The Magic entered the second spherical of the 2025 NBA draft with two picks within the second spherical Thursday night time.
Orlando, nevertheless, rapidly moved up the draft board as soon as the second spherical started at Barclays Middle.
The Magic acquired the draft rights to No. 32 from the Celtics in alternate for the No. 46 and No. 57 picks this 12 months, a 2026 second-rounder (most favorable of Detroit, Milwaukee, Orlando), and a 2027 second-rounder (most favorable of Orlando and Boston), a league supply informed the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic and president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman made the commerce with Boston to draft Noah Penda, a 6-foot-8 ahead from France, the league supply mentioned.
Penda, 20, joins guard Jase Richardson, who the Magic took with the No. 25 choose throughout Wednesday’s first spherical.
Though Orlando despatched the Celtics 4 second-round picks, the Magic nonetheless owns 9 second-round picks and 4 firsts over the following seven years.
Born in Paris, Penda performed for Le Mans Sarthe Basket within the LNB Élite, France’s high tier of professional competitors in 2024. This previous season, he averaged 10.2 factors, 5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals in 26.6 minutes per sport throughout 28 appearances, in keeping with NBA.com.
Penda has additionally represented France on the worldwide stage.
Through the 2024 FIBA U20 EuroBasket event, Penda averaged 11.7 factors whereas serving to his group win the championship.
Buying and selling within the second spherical isn’t something new for the Magic. Since Weltman’s arrival, Orlando has traded majority of their second picks, however solely to push them again to future years or for money issues.
Magic wing Caleb Houstan was final second-round choose the Magic signed in 2022.
Jason Beede could be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
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