In an interview with David Aldridge of The Athletic, veteran winger Kentavious Caldwell Pope explained why he decided to sign with the magic in free agency.

“The young coreCaldwell-Pope said to Aldridge. “These are most people had them last year, just with new parts. But they have this core, they already believe in each other, trust each other. Just watching them play, it’s not me, it’s me. Everyone has made sacrifices. The fact that a young team can grow up so quickly says a lot about them and their organization. That made the decision easy for me.

“They were one of the best defensive teams last year and that’s what I like to do: defend. Natural fit. It was easy for me to just come in and fit in without trying to step on anyone’s toes. When I talk to most young people it’s about defense, about them helping me and what I see and what they don’t see and I tell them. Everyone is eager to learn, I would say.”

Caldwell-Pope, who played a key role on two championship-winning teams over the past five years (the Lakers and Nuggets, respectively), was one of the top free agents to switch teams this summer, moving from Denver to Orlando. He signed a three-year, $66 million contract with the Magic.

Here’s more from the Southeast:

• Second year wing Bilal Coulibaly and showcased his offseason improvements during the wizard‘ Preseason opener on Sunday, writes Josh Robbins of The Athletic. According to Robbins, Coulibaly appears “stronger, more confident and more skilled.” The 20-year-old has grown an inch, gained 10 pounds, won a silver medal with the French national team and has also improved his ball handling, particularly with his left hand, after his rookie season was ended due to a broken right wrist.
• wizard guard Johnny Davis is another player who looks improved as he enters his third season, Robbins added. Davis struggled in his first two seasons, averaging just 4.0 PPG and 1.8 RPG on .394/.282/.549 shooting (13.3 MPG) in 78 combined games. However, he reworked his shooting form over the summer with his personal trainer in Wisconsin. “The last two years” Davis told The Athletic on Sunday evening, “Every year a development coach tinkered and played around with my recording. So I came back this year and said, ‘Nobody’s touching my jump shot.’ I’ll just leave it as it is, leave it comfortable.’ And they left me alone about it. So it feels really good at the moment. I worked on it all summer and I’m just happy that it’s paying off.”
• While it’s encouraging that Davis appears to have rediscovered some of what made him a former lottery pick (No. 10 overall in 2022), he’s still high on the depth chart. Robbins wouldn’t be surprised if that wizard decline their Davis and fourth-year options Patrick Baldwin Jr.noting that none of the players were drafted by the current front office. If this comes to fruition, both players would be unrestricted free agents in 2025.
• The Hornets had to deal with a number of injuries to key players last season. Four players were missing from the season opener: Mark Williams (left foot), Grant Williams (right thigh muscles), Cody Martin (right wrist, thumb) and Nick Smith (left groin strain). Head coach Charles Lee However, according to Roderick Boone of The Charlotte Observer, he doesn’t seem to be worried about the injuries. “No worriessaid Lee. “At the moment it appears to be minor injuries – some scrapes, some bruises. Unfortunately, Grant is another guy who suffered a hamstring strain in preseason, but he was a full participant in camp. From my point of view there is no reason to worry because a lot of these guys are pursuing their plans to return to the game and seem to be in really good shapee.” Mark Williams is scheduled to be re-evaluated on Thursday, while Smith will be checked out in a week.