Magic Add G League Standout On Post-Deadline Contract

February 8, 2025

The Orlando Magic have signed guard Ethan Thompson to a two-way contract, the team announced. The signing took place a day after the NBA trade deadline.

Thompson went undrafted out of Oregon in 2021 and has been spending his time in the G League, this season with Osceola.

In 14 games, he’s averaging 17.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists. He also played in 16 games in the NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament, averaging 16.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Overall, he’s appeared in 110 G League games with Osceola, Windy City and Mexico City, averaging 17.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He was named to the 2023-24 All-NBA G League Third Team with Mexico City.

No corresponding move was necessary since Orlando left its third two-way slot open. Thompson joins other two-way guys Trevelin Queen and Mac McClung and will be eligible to appear in up to 19 games with Orlando for the rest of this season.

NBA teams have until March 4 to sign players to two-way contracts, so we’re at less than a month now. Players on two-way deals are not eligible for the playoffs.

Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman addressed the team’s decision not to make a move at the trade deadline.

“We want to see what we have,” Weltman told the Orlando Sentinel. “But mostly, we really didn’t want to make seismic changes to the team while we’re going through basically a rash of injuries that really isn’t allowing us to get a look at who we are. We didn’t feel it was the right thing to do to part ways with significant assets just to plug holes and put a Band-Aid on something.”