The Orlando Magic were one of the feel-good stories for much of the start of the season. Despite injuries to their star players, a top-notch defense and a nightly full effort allowed the team to firmly be in the playoff picture. That great start has rapidly nosedived as Orlando has been floundering of late. Despite losing so much steam, they decided to stay put at the NBA trade deadline. Instead, they made a transaction the day after. On Friday, they signed guard Ethan Thompson to a two-way deal.
After Quiet Trade Deadline, Magic Add Shooter On Two-Way Deal
Ethan Thompson Joins Magic On Two-Way Contract
The Magic were one of the rare teams who have kept one of their three two-way slots open all season. The other two have been occupied by Trevelin Queen and Mac McClung. Both are former G League MVP winners (Queen in 2021-22, McClung in 2023-24).
Orlando finally decided to fill that open two-way slot on Friday. They announced in a press release that they are adding the 25-year-old Ethan Thompson on a two-way contract.
PRESS RELEASE:@OrlandoMagic sign guard @_ethanthompson5 to a two-way contract pic.twitter.com/xoK2biS3Um
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) February 8, 2025
Playing four years collegiately for the Oregon State Beavers, Thompson wasn’t selected in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has yet to appear in an NBA regular season game since that time.
Instead, the 6-foot-5 guard has spent parts of the last four seasons playing in the G League. Thompson has appeared in 31 combined regular season and Tip-Off Tournament outings for the Osceola Magic this year. In those contests, he has averaged 17.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
Prior to his professional career, Thompson was a productive player for Oregon State. As a senior, he was named First Team All-Pac-12.
Orlando Has Been Floundering For Over A Month
There was a long while where Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley was seen as one of the favorites for Coach of the Year. Orlando lost their two young stars, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, both for lengthy periods with torn obliques.
Both of those players are now back, but Orlando has struggled to gain wins even with their services. After a win against the New York Knicks on January 6, the Magic owned a 22-16 record. Since then, they are a miserable 3-12, now putting them three games under .500. They are just 2-6 in the eight contests since Banchero and Wagner played together since they both returned.
The Magic have fallen to eighth in the Eastern Conference, and only a half-game ahead of the Atlanta Hawks. Their main bugaboo all season has been a lack of outside shooting. They are easily dead-last in the league connecting on just 30.3% of their three-point tries. Orlando is also the lowest-scoring team at 103.8 points per game.
While it may be too much to ask a 25-year-old just signed to a two-way deal to help in those facets, Thompson has the ability to do so. In his 31 G League games this season, he has attempted 248 shots from beyond the arc. He has connected on 97 on them, good for 39.1%.
The Magic’s next game comes on Saturday at home against the San Antonio Spurs.
Photo credit: © Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images
