Changes in NBA rules saw Orlando make two additions to their squad. Orlando have signed Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie to 10-day contracts. Both are free agents with experience.
Tim Frazier
Tim Frazier is a 31 year old guard, who played in 5 games last season (season 2020-21) with Memphis. He has played in 277 NBA regular season games, that includes 81 starts. He is a journeyman having played with Philadelphia, Portland, New Orleans, Washington, Milwaukee, Detroit and Memphis. With 7 seasons experience he averages 5.0 points per game, 4.0 assists and 2.3 rebounds. Frazier was named the 2014-15 NBA G League Most Valuable Player and NBA G League Rookie of the Year.
He will wear number 8 with the Magic.
Freddie Gillespie
Freddie Gillespie is a 24 year old forward. Last season as a rookie Gillespie played in 20 games (including two starts) with the Toronto Raptors. He averaged 5.6 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and 1.00 block.
So far this season he has played in all 12 games (with 11 starts) with Memphis Hustle in the NBA G League. The Magic press release shows he is averaging 11.4 points, 12.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 2.75 blocks. and 1.17 steals per game. He leads the team in rebounding, being second over all in NBA G-League and leading the G-League in blocked shots.
Gillespie will wear number 44 with Orlando.
As Orlando Make Two Additions – The Rules
About 90% of Covid cases in the NBA are of the omicron variant according to Commissioner Adam Silver. He told how the NBA has seen over 100 players enter the NBA’s Covid protocols in the last month.
To reduce postponements the NBA are allowing hardship exceptions to be used. This allows a team to exceed the limit of 15 players registered in the roster. The hardship exception has been changed recently to deal with so many cases of Covid. The NBA has removed the previous limit of three players, now allowing the team to sign a new player for each player on the roster who has tested positive for Covid-19.
Under normal circumstances an NBA roster consists of 15 players, plus 2 players under contract via two-way deals. Previously two-way players were limited to being on a team’s active list for no more than 50 games during the regular season. There was no limit on practices, workouts or other team activities. However, the NBA has decided to eliminate the limitations on appearances for all two-way players.
Where Are The Magic At?
As of today this is how the Magic squad is made up:
Active Magic Players: Franz Wagner, Mychal Mulder, Gary Harris, Chuma Okeke, Robin Lopez, Aleem Ford, Hassani Gravett, BJ Johnson, Admiral Schofield, Tim Frazier, Freddie Gillespie
Magic Injury List: Cole Anthony (ankle), Wendell Carter Jr (lower leg), Markelle Fultz (ACL), Jalen Suggs (thumb), E’Twaun Moore (knee), Michael Carter-Williams (ankle), Jonathan Isaac (ACL)
Magic Players In COVID Protocols: Mo Bamba, Terrence Ross, RJ Hampton, Moe Wagner, Ignas Brazdeikis
Mychal Mulder and Ignas Brazdeikis are both signed to two-way deals.
Aleem Ford, Hassani Gravett, BJ Johnson, Admiral Schofield, Tim Frazier and Freddie Gillespie are all currently on 10-day contracts.
As Orlando make two additions this may not be the final time there are changes to the squad. The situation is extremely fluid with COVID still being a major factor in modern life.
