Schroeder: Orlando Magic Will Send Daniel Orton to NBA D-League
by Evan Dunlap on Nov 30, 2010 10:26 PM EST
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PrintThe Orlando Magic will assign rookie center Daniel Orton to the New Mexico Thunderbirds of the NBA's D-League, reports SB Nation colleague Scott Schroeder, writing for NBA FanHouse. Orlando made Orton the 29th pick in this year's NBA Draft, but he's yet to appear in a game this season. The Kentucky product struggled mightily in NBA summer-league play, averaging 3.2 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks, and shooting 14.8 percent from the floor, in five contests. During Media Day, Orton said. the team had him on a program to strengthen the muscles around his left knee, which he injured in high school. He also didn't sound excited about the prospect of joining the D-League:
When I asked how he'd respond if he got word the team was sending him to the D-League, he said, "I'd be upset, but I'd understand where they were coming from. It's just something that I wouldn't be happy about--like, thrilled about--but I'd be understanding."
But the D-League could really help the 20-year-old. As Schroeder notes, New Mexico has a coaching staff attuned to honing big-man skills:
His D-League coaches might also be able to teach him a few tricks as both head coach Darvin Ham and assistant Sean Rooks -- who played his final NBA season as a member of the Magic -- have NBA experience in the post.
The Magic have yet to officially announce the transaction, but when they do, it will have been three years since they last sent a player to the D-League; Orlando shipped Marcin Gortat to the Anaheim Arsenal in 2007 to briefly create a roster spot after trading Trevor Ariza to the L.A. Lakers for Brian Cook and Maurice Evans. Upon waiving Bo Outlaw, Orlando recalled Gortat after just five D-League appearances.
It's unclear how long Orlando plans to keep Orton in the D-League, but sending him down now makes sense, as it will play seven of its next eight games on the road, with fewer opportunities to practice and shoot-around. The Thunderbirds will play eight games between now and December 18th, when Orlando's long stand of road games ends.
Orton will certainly get more reps in the D-League than he will with the big-league team, a big reason why this move is essentially a no-brainer for the Magic's decision-makers.
UPDATE: Zach McCann of the Orlando Sentinel spoke to Otis Smith, the Magic's Presdident of Basketball Operations, about the decision to send Orton down:
Orton, 20, will report to New Mexico immediately. Smith said Orton could remain there a couple of weeks, but he wasn’t sure how long it would be.
The move was made because Smith wants Orton to receive some playing time.
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At least the kid can get some real game time aganist (semi) big league guys
by Ol' Uncle Munnerlyn on Nov 30, 2010 10:52 PM EST reply actions
Heck -- remember this is Orton we're talking about.
He’s barely even had PT against college guys. The Magic desperately need him to get as much game time as possible… it doesn’t matter WHO he’s playing.
At this point, Orton is still a fair way from needing any of the stuff traveling with the team would give him. He doesn’t need fine-tuning, he needs reps.
You mess with the 4-out/1-in, you get the Horns.
YES!
He needs to play! He was Cousins backup at Kentucky and didn’t see the court much in his 1 year of college ball. The Magic are in no dire need for him to play with the team so he should play against semi-decent competition.
They always say that the practice with Dwight and Gortat would be valuable, and I agree to an extent. But he can do that all of next year.
And who does he think he is that he is above the D-league? He must have been hanging around Cousins for too long.
"A man has got to have a code." -Bunk, Season 1; Omar, Season 4.
Where are you getting all this from?
On a road trip, you don’t really do much practice because you spend most of your time travelling and recovering from travelling.
And where does Orton say he’s above the D-League? You’re just making stuff up, man.
by eltharion_doa on Dec 1, 2010 6:56 PM EST up reply actions
I don't think he said he was above anything.
I think they asked him before the season, “what if you get sent down to the minors?”, and he said, “that’d be disappointing, but there it is.” No reason to read any more into it than that.
