The Orlando Magic will add free agent forward Admiral Schofield to their roster with a 10-day contract using an injury hardship exception from the NBA, league sources confirmed to the Sentinel.
The team plans to announce the deal on Friday, meaning Schofield can play out the rest of the season on the contract. The Magic (21-45) have six games remaining, starting with Friday’s contest in Charlotte against the Hornets.
A hardship exception can be granted when a team has at least four players who have missed three or more games with an injury or illness and are expected to remain out for two more weeks. The team is then allowed to go over its roster limit.
While Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz were ruled out for the season months ago, the Magic have five other players who have missed at least three games.
Michael Carter-Williams (ankle sprain), James Ennis (sore calf), Chuma Okeke (ankle sprain), Otto Porter Jr. (foot pain) and Terrence Ross (back spasms) are still out with injuries and Magic coach Steve Clifford confirmed they may not be back this season.
“I don’t even know what the time frame [to return is]. If you look at the schedule now, it’s seven games, I think it’d be 12 days, and I’m not sure even if any of those guys are that close, to be honest with you,” Clifford said on Wednesday before the Magic played the Celtics.
The 6-foot-5, 241-pound Schofield averaged 10.1 points and 5.7 rebounds in 14 games for the Greensboro Swarm — Charlotte’s affiliate — during the NBA G League season in the Disney bubble. He shot 38.2% overall and 22.7% from the 3-point line.
Schofield, 24, played four years at Tennessee before the 76ers drafted him in the second round in 2019. He was then traded to the Wizards in a package that also included Jonathon Simmons. Schofield appeared in 33 games — with two starts — during his rookie season in 20190-20, when he averaged 3.0 points and 1.4 rebounds in 11.8 minutes.
He was traded to the Thunder in November 2020 and wound up being waived before the season started.
Carter to miss second straight game: Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. will not travel with the team to Charlotte as he continues to deal with a left eye abrasion.
Clifford told reporters Thursday that while Carter has shown some improvement, he’s still not ready to play. Carter, who sustained the injury when he was poked in the eye during a recent game, was a late scratch Wednesday against the Celtics.
Mo Bamba started in Carter’s place as the Magic used their 32nd different starting lineup of the season.
Clifford said the team is hopeful Carter will return for the Magic’s home finale Sunday against Timberwolves.
“He looked a lot better today but you can tell he’s not feeling great,” Clifford said.
Orlando hasn’t used the same starting lineup for more than two straight games since a three-game stretch from March 21-24 with Carter-Williams, Al-Farouq Aminu, Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier. In fact, the Magic haven’t gone more than five games this season with the same starters.
Brazdeikis, Thornwell excited for opportunities: The Magic’s newest members — Ignas Brazdeikis and Sindarius Thornwell — are eager to make contributions in the final stretch of games.
Brazdeikis was waived April 8 by the 76ers before the Magic signed him to a 10-day contract on Sunday. A day later he scored a career-high 14 points in his debut — a 119-112 victory over the Pistons.
“I was just so, so grateful in knowing in that moment when I found out that I was going to come to Orlando,” Brazdeikis said. “I knew there was a good opportunity here to get some playing time and actually play in an NBA environment. So I’m just excited to be here. I’m grateful and I’m going to take every chance I get to make the most out of this.”
Thornwell played out two 10-day contracts this season with the Pelicans before Orlando signed him Tuesday on a two-way deal. He promptly played 21 minutes in Wednesday’s 132-96 loss to the Celtics.
“I was extremely excited,” he said in coming to Orlando. “Anybody is excited when you’re at home working and waiting on an opportunity, so just being here is a blessing.”
With Friday’s game in Charlotte, Thornwell will get the chance to play near his hometown of Lancaster, S.C.
The game tips off at 8 p.m. and will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida. The Hornets are locked in a battle for playoff position in the Eastern Conference. They entered Thursday’s game against the Bulls in eighth — 2.5 games behind the Celtics and Heat and two games ahead of the Pacers.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Roy Parry at rparry@orlandosentinel.com. Follow on Twitter @osroyparry
