Devin Cannady

Josh Cohen

LAKELAND, Fla. - One of the more inspirational stories in the G League this season can be found close to home. Straight down I-4 in Lakeland is where Devin Cannady, formerly a two-way contract player for the Magic, has reestablished himself as one of the G League’s best shooters.

As you might recall, the 6-foot-2 guard out of Princeton suffered a gruesome injury while with the Magic’s parent club last season. On April 25, 2021, in a home game against the Indiana Pacers, Cannady sustained an open right ankle dislocation with a severe lateral ankle sprain after landing awkwardly while challenging Edmond Sumner’s layup attempt.

Some players never fully rebound from a major injury. Sometimes the reason for that is physical, where the body doesn’t react well to treatment. Other times, the mental grind is too much to bear.

For Cannady, neither was the case. Throughout his rehab, he was disciplined to the work while staying positive.

Now 13 games into his return following a nearly 10-month-long absence, the 25-year-old is playing as well as he ever has, averaging 15.5 points on 47.8 percent shooting overall and 47.9 percent from 3-point distance.

“I think the biggest thing for me is (it’s) a testament to you who you are as a man when you are faced with adversity,” he said recently. “Obviously, I wish injuries upon nobody. But it’s part of the game that we play. My biggest thing was just taking each day as it comes – the good and the bad. But ultimately, having my sights set on where I wanted to be at the end of it, which is at full strength, an ability to compete at a high level, continue to show my competitiveness, and my ability to lead into wins.”

Cannady originally caught the attention of NBA scouts while playing for Lakeland in the Disney bubble last season. He was named the Finals MVP after scoring 22 points in the Magic’s championship victory over the Delaware Blue Coats.

Just a couple weeks later, Orlando came calling and signed him to a 10-day contract. Impressed with his work ethic, positive attitude and shooting ability, the Magic elected to promote him, making him one of their two-way contract guys. His best performance came in the game before he got injured, tallying 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting overall and 3-of-5 from 3-point range against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Although he was waived shortly after his injury, Cannady continued to stay connected to the Magic by watching the team from afar and cheering them on. Consuming as much basketball as possible while away from the court helped him grow as a player, which in part is why he believes he hasn’t missed a beat since returning.

“I’ve just the slowed the game down for myself by being able to sit out and watch,” he said. “At the end of the season last year, watching a lot of Magic basketball and basketball in general. And then, getting to see the game up close and personal from the sidelines really for the first time in my career allowed me to just come in and find my spots, move the ball well, help the team win, and obviously when I have a good shot take it and make it.”

Lakeland Head Coach Joe Barrer has done a lot of exploring with different lineups lately, just as Orlando’s Head Coach Jamahl Mosley has done with his group. Among them for Barrer is playing three guards simultaneously. Some of Cannady’s minutes have come with Jeff Dowtin Jr. and Hassani Gravett also on the floor.

All three have NBA experience. Gravett was with Orlando earlier this season while the Magic were shorthanded because of the Covid surge, while Dowtin spent time with the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks this season.

“I think it takes pressure off a lot of us to think we have to do too much – whether that’s scoring, having the ball in our hands,” Cannady said. “I think the ball moves really well having three guards. I think Hassani and Jeff are more primary ball handlers, whereas I am able to space and guys that guard me don’t help out too much, so it gets them opportunities to work in the lane. It’s just really good having guards that can play multiple positions on the floor at once.”

With Cannady in the lineup, Lakeland has the G League’s best 3-point percentage, are second in overall field goal percentage, are fourth in assists, and are fifth in points.

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Devin Cannady is One of the G League’s Best Stories This Season

orlbbrumbelow

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Devin Cannady, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Cannady (6’1”, 190, 5/21/96) played in three games last season with Orlando, averaging 4.7 ppg. in 4.5 minpg. He originally was signed to a 10-day contract by Orlando on Apr. 6, then released on Apr. 13, before signing a two-way contract on Apr. 16. Cannady suffered an open fracture of his right ankle during the first quarter on Apr. 25 vs. Indiana. He was later waived on May 4.

