The Orlando Magic
Team gets power forward Martin from Grizzlies for Johnson, rights to 2015 pick
agree to acquire Jarell Martin in a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies that also involves recently acquired center Dakari Johnson.
In a move designed to improve their depth at power forward, the Orlando Magic on Monday made a trade with the Memphis Grizzlies to obtain Jarell Martin.
The Magic will receive Martin and cash from the Grizzlies in exchange for recently acquired center Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to 2015 second-round pick Tyler Harvey.
Martin, a 24-year-old who was picked 25th overall in 2015 by Memphis, almost certainly will slot behind Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac on Orlando’s depth chart at power forward.
Martin started 36 of the 73 games he played last season for the woeful Grizzlies. In 22.8 minutes per game, he averaged 7.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists. He’s not a bad longrange shooter; he made 34.7 percent of his 98 attempts from 3-point range last season.
Johnson, 22, never figured into Orlando’s plans.
On Friday, the Magic acquired Johnson and cash from the Oklahoma City Thunder for swingman Rodney Purvis. Magic officials intended to waive
Johnson or see if Johnson could bring value in a trade.
The Magic found value with Martin, who is entering his fourth season and the final year of his rookie scale contract.
Orlando used its resources well. In essence, it employed Purvis — a player who had no chance of making the Magic’s regular-season roster — to acquire Martin and cash from Oklahoma City and Memphis.
Although Martin is headed for free agency in July 2019, the Magic can issue him a qualifying offer after the 2018-19 season and make him a restricted free agent; doing so would give Orlando the option to match any offer sheet Martin might sign from another team.
The Grizzlies will benefit from Monday’s trade because it will help them stay out of the luxury tax.
Harvey, a 25-year-old guard selected 51st overall by Orlando in 2015, has never appeared in a regularseason NBA game.
He spent the 2015-16 season with the Magic’s G-League affiliate in Erie, Pa., and played in Europe the last two seasons.
Magic change radio flagships
The Magic now have a new radio home in the greater Orlando area, the team announced Monday.
Beginning with the 2018-19 season, the team’s games will air on iHeartMedia stations FM 96.9 The Game and AM 740. Magic spokesman Joel Glass said the team and iHeartMedia agreed to a three-year contract to make FM 96.9 the team’s flagship radio network.
The Magic’s contract with longtime flagship station AM 580 (WDBO) ended following the 2017-18 season — the team’s sixth consecutive losing season. The Magic’s severe on-court struggles diminished AM 580’s ratings and revenues.
Dennis Neumann will continue as the team’s radio play-by-play man, and Richie Adubato will continue as the color commentator for all home games.
Brandon Kravitz will serve as the pregame, halftime and postgame host for all games. Kravitz also will work as the sideline reporter for all home games.
The change in flagship stations means that Scott Anez, a longtime WDBO employee and on-air personality, will no longer work as the pregame, halftime and postgame host for radio broadcasts.
Glass said: “While we are looking forward to the future with our new radio partner, Scott Anez is a true pro and has been an instrumental part of the Magic family.”
Dante Marchitelli, the Magic’s assistant director of broadcasting and a sideline reporter and host for Fox Sports Florida’s television broadcasts, praised Anez.
“This was a decision we did not take lightly and I have to begin by thanking everyone at ESPN 580, especially @AnezSez for 27 incredible years,” Marchitelli wrote on Twitter. “Scotty is one of the best people and broadcasters I know and I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s taught me along the way.”
The long-running show “Magic Drive Time,” with Marchitelli as its host, will air from 6-6:30 p.m. weekdays during the season on FM 96.9, AM 740 and the iHeartRadio app.
UCF sports, Orlando City Soccer matches and Tampa Bay Buccaneers games also air on FM 96.9 and AM 740.
The Magic will continue to air Spanish-language radio broadcasts of their games on FM 98.1 (WNUE), Glass said.