Magic to end Orlando summer league

[drsd]

The Orlando Magic will no longer host their annual summer league, and they instead will participate in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

The Magic had held the Orlando Pro Summer League since 2002, with eight teams participating in this summer's edition. The Las Vegas league had 24 teams play this past time, held across two arenas on the campus of UNLV.

I do think there should be a fan experience in this. But with Vegas and Orlando as the co-largest hotel destinations, not really sure why the Magic simply did not "open the doors."

Oh well.

[AddiFB]

I read somewhere that coaches and FO staff liked the Orlando one because it was more focused on basketball and coaching and just basketball people there, with few media and no fans. Vegas is more show, pun intended. But hey, at least they'll participate in Vegas.

But they could have just opened the Center and let fans watch, too.

[DiplomaticMagic]

Competition is much better in Vegas than Orlando

But I wish they just opened the doors like drsd said

[fendilim]

about damn time

[pepe1991]

Competition is much better in Vegas than Orlando

But I wish they just opened the doors like drsd said

Both leagues have terrible level of talent, but Orlando's one had literally guys who couldn't find a teams in China and Europe.

[Howard Mass]

I am glad The Magic are going out to Vegas.

They could always bring The Orlando Summer League like The Jazz brought back their Rocky Mountain Revue.

[j-ragg]

Kind of happy about this. I think there should only be one SL and fans should be allowed to watch. Will give our future young guys a chance to play more than the Pistons, Pacers, and Nets at least. Seems like our SL always got the most boring young teams.

[bargnanimvp]

Competition is much better in Vegas than Orlando

But I wish they just opened the doors like drsd said

that is the opposite of what GMs used to say

[BadMofoPimp]

I think they should of just played in both.

[Def Swami]

End of an era. Pour a little out.

[AdamTheGreek]

I understand, but it sucks. Also, the city does lose out on money (hotel, food revenue, etc.) with it now stopping.

From a media perspective, the few summers I got to go and cover it were great. I actually talked to GMs, coaches, and scouts, It was fantastic. Also, you meet a lot of other cool media folks from outside of the state. You can hear the benches, the coaches calling out sets, which players are vocal and can actually communicate. A decent amount of ****.

Even just walking in through the security line. You'd spot someone really notable. Kevin McHale in front of me, Larry Bird behind me.

There was no assigned seating so it added to the spontaneity. I sat first row a few times. Sometimes I'd be at one of the tables in the third row.

Also, during the free agency time, it was really hectic. So-and-so signed here. Oh man, that team got him to sign an offer sheet for what?
You'd have some pretty crazy moments where you see a GM one moment right next to you, the next he takes a call or is texting, and then boom...trade.

It was really intimate. Just basketball. No heckling. Just a whole bunch of basketball people evaluating talent.

There was a time where the Orlando Summer League was much more quality than Vegas. No longer.

I think the Magic front office finally realized that it does benefit their players more if they're playing in front of a crowd. Make it closer to the real thing.

Pour one out for Dante-Galante's Summer League broadcast calls, Bo and Gortat Hall-of-Fame worthy Summer League performances, and seeing folks getting pissed off for thinking seats were assigned.