The Orlando Magic made several strong acquisitions this offseason, from elite three-and-D wing Desmond Bane and veteran Tyus Jones to rookies Jase Richardson and Noah Penda. But two under-the-radar moves could prove just as impactful over the course of a long regular season.
The team added assistant coaches Joe Prunty and God Shammgod to address offensive struggles, particularly in playmaking and three-point shooting. Both hires could have a lasting impact during an 82-game schedule, especially on nights when Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner might be less effective, such as on back-to-back games.
In a lineup that struggled to create shots and make plays when Banchero and Wagner were off the floor, Shammgod brings a track record of developing players’ ball-handling skills. This potential improvement could help shoulder some of the offensive load for the Magic’s two stars.
“Adding Joe Prunty to our staff has been fantastic because he's an experienced coach who's been a head coach before,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He’s been under some phenomenal coaches, has a championship under his belt, and I just think his experience and knowledge of this game is going to be good for us. Adding God Shammgod is another key piece for us to be able to have the experience, the knowledge, the reputation he holds, and his work ethic is second to none in so many ways, and how He's respected within the game by not just the peers but the guys before him, and that's going to provide a lot of a lot of opportunities for our guys to continue to improve and develop and get better.”
These additions are also crucial for the development of rookies Jase Richardson and Noah Penda, who could see meaningful playing time depending on how the rigors of the season impact the Magic, a team that has previously battled an injury-plagued campaign.
“Specifically, lighten Paolo’s load,” Mosley added. “How big is that for the marathon that the season is. It's big for us to be able to rely on different guys on any given night, and everybody is willing to step into their space to play the right way. He carried a heavy load, and he's willing to take that on, and no matter what the circumstances, he was willing to take that on. The ability to have guys around him now that continue to help him out. You have Franz, you have Desmond, you have Jalen, you have Dell you have guys that are willing to step into these big moments, big games and big plays, as Franz has obviously shown over in over in FIBA, I think those are big pieces of what he's capable of doing, as well as being able to take some of that burden off of Paolo.”
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