'Now Kai has to do his part': Magic’s NBA Summer League schedule known
NEW YORK – Kai Sotto has been training doubly hard at the Wasserman Group’s headquarters in Los Angeles as he gears up for his best shot at fulfilling his NBA dream.
Sotto has accepted an invitation to play with the Orlando Magic’s Summer League team, his agent Tony Ronzone confirmed.
The 7-foot-3 Filipino center is scheduled to fly to Orlando on June 30 to join the Magic’s Summer League team, which begins its practice on July 2.
“It’s great! He’s earned a spot, and now he’s got to play well and represent the flag of the Philippines,” his agent Tony Ronzone told Philstar.com.
Sotto’s camp chose Orlando among the few NBA teams who extended a Summer League invitation because the Magic presented the best opportunity for the Filipino prospect to showcase his talent, according to Ronzone.
“Now, Kai has to do his part,” Ronzone said.
The Magic’s invitation was a surprise as Sotto did not have any workouts with them this year. He only attended three mini-camps in Utah, Dallas and New York before the Summer League call-up. But the Magic were one of the dozen teams Sotto visited last year during the pre-draft process.
Sotto will team up with the Magic’s incoming backcourt rookies — sixth overall pick Anthony Black of Arkansas and Jett Howard, the son of former NBA player and current Michigan coach Juwan Howard, selected at No. 11 — and other undrafted free agents and their two-way players in Orlando’s Summer League team.
Sotto’s NBA Summer League campaign tips off on July 8 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Magic will play at least five games at the Thomas & Mack Center:
July 8 vs. Detroit 5:30 p.m. (July 9 5:30 a.m. Manila time) ESPN
July 10 vs. Indiana 8:30 p.m. (July 11 8:30 a.m. Manila time) NBA TV
July 12 vs. New York 8 p.m. (July 13 8 a.m. Manila time) ESPN2
July 13 vs. Portland 9 p.m. (July 14 9 a.m. Manila time) ESPN2
Fifth Game TBD (to be determined)
The Magic are an up-and-coming team, with last year’s No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero, cousin of PBA star Chris Banchero, leading the way under head coach Jamahl Mosley.
Mosley and Ronzone worked together in Dallas when the former was an assistant coach and defensive coordinator while the latter was the Director of Player Personnel.
The Magic has yet to name their Summer League coach. Last year, it was Magic assistant coach Jesse Mermuys who got the job.
Sotto’s chance to get a training camp invitation will hinge on his Summer League performance and what Orlando decides to do with their frontcourt players.
Starter Wendell Carter, Jr. is the only Magic center under a guaranteed contract as of this writing. His backup, 6-11 Goga Bitadze, has a $2.06 million team option, while the versatile 7-foot-2 Bol Bol has a $2.2 million non-guaranteed salary. The Magic have until June 30 to guarantee or decline their contracts.
Meanwhile, 6-11 Mo Wagner is set to enter unrestricted free agency. Mo is the older brother of Magic’s 2021 lottery pick Franz Wagner.
Orlando is projected to have at least $12.9 million in cap space to spend in NBA free agency, which begins on July 1.
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Alder Almo is a former senior sportswriter for Philstar.com and NBA.com Philippines. He is now based in Jersey City, New Jersey, and writes for the New York-based website Heavy.com.
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