MIAMI — Tuesday’s meeting against the Heat at Kaseya Center served as an important matchup for the Magic on multiple levels.
It wrapped up a five-game trip that was successful for Orlando, closed out the regular-season series with Miami (27-24) in a tight Eastern Conference and marked the Magic’s final game before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline.
Tuesday’s game, a 121-95 loss, might have been the last time this version of Orlando’s roster plays together.
It can be a touchy subject with any locker room.
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“No,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said pregame when asked if he addressed that reality with his team.
Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel
Terry Rozier attempts a floater over the reach of Magic forward Paolo Banchero on Tuesday night. (Mike Stocker/South Florida Sun Sentinel)
It’s a discussion typically held between front offices and players and their agents. Not directly between players and coaches.
Whether or not the Magic (27-24) make a move before the deadline, the return of a healthy roster has naturally forced some players out of Orlando’s rotation.
Rookie Anthony Black, who started 29 games while Markelle Fultz had missed a significant amount of time with left knee tendinitis and with guard Gary Harris out, has seen his minutes diminish. Both vets have returned to action.
Black played three minutes of garbage time Tuesday while Fultz (13 points) and Harris (7 points) played from behind with Orlando, which struggled from the opening tip and trailed by as many as 24.
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The same goes for reserve center Goga Bitadze, who made 31 starts in place of Wendell Carter Jr., including 20 straight after Carter fractured his left hand. Bitadze has played five minutes total in the last seven games, including three Tuesday.
Mosley acknowledged what Black and Bitadze have provided to the team while making it clear the duo, as well as Orlando’s entire bench unit, what’s ahead.
“Each one of these guys, whether they’re in the rotation or out of the rotation, I think the level of communication continues to stay the same,” Mosley said. “You’re constantly staying ready, no matter when your number is called.
“When guys were out, those guys stepped up big time. Big, big time for us. And they’ll continue to do so as these guys continue to pull for one another no matter the time of the year.”
Black, a first-round draft pick last season, and Bitadze (free-agent signing) weren’t brought in to be starters. They’re role players by definition, which means they can be in or out of the rotation at any time. When the team is fully healthy, playing time will be sparse.
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But, of course, someone can get injured in a game to change the rotations. Or get into foul trouble. Or the team comes out flat and Mosley needs a spark so he shakes up the lineup.
There’s no guarantee how much Bitadze and Black, or anyone else, will play after the trade deadline.
That’s part of the job description.
“I really think these guys are always ready to go whenever their number is called,” Mosley said. “It’s a long season and we all know it. You don’t predict the things that are going to happen within an 82-game season but you ask that these guys stay ready, they stay prepared.”
Paolo Banchero (23 points) led Orlando on Tuesday, but the Heat had seven players score in double figures led by Jimmy Butler (23) who single-handedly shut down a fourth-quarter run.
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The Magic return to Kia Center on Thursday after the deadline for their second and final meeting of the season with No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs.
Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on X, known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.
MIAMI — Dustin May attacked the strike zone and got ahead in counts, allowing his arsenal to play at its best in the Cardinals’ 5-3 win over the Marlins at loanDepot park on Tuesday.
The right-hander consistently set the tone early, either landing a first-pitch strike or inducing a foul
The Miami Heat are heading into another crucial offseason, and they MUST make changes. This team has been mediocre for the past few seasons and has been stuck in the Play-in Tournament. The Heat can’t currently compete with the way the roster is constructed. They need to trade for a star who can lead this team, and if a star becomes available, Miami will be involved. The real question is which direction actually makes the most sense.
The Heat could go after three potential targets this summer: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, and Donovan Mitchell. Who should Miami target? Let’s stack rank them based on fit, risk, and potential.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Only Move That Changes Everything
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Apr 10, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoys a moment during warmups prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images | Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The Miami Heat need to go all-in for Giannis. This is a trade that would completely reshape the franchise. Giannnis could potentially turn the Heat into a contender overnight. Even with his recent injury cutting his season short, nothing about his overall impact has changed. He still bends defenses in a way very few players can. Teams build entire game plans around simply trying to slow him down, and most of the time, it doesn’t work.
