Noah Penda suffered a partially torn right hamstring during Friday’s preseason finale against the Heat, and the Magic forward doesn’t know when he’ll return to the court.
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After dealing with a right hamstring strain in training camp, Penda said he felt his new injury in a different part of his hamstring. He said he immediately knew something was wrong when he headed to the locker room late in the first quarter of the exhibition at Kia Center.
“I could feel like it was located in a different area, like right away,” Penda said after practice Sunday inside the AdventHealth Training Center. “The first time I was able to walk and this time I felt it right away. … It’s just like really sore.”
Penda is not the only Magic player who’s dealing with a new injury ahead of Wednesday’s opening-night game versus the Atlanta Hawks.
The Magic are continuing to assess Franz Wagner‘s right shoulder, coach Sean Sweeney said Sunday morning. Second-year guard Jase Richardson is considered day-to-day with a sore lower back.
Sweeney said Wagner, who exited Friday’s contest because of soreness in the shoulder, was able to do some “light work” during Sunday’s practice. Wagner wasn’t on the court during the media-viewing portion of practice, but he was spotted from a distance walking in the team’s weight room.
“He’s still being evaluated,” Sweeney said about Wagner, who will continue to get treatment. “We’ll just keep working on what’s next.”
Sweeney also said Anthony Black (right ankle sprain) was able to participate in practice Sunday and that he looked good while moving well on the court.
Black also went through some individual drills after practice. He will continue to ramp up after he missed all four of Orlando’s preseason games because of the injury. He was hurt during voluntary workouts leading up to training camp.
He and the Magic face a 6 p.m. deadline Monday regarding a potential rookie-scale contract extension. If the sides can’t come to an agreement, Black would become a restricted free agent next summer.
A restricted free agent can sign an offer sheet with any team, but the player’s original team can retain him by matching the terms of that offer. Black also could become unrestricted if Orlando opts not to qualify him, which would then allow him to sign with any team.
Meanwhile, Penda described the timing of his injury as frustrating. While his return will depend on how he responds to treatment, he’s expected to miss a significant amount of time, the Orlando Sentinel learned.
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“I have no idea, honestly,” Penda said about a potential timeline. “I leave that to the training staff. … You don’t want this type of injury to be like recurring. Especially early in your career, I don’t want to rush anything. I just have 100% confidence in the training staff.”
Penda also doesn’t believe his latest hamstring injury was a result of his previous strain.
“The images showed that the first injury was fully healed,” he said. “Now, it’s just terrible luck, honestly. Even if it’s on the same leg and it’s still like in the hamstring area, this is a different injury. I’m not a doctor but I don’t think both are related.”
Sweeney shared his message for Penda.
“I just told him, ‘Keep being yourself,’” Sweeney said. “The way he works each day is admirable and that doesn’t change. And regardless of what way or shape or form, you’re part of the team and you’ve got to contribute as best you can.”
Isaac update
Magic forward Jonathan Isaac also practiced Sunday, Sweeney said. Isaac continues to rehab a left knee sprain he suffered last season, but he believes he’s not far from a return.
“I feel like I’m really getting closer,” Isaac told the Sentinel in the locker room ahead of Friday’s preseason finale. “I’m just going to stay focused the next week or two of really just focusing on my strength work and doing more on the court, more live stuff. So, I feel like I’m right around the corner.”
Isaac, who signed a one-year deal to return to the Magic after the team initially waived him over the summer, previously missed 2½ years from 2020-22 due to various knee injuries, including a torn left ACL.
The Magic have been nothing but supportive of him throughout his injury-plagued career.
“It means everything,” he said. “I know it’s a blessing to still be here, and I’m just trying my best to be a leader vocally – and when I get a chance to be back on the court just bring energy and toughness.”
Minor roster moves
The Magic over the weekend waived Malaki Branham, JD Davison and Kevin Knox II, the team said.
All three joined Orlando for training camp on Exhibit 10 contracts and all three can earn bonuses up to $91,000 if they spend at least 60 consecutive days with Osceola, the club’s G League affiliate.
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Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]