Purvis signs for rest of season
What a Wednesday for
The Orlando Magic signed the 24-year-old shooting guard for the remainder of the season and to a non-guaranteed salary for next season.
“It’s definitely unbelievable news,” Purvis said. “I’m really excited for the opportunity from the Magic, just the investment that upstairs has done with me. They’ve given me this opportunity, and it’s allowed me to showcase my skill.
“I’m just super-excited,” Purvis added. “I look forward to being here for a long time.”
Entering Wednesday, Purvis had appeared in seven games for the Magic. In 13.7 minutes per game, he averaged 6.3 points, made 47.1 percent of his shots overall and 36.8 percent of his 3-point tries.
“He’s deserved it with his play in the G-League all season, first and foremost, and then with the opportunity that he’s had here,” Magic coach said. “He’s just checked a lot of boxes in terms of being able to produce on the floor, being a good culture fit. I think he’s been well-liked in the locker room and with the coaching staff. It’s deserved.”
The contract was just part of Wednesday’s good news.
About 90 minutes before tipoff against the Brooklyn Nets, Vogel informed Purvis he would start in place of fellow rookie because Iwundu was sick.
“I really thought he was joking,” Purvis said before tipoff. “But he was serious. So, yeah, today has been a really good day for me.”
Purvis had never started an NBA game before.
Iwundu had been starting only because injuries to
and have decimated the team’s depth on the wings. “I wouldn’t want to be a shooting guard on the Magic,” Vogel quipped. “There’s a black cloud over those guys at that position.”
Fournier sprained the MCL in his left knee on March 7 and hasn’t played since.
Asked whether Fournier will be able to play again before the Magic’s season finale on April 11, Vogel responded, “They haven’t closed the door entirely on that, but it’s a longshot.”
Wednesday’s matchup against the Nets was the sixth game in a sevengame homestand for the Magic — tied for the second-longest homestand in franchise history.
To Magic players and coaches, the extended time in Central Florida had been a long time coming.
“If we had these games in November, our season probably looks a lot different,” Vogel said.
“This is definitely one of those things where if we were within striking distance of the playoffs, we would be in position to make a serious push.”
Indeed, their schedule started in brutal fashion.
The team played 28 of its first 49 games on the road, and those road games — along with the resulting reduced number of practice days — contributed to the team’s disastrous downturn.
From Nov. 11-Dec. 26, the Magic played 14 of 23 games on the road and posted a 3-20 record, transforming them from one of the NBA’s most pleasant surprises to a cellar-dweller.
The Magic will complete their homestand on Friday night, when they’ll host the Chicago Bulls at Amway Center.