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The Miami Heat have desperately needed a true superstar who can take over games late in crunch time. The Heat have been relying on undrafted players and role players to create and execute their offense. Giannis flips that instantly by creating advantages on his own, possession after possession.
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I think the most interesting part will be pairing Giannis with Bam Adebayo. They would automatically become the best defensive frontcourt duo in the NBA. Giannis and Bam could both guard 1-5, and their switchability and rim protection would be elite. Offensively, Bam’s versatility allows Giannis to stay aggressive without needing to adjust his game too much.
The risk is obvious. Injuries have started to creep into the conversation, and committing everything to one player always carries weight. Still, Miami has never been a franchise that plays it safe. If Giannis is available, the conversation starts and ends there.
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2. Donovan Mitchell: The Cleanest Basketball Fit
Apr 20, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts after a made basket during the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images | David Dermer-Imagn Images
If Giannis is the bold swing, Mitchell is the move that makes the most basketball sense from top to bottom. At this stage of his career, Donovan Mitchell knows exactly who he is as a player. He can control tempo, create offense in isolation, and take over stretches of games when things stall out and that is something Miami has struggled with consistently.
This is less about transforming the roster and more about fixing a specific problem. The Heat have lacked a reliable perimeter engine. Mitchell fills that gap immediately. What makes him especially appealing is how easily he fits into different lineups. He doesn’t need the ball every possession to be effective, but he can handle that role when needed. That flexibility matters on a team that values structure as much as Miami does.
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There’s also a timeline advantage here. Mitchell is younger than the other options and doesn’t come with the same long-term durability concerns. He gives Miami a clearer runway to build around, rather than a shorter window that demands immediate results. He may not bring the same overwhelming presence as Giannis, but he raises the overall level of the team in a way that feels sustainable.
3. Kawhi Leonard: Elite Talent With Too Many Variables
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Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) is fouled by Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) in the second half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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When Kawhi Leonard is available and healthy, he’s still one of the most controlled and efficient players in the league. His season with the Los Angeles Clippers was a reminder of that. Playing 65 games was a big step, and when he was on the floor, he looked like himself, methodical, physical, and impossible to speed up. From a pure basketball standpoint, he fits Miami’s identity. He defends, doesn’t force offense, and thrives in structured environments.
The hesitation comes from everything outside of that. Kawhi’s availability has been unpredictable for years, and even in seasons where he plays a high number of games, there’s always uncertainty about how things will hold up deep into a playoff run. Age adds another layer. Miami wouldn’t just be trading for a player; they’d be betting on a timeline that may already be shrinking. There’s no denying the upside. A healthy Kawhi still moves the needle in a big way. It’s just harder to justify that gamble compared to the other two options.
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Final Take
Each path offers something different. Giannis is the all-in swing that could put Miami back in the championship conversation overnight. Mitchell is the calculated move that stabilizes the offense and fits long-term. Kawhi is the wildcard, still elite, but with more uncertainty than the Heat can comfortably ignore.
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If Miami is serious about breaking out of the middle, they need to pick a direction and commit fully. Giannis is the dream, Mitchell is the smartest bet, and Kawhi is the toughest sell.
MIAMI (WSVN) – A 21-year-old man was arrested on a charge of sexual battery on a minor by an adult and lewd or lascivious molestation stemming from an alleged incident involving a 10-year-old girl, according to an arrest report.
According to the report, Alvin Davis was arrested due in connection from an alleged incident that occurred Oct. 16, 2025, in Miami. The child’s mother, who became suspicious and placed a recording device in the child’s bedroom.
The report states the girl told investigators that Davis touched her inappropriately on multiple occasions.
Authorities said Davis was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center and is being held without bond.
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