, and recorded just 3.4 points and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Their only hope, Nikola Vucevic, is averaging 23.9 points and 11.7 rebounds per game to lead the group. 

It's not the start to the season the Magic imagined, but with half a year under their belt, here's a look at what they have to counter with in the second half. 

            

Second-Half Magic Schedule Details

Second-Half Opener: March 11 at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. ET)

Championship Odds: +25000 (via FanDuel) (bet $100 to win $25,000)

Second-Half Schedule: NBA.com

              

Top Matchups

Chicago Bulls (April 14)

These two teams split their first two outings of the season, with the Magic taking a 123-119 win on Feb. 5 before being decimated 118-92 the next day.

In the first outing, they were led by a historic double-double from Vucevic. His 43 points and 19 rebounds made him just the fourth player in franchise history to score 40-plus points and at least 15 rebounds in a single game, a feat accomplished by Shaquille O'Neal (12 times), Dwight Howard (four times) and his teammate Aaron Gordon, according to Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. 

Lightning doesn't strike twice, though. Vucevic was quieted in the second matchup, leading with 17 points and eight rebounds in the loss. 

The Bulls are paced by Zach LaVine's 28.6 points per game, which rank him sixth in the league. 

If the Magic wanted to make an astounding run to one of the play-in games for the postseason, it's likely they'd have to see off the Bulls or the Atlanta Hawks to get there. This game could be crucial in deciding the race. 

          

Minnesota Timberwolves (May 9)

When these two teams first met on Jan. 20, Anthony was the hero with a buzzer-beater three to send the Magic to a 97-96 victory. 

COLE ANTHONY AT THE BUZZER FTW! 🚨

(via @NBATV) pic.twitter.com/7RTRp0YW2L

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 21, 2021

Minnesota held a 20-point lead at halftime, but Orlando fought back. Vucevic recorded 28 points and eight rebounds, and Evan Fournier returned after missing time with back spasms to post 24 points. 

Since giving up that halftime advantage, the Timberwolves haven't fared much better, with a 6-20 record.

Still, they've forced close calls with several opponents. In an eight-game stretch dating back to Jan. 31, the Timberwolves are 1-7 but have never lost by more than the seven-point deficit they had against the Clippers on Feb. 10. 

Karl-Anthony Towns is leading the way with 22.3 points and 10.9 rebounds, while Malik Beasley is equally productive with 20.4 points per game. 

Minnesota was a challenge for Orlando in its first meeting, so the second matchup is a chance for the Magic to prove how far they've come since January. 

             

Second-Half Forecast

Orlando was never going to contend for a championship this season with a roster that was reliant on youth.

Fultz, 22, was due to step into a bigger role once Isaac went down. While 22-year-old Mo Bamba is deep on the depth chart, it's 20-year-old Anthony who has taken the charge. 

The losses of Fultz and Gordon are huge, but Anthony has shown promise since stepping in as a starter. However, any hope of the Magic making a serious stride forward has been hindered by the loss of three starters to injury.

At least Anthony will be gaining more experience than he would if Fultz was healthy, which could deepen the roster heading into next season. 

          

Record Prediction: 29-43

              

Must be 21+ and present in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, West Virginia, Colorado or Tennessee. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. See sportsbook.fanduel.com for details.

Despite having their season derailed by a number of injuries to key players, the Orlando Magic reportedly aren't going into sell mode leading up to the March 25 trade deadline. 

Per ESPN's Zach Lowe on Friday, the Magic are "projecting patience and optimism about bringing back their healthy core next season" rather than trying to trade anyone under contract beyond this season. 

Lowe did speculate that Evan Fournier might be an exception because he can become a free agent this offseason.

Nikola Vucevic has been the most-talked about potential trade candidate on Orlando's roster. He's in the midst of a career year with 23.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game with a 40.7 three-point percentage. 

The Magic have Vucevic under contract for two seasons after 2020-21 with affordable salaries of $24 million in 2021-22 and $22 million in 2022-23. Aaron Gordon, Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac, Terrence Ross and Cole Anthony are all under contract for at least one more year.

Orlando began this season without Isaac, who is going to miss the entire 2020-21 campaign recovering from a torn ACL suffered last August. Fultz's season came to an end on Jan. 6 when he tore his ACL against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Gordon is expected to be out until at least early March with a severe ankle sprain.

Anthony, the team's first-round pick in the 2020 NBA draft, is going to be out through the All-Star break with a fractured rib. 

All of those injuries have forced the Magic to piece together their lineup with a number of bench players and free-agent signings. They have won three of their last four games but are currently 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 12-18 record. 

Orlando has made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, though it has been eliminated in the first round both times.