You mess with the 4-out/1-in, you get the Horns.
GOOD!
I don’t mean to wish ill-will upon him but I don’t think he’s ready for the NBA just yet and that the D-League will be a great experience for him. He won’t get much playing time here but he will in the D-League.
I'm a dude!
Orlando Pinstriped Post: Where game threads turn into online chat rooms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPlLyVuMf7U
I have to be honest . . .
I had completely forgotten that we even had drafted Daniel Orton, so good move on the D-League.
Proudly mocking the Disciples of Panic (some Magic fans) since October 29, 2010.
A very good move
Maybe some time in the D-League will help him develop into a better player.
"1 - 2 - Freddy's coming for you, 3 - 4 - Better lock your door, 5 - 6 - Grab your crucifix, 7 - 8 - Better stay up late, 9 - 10 - Never sleep again..."
I'd like to hear the reason why the one person voted "no"
50 people have voted yes, while one person has voted no so far.
This seems to be a no-brainer that the move to the D-League would do nothing but help the young man. He sure won’t be getting the playing time in Orlando.
"Bear Down, Chicago Bears"...
Chicago Blackhawks... 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Champions
Orlando Magic... 2009 NBA Eastern Conference Champions
by Mike from Illinois on Nov 30, 2010 11:50 PM EST reply actions
Daniel Orton must have came on here and voted NO!!!
by bumper64 on Dec 1, 2010 1:36 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
lol
That’s definitely a possibility
"1 - 2 - Freddy's coming for you, 3 - 4 - Better lock your door, 5 - 6 - Grab your crucifix, 7 - 8 - Better stay up late, 9 - 10 - Never sleep again..."
Wasn't this necessary?
He wasn’t going to get any minutes anytime soon barring a serious injury to 12 or 13.
-SEMINOLES-;;-►
ORL★NDO M★GIC
by Blood, Sugar, Sex, ORLANDO Magic on Nov 30, 2010 11:55 PM EST reply actions
Did Hibbert go to the D-League early in his career?
I really don’t know.
Proudly mocking the Disciples of Panic (some Magic fans) since October 29, 2010.
I'm surprised he DOESN'T like the idea of going down
Maybe he likes being around the team, especially now that he just started practicing a couple weeks ago. Just from random tweets and twitvids and such, he seems to get along really well with the guys (not that it would be that hard to).
Interesting that he’d rather accompany the team on the trip knowing he’d get no PT than to go down where he’s guaranteed big minutes.
FEAR THE MEER!
Well, he said that before the season.
Which is to say, when he might’ve held out at least some nominal hope of getting PT with the Magic. At this point, it’s pretty clear that’s not happening, so I’m sure he’s not going to be as opposed to heading down there.
You mess with the 4-out/1-in, you get the Horns.
Players have a certain perception of the D-League.
Bruises the ego to not be playing with the big boys. Some say the perception is changing though. But, NJ’s stupid move with T-Will hasn’t helped in that regard.
Please don't simply ignore the stats when making your case, 'cause "...your eyes lie to you sometimes..."
Stats Education::
Advanced Stats 101 @ MBN | Basketball Reference | Basketball Prospectus | 82games
by magicfaninTN on Dec 1, 2010 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
Good Move- Otis using the D-League should and will help Orton get better in the long haul.
who would of thought we would be arguably the greatest of all time
around here we developed such a sound down here
but duplicate it off the steel it can only be found here
And just so everyone's aware...
Orton’s first game is Friday (home vs. Erie) and is available to watch online for free on the D-League’s streaming web player, Futurecast.
Okay, now that's cool. Thanks for the heads up.
Proudly mocking the Disciples of Panic (some Magic fans) since October 29, 2010.
There's a stigma about the D-League
Which is unfortunate, because there have been good players to come out of the D-League (Rafer Alston, Devin Brown, Chris Andersen, Chuck Hayes, Jamario Moon, CJ Watson…)
Honor is no substitute for victory.
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