Prior to his time in Orlando last season, Cannady played in 13 games (nine starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 11.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 25.8 minpg., while shooting .400 (28-70) from three-point range. He played and started in all three playoff outings, averaging 15.7 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 29.7 minpg., while shooting .450 (9-20) from three-point range. During the 2021 NBA G League Final on Mar. 11 vs. Delaware, Cannady tallied 22 points, six rebounds and four assists and was named G League Final MVP, helping Lakeland capture the 2020-21 NBA G League championship.

Cannady has played in 52 career NBA G League games (38 starts) with Long Island and Lakeland, averaging 13.8 ppg., 3.7 rpg., 2.7 apg. and 1.04 stlpg. in 29.7 minpg., while shooting .365 (141-386) from three-point range and .939 (62-66) from the free throw line.

Cannady played in 104 career games (67 starts) during four seasons at Princeton University (2015-19), averaging 14.6 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 1.6 apg. and 1.09 stlpg. in 31.1 minpg., while shooting .403 (268-665) from three-point range and a school-record .896 (285-318) from the free throw line. He was named Second Team All-Ivy League as a junior in 2017-18 and Honorable Mention All-Ivy League as a sophomore in 2016-17.

Cannady will wear #30 with the Orlando Magic.

In addition, the Magic have also waived center Jeremiah Tilmon. He was signed as a free agent by Orlando on October 7 and did not play in any preseason action.

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Orlando Magic Sign Devin Cannady

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic have signed guard Devin Cannady to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Cannady (6’2”, 183, 5/21/96) has played in three games with Orlando, averaging 4.7 ppg. in 4.5 minpg. He originally was signed to a 10-day contract by Orlando on Apr. 6, then released from that contract on Apr. 13.

Cannady played in 13 games this season (nine starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 11.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 25.8 minpg., while shooting .400 (28-70) from three-point range. He played and started in all three playoff outings, averaging 15.7 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 29.7 minpg., while shooting .450 (9-20) from three-point range. During the 2021 NBA G League Final on Mar. 11 vs. Delaware, Cannady tallied 22 points, six rebounds and four assists and was named G League Final MVP, helping Lakeland capture the 2020-21 NBA G League championship.

Prior to joining Lakeland, Cannady signed as a free agent with Orlando on Nov. 27 and appeared in two preseason games with the Magic, tallying six points, two rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot in nine minutes. He was waived on Dec. 19. During the 2019-20 campaign, Cannady played in 40 games (30 starts) with Long Island of the NBA G League, averaging 14.4 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 1.15 stlpg. in 31.0 minpg., while shooting .914 (53-58) from the free throw line.

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Orlando Magic Sign Devin Cannady to Two-Way Contract

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10 Interesting Basketball Facts About Devin Cannady

Dan Savage

ORLANDO -- The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Devin Cannady to a 10-day contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Cannady (6’2”, 183, 5/21/96) played in 13 games this season (nine starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 11.7 ppg., 2.8 rpg. and 2.7 apg. in 25.8 minpg., while shooting .400 (28-70) from three-point range. He played and started in all three playoff outings, averaging 15.7 ppg., 4.7 rpg. and 3.3 apg. in 29.7 minpg., while shooting .450 (9-20) from three-point range. During the 2021 NBA G League Final on Mar. 11 vs. Delaware, Cannady tallied 22 points, six rebounds and four assists and was named G League Final MVP, helping Lakeland capture the 2020-21 NBA G League championship.

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Orlando Magic Sign Free Agent Devin Cannady to 10-Day Contract

MAGIC SIGN FREE AGENT JORDAN BONE TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT

Orlando, FL -- The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Jordan Bone to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Originally selected in the second round (57th overall) of the 2019 NBA Draft by New Orleans, Bone (6’3”, 185, 11/5/97) played in 10 games last season during his rookie campaign with Detroit, averaging 1.2 ppg. in 5.3 minpg. He also played in 31 games (30 starts) with Grand Rapids of the NBA G League, averaging 17.5 ppg., 7.1 apg. and 3.3 rpg. in 31.8 minpg., while shooting .381 (77-202) from three-point range. Bone ranked seventh in the NBA G League in assists.

