The Orlando Magic are injury free entering training camp, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports. A good start for a team needing growth.
The Orlando Magic will be injury free entering training camp, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports. The only restriction to note is Aaron Gordon who will likely be held out of full-contact 5-on-5 drills until mid-October after he broke his jaw in July. He will participate in all other drills and practice sessions.
This is very welcome news for the Magic as they enter a critical time in their development. They have a new coach and will be learning an entirely new defensive and offensive scheme and mentality from the past three years. It will take their full attention and health to get it all down.
Injuries certainly can hamper that process. Particularly considering the Magic are hoping to turn the corner. While they should have some increased depth with players improving and some reinforcements through the draft and free agency, this is still a young team that could be precariously balanced. An injury to the wrong guy could tip the scales against the Magic for sure.
There is already a lot of pressure for internal improvement and for the team to turn the corner and start winning games. What happens at training camp will lay the foundation for that. And so having everyone available at the beginning is an important step.
Last year, of course, injuries struck the team during training camp. Victor Oladipo had a knee injury early in camp and then fractured his face. Channing Frye also suffered a knee injury which clearly affected his mobility and his absence clearly affected his ability to integrate into the team.
This next month is going to be an important one for the Magic as a whole.
So, again, a good start is going to be vitally important.
Training camp opens Saturday for the Magic with Media Day on Friday.
