The Orlando Magic have signed JD Davison to an Exhibit 10 contract. With training camp on the horizon, the club announced it is adding him and four-year veteran Malaki Branham to its roster.
We have signed free agent guards Malaki Branham and JD Davison.
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) September 3, 2026
→ https://t.co/aZaTs8kogb pic.twitter.com/CnqVXq7hBk
The former Boston Celtics guard spent last season with the Houston Rockets. He initially joined Ime Udoka's team on a two-way deal. In 28 appearances with the parent club, he averaged 2.5 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.2 rebounds. He did so while logging 7.8 minutes per contest.
Late in the 2025-26 campaign, Davison earned a promotion. He got his pact with the franchise converted into a standard NBA contract. That move made him eligible for the playoffs.
However, the Rockets waived the 23-year-old from Alabama in August. He was on a non-guaranteed deal. That is also the nature of his training camp agreement with the Magic.
Will JD Davison make the Magic's roster?
Earning his third standard NBA contract seems unlikely. Orlando has 13 players whose roster spots are seemingly secured. The organization only has to fill out one more vacancy.
That could go to an individual the former G League MVP with the Maine Celtics is competing with in the backcourt. Eight-year veteran Jevon Carter was with the Magic last season. He appeared in 30 games, including one start, and averaged nearly 20.5 minutes per tilt.
Carter produced 6.4 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per contest during the 2025-26 campaign. He has 466 games of NBA experience, including 50 starts. Conversely, Davison has played in only 64 games, logging 6.5 minutes. Youth is on the latter's side, but seasoning and trustworthiness favor the former.
As the incumbent, Carter seems like he has the inside track on what may be Orlando's final roster spot. And even if the Magic fill slot No. 15, it probably won't go to another guard. They already have Anthony Black and former first-round draft pick Jase Richardson coming off the bench behind Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs.
JD Davison's best bet to make the Magic's roster
Just because the former Celtic has a steep uphill battle for a full-time roster spot in Orlando doesn't mean he won't stick around with the organization.
Davison had an impressive training camp and preseason with the Rockets. If he duplicates that with the Magic, he could absolutely earn a two-way deal with his new team.
However, there's a significant hurdle in his way. The franchise has already filled its three two-way slots. Those currently belong to Colin Castleton, Izaiyah Nelson, and Alex Morales.
Morales is a guard. And, like Ron Harper Jr., who ultimately took a two-way spot that RJ Luis once held with Boston last preseason, if Davison outplays him, he could catapult himself onto Orlando's roster. Beating out Morales for that two-way job is his best path to sticking around.
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