Bone played in 95 career games (87 starts) during three seasons at the University of Tennessee (2016-19), averaging 9.7 ppg., 4.3 apg. and 2.4 rpg. in 26.1 minpg., while shooting .817 (152-186) from the free throw line. As a junior (2018-19), he played and started in 37 games, averaging 13.5 ppg., 5.8 apg. and 3.2 rpg. in 32.9 minpg. Bone was named to the All-SEC Second Team by Associated Press and the league’s coaches. He was one of 10 finalists for the Bob Cousy Award, given to the nation’s top point guard. Bone led the SEC in assists-to-turnover ratio (2.91, 215/74) and was second in the conference in assists. He finished with a career assists-to-turnover ratio of 2.70 (405/150), which is the best in school history.

Bone will wear #23 with the Orlando Magic.

MAGIC SIGN FREE AGENT KARIM MANÉ TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Karim Mané (Kareem mah-NAY) to a two-way contract, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Mané (6’5”, 185, 5/16/00) played in 12 games last season with Vanier College in Quebec, Canada, averaging 15.9 ppg., 7.9 rpg., 5.4 apg. and 2.1 stlpg. in 29.3 minpg. He led the RSEQ (Quebec Student Sport Federation) in assists and guided Vanier to a RESQ championship for the second straight season.

Mané played in 43 career games during three seasons (2017-20) with Vanier College, averaging 12.8 ppg., 6.0 rpg., 3.2 apg. and 1.8 stlpg. in 23.7 minpg. He was a two-time Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association All-Canadian Team and two-time All-RSEQ First Team selection (2018-19, 2019-20). Mané was named RSEQ Player of the Year in 2018-19 and was also a member of Team Canada at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.

Mané will wear #4 with the Orlando Magic.

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Devin Cannady, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Cannady (6’2”, 183, 5/21/96) played in 40 games last season (30 starts) with Long Island of the NBA G League, averaging 14.4 ppg., 3.9 rpg., 2.8 apg. and 1.15 stlpg. in 31.0 minpg., while shooting .914 (53-58) from the free throw line.

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent forward Robert Franks, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Franks (6’7”, 255, 12/18/96) played in 36 games last season for both the Greensboro Swarm and Stockton Kings of the NBA G League, averaging 17.3 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. in 32.2 minpg.

Franks played in 110 career games (56 starts) during four seasons at Washington State, averaging 12.2 ppg. and 4.7 rpg. in 23.7 minpg. As a senior in 2018-19, he averaged 21.6 ppg. and 7.2 rpg., while shooting 49.3 percent from the floor, 40.5 percent from three-point range and 84.8 percent from the free throw line en route to Pac-12 First Team All-Conference honors.

Undrafted, Franks originally signed a two-way contract with Charlotte and their NBA G League affiliate Greensboro before being acquired by Stockton, the Sacramento Kings G League affiliate.

Franks will wear #22 with the Orlando Magic.

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent center Jon Teske (tess-key), President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

Teske (7’1”, 265, 5/4/97) played and started in 31 games last season as a senior at the University of Michigan, averaging 11.6 ppg., 6.7 rpg., 1.1 apg., 1.84 blkpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 27.8 minpg. He was the only member of the Wolverines to start in all 31 games.

Teske played in 129 career games (70 starts) during four seasons at the University of Michigan (2016-20), averaging 6.6 ppg., 4.8 rpg. and 1.28 stlpg. in 19.1 minpg., while shooting .501 (330-659) from the floor. He finished his collegiate career at Michigan tied as the school’s all-time winningest player (108, tied with classmate Zavier Simpson) and fifth on the school’s all-time list in blocked shots (165). Teske did not miss a game during his final three seasons, appearing in 109 consecutive outings. He was named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten as a junior in 2018-19.

Teske will wear #15 with the Orlando Magic.

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Orlando Magic Sign Five

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