Teams are finalizing their rosters on the eve of training camp, including the Orlando Magic who've surprisingly given an opportunity to former Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Knox II.
The Magic announced they signed Knox to a training camp contract on Wednesday, giving the 27-year-old a chance to revive his NBA career after being moved on by the Warriors after the 2024-25 season.
Magic suprisingly add former Warriors forward Kevin Knox II
Knox spent last season with the Windy City Bulls in the G League, averaging 22.7 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists on 45.8% shooting from the floor and 41.2% from 3-point range in 26 appearances.
Knox has always been too good for the G League level which is exactly how he got his brief opportunity with Golden State. The former ninth overall pick joined the Warriors for summer league in 2024, before being part of their training camp roster and heading to Santa Cruz.
After averaging over 25 points, nearly nine rebounds and over three assists on incredibly efficient shooting to open that G League season, Knox earned a chance with the main squad when roster spots opened up as a result of the Jimmy Butler trade.
Knox averaged 3.3 points and 1.2 rebounds in 14 appearances in the regular season, before playing an additional five games during the playoffs. He had 14 points, four rebounds and two assists in a Game 5 loss to the Houston Rockets in the first-round. Despite making a reasonable impression and despite some speculation of a re-signing, the Warriors chose to move on from Knox after less than half a season.
Kevin Knox has opportunity to make Magic's opening night roster
The good news for Knox is that the Magic have an open roster spot heading into training camp, giving him the lure of earning a genuine opportunity should he impress during preseason where the franchise will play four games.
The former New York Knicks forward still faces an uphill challenge to earn a spot on the main roster, having appeared in only 45 games through the past three seasons which included being out of the league last year.
Orlando also have a host of wing/forward options headlined by the star duo of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, suggesting Knox's opportunities are likely to be limited even if he did manage to make the opening night roster.
Knox has played in 320 career games to this point, but has played more than 42 games in a season just once in the past six years. Should he make the Magic's opening night roster, it would be his sixth NBA team after stints with the Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Portland Trail Blazers and Warriors.
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