Orlando Magic end NBA Summer League, could play in Las Vegas
By Mark Anderson Las Vegas Review-Journal
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma, right, after defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA Summer League championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Monday, July 17, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson is interviewed after the Los Angeles Lakers championship game against Portland at the NBA Summer League Monday, July 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
Los Angeles Lakers’ Lonzo Ball, left, talks with Kyle Kuzma after the NBA Summer League championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Monday, July 17, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Los Angles Lakers fans cheer their team on during their championship game against Portland at the NBA Summer League Monday, July 17, 2017, at the Thomas & Mack Center. Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
Los Angeles Lakers’ Kyle Kuzma (0) sends the ball up against the Portland Trail Blazers during the NBA Summer League championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Monday, July 17, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Los Angeles Lakers fans wait for the team to enter the arena for the NBA Summer League championship game at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Monday, July 17, 2017. Chase Stevens Las Vegas Review-Journal @csstevensphoto
Fans stream into the Thomas & Mack Center for the championship game between Los Angles and Portland at the NBA Summer League Monday, July 17, 2017. Sam Morris/Las Vegas News Bureau
Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell attempting to save the shot against Los Angeles Lakers forward Travis Wear during the NBA Summer League semifinal game at Thomas and Mack Center on Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Los Angeles Lakers guard Vander Blue, left, goes up against Dallas Mavericks forward Brandon Ashley (21) during the NBA Summer League semifinal game at Thomas and Mack Center on Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell defends the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Thomas Bryant and forward Brandon Ingram during the NBA Summer League semifinal game at Thomas and Mack Center on Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
Dallas Mavericks guard Dennis Smith Jr. with a dunk against Los Angeles Lakers center Ivica Zubac during the NBA Summer League semifinal game at Thomas and Mack Center on Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Las Vegas. Morgan Lieberman Las Vegas Review-Journal
The Orlando Magic is ending their NBA Summer League, leaving Las Vegas and Salt Lake City as the only sites remaining for the event.
Though Jeff Weltman, Magic president of basketball operations, told the Orlando (Florida) Sentinel his club was heading to Las Vegas, it was uncertain that would happen.
Warren LeGarie, the founder and executive director of the NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion, said Sunday the only decision that has been made regarding next year is it will take place July 6-16.
This year’s summer league hosted 24 teams and drew a record 127,843 fans, and LeGarie said there could be a concern with inviting too many clubs.
“You always want to make sure you bring a credible product, and we want to make sure that we can handle the extra teams without it becoming a direct impact on the quality of the game,” LeGarie said.
Unlike Las Vegas, Orlando’s league was closed to the public, with eight teams taking part. In addition to the Magic, the others were the Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
“The pendulum is swinging toward teams playing in Vegas,” Weltman told the Sentinel.
“It’s a level of competition and a level of exposure when more or less every team in the league is there and you’re playing in front of 20,000 people as opposed to playing in a gym with a few hundred people. So it better prepares you for what NBA life is really about with the crowds, the pressure, the travel — a lot of what you’re going to have to confront. Obviously, it’s not a true test of an NBA season, but it’s a little taste.”
