The Orlando Magic are hoping to have a Florida-based NBA Development League team to begin playing in the 2017-18 season, and one of the possible locations is the CFE Arena, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
While the CFE arena is one option for the team, there are several others that include Daytona Beach, Kissimmee, Orlando at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
Osceola County Commissioner Mike Harford said, “The Magic have a great partnership with Central Florida and I’d Love to see them in Osceola County.”
The Houston Astros spring training will be leaving the Osceola Heritage Center, where the Silver Spurs Arena is located, after 2016.
Kissimmee Mayor Jim Swan said, “I think it would be great for the community. And it ought to be really good for the team itself, because it will be much easier to travel between the two facilities,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
As of right now, there are no D-League teams within Florida or even within the Southeast.
The Magic’s current D-League affiliate is the Erie Bayhawks. That team is located in Northwest Pennsylvania, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The agreement between the Magic and the Bawhawks will end following the 2016-17 season, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic’s general manager Rob Hennigan has had the goal of having a D-League affiliate within Florida since the season 2011-12 season when he became the GM, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Younger Magic players looking to gain experience and those returning from injury would be available to get themselves into NBA shape much more easily with a Florida based D-League team.
Magic head coach Scott Skiles said how having the team so close would help the Magic.
“If we played on a Tuesday and didn’t play again until Friday, and a couple of guys weren’t getting that many minutes and Wednesday they wanted to just go get a quick game in and come back, it’s much easier if they can just hop in a car and go,” Skiles said. “One of our staff drives them over, they go to the shootaround, they play in the game, they drive back that night and they’re back in their own bed. It makes sense.”