Orlando Magic point guard Cole Anthony is the latest player on the team dealing with a significant injury that will keep him out of action. 

Per Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, the Magic announced Anthony suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right rib and will be out until after the All-Star break. 

Anthony has missed each of the past three games with what was listed as a sprained shoulder. He was originally injured in Orlando's 106-97 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Feb. 9.

Orlando's roster has been decimated by injuries so far this season. Anthony, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz and Al-Farouq Aminu are among the players currently unable to play. 

The Magic selected Anthony out of North Carolina with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. He's been thrust into a large role after Fultz suffered a torn ACL, averaging 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game in 25 appearances as a rookie.

Anthony missed six weeks during his only college campaign with the Tar Heels after undergoing knee surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in December 2019.

More recently, he suffered a shoulder injury during a Feb. 9 game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Michael Carter-Williams will take over as the starting point guard with Anthony out. Chasson Randle should see some more minutes in the backcourt rotation as well.

Orlando Magic point guard Cole Anthony will miss Thursday's game against the Golden State Warriors with a right shoulder strain, the team announced.

INJURY UPDATE:
The following have been ruled out tonight for the @OrlandoMagic at Golden State:

- Al-Farouq Aminu (right knee injury management)
- Cole Anthony (strained right shoulder)
- Michael Carter-Williams (sprained left foot)
- Evan Fournier (low back spasms)

— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) February 12, 2021

Anthony was selected by the Magic with the 15th pick in the 2020 NBA draft following a standout freshman season at North Carolina. He was named Third Team All-ACC and earned a place on the ACC All-Freshman Team after putting up 18.5 points per game during his only collegiate campaign.

He's averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 25 games as a rookie.

Anthony missed six weeks at UNC while recovering from a partially torn meniscus in his right knee. This represents his first notable setback at the pro level.

Terrence Ross should see the biggest uptick in playing time to run the Orlando offense. Frank Mason could also get his most extensive spot in the backcourt rotation.

Anthony, who spent some time as the projected top pick in the 2020 draft, still features ample potential, but he must improve his offensive efficiency to become a star in the NBA. Staying healthy will also be an important part of his development.

With the Orlando Magic in freefall since their 6-2 start, teams are keeping an eye on their potential trade assets leading up to the March 25 trade deadline. 

Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps on Thursday, Evan Fournier is "expected to draw interest" from opposing teams. 

Fournier has been one of the few bright spots for a Magic team that has been ravaged by injuries. The French star is averaging 17.6 points and 3.6 assists per game in 13 starts. 

Head coach Steve Clifford has had to piece together his lineups lately. The Magic lost starting point guard Markelle Fultz for the season on Jan. 6 when he suffered a torn ACL against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Aaron Gordon is expected to miss four to six weeks with a severe ankle sprain, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

Jonathan Isaac is also going to miss the entire season while recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in August during the seeding games at the Walt Disney Resort. 

The Magic have dropped to 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 12 losses in their past 14 games. They rank in the bottom 10 in the league in offensive and defensive rating, per Basketball-Reference.com. 

Fournier is due to become a free agent at the end of this season. He's in his seventh season with the Magic and is a 37.5 percent career shooter from three-point range. 

Rival NBA front offices are reportedly keeping tabs on whether Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon becomes available before the NBA trade deadline on March 25.

ESPN's Tim Bontemps reported Thursday "multiple executives wondered" if the Magic are going to enter a full-scale rebuild and use Gordon to acquire key assets for the future.

The 25-year-old University of Arizona product is no stranger to trade rumors as one of the most valuable trade targets on a team that hasn't advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since 2010, but so far, he's spent his entire career in Orlando since being selected fourth overall in 2014.

Gordon was off to a promising start to the 2020-21 season, averaging 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists across 19 games, before he suffered an ankle injury Sunday that will sideline him for four-to-six weeks.

That timetable puts him on track to return between early and mid-March before the trade deadline.

Although he's putting up solid individual numbers, Gordon would probably prefer to land with a contender if the Magic ultimately decide to trade him.

"Winning is the only thing that matters," he told reporters in January. "However you get there, however you get to that point. It's the only thing that matters. It doesn't matter who has what stats. At the end of the game, if we can have another win in the win column, that's the most important thing."

The Magic are 12th in the Eastern Conference with an 8-14 record after losing four straight games.

Gordon, who's under contract through next season as part of a four-year, $80 million deal, may take on a smaller niche in terms of minutes if he does land at a title hopeful, but he could provide ample value as a third or fourth scoring option who can fill multiple roles positionally.

A lot will likely depend on how Orlando as a whole performs between now and the deadline to help the front office determine whether it should be a seller next month.