With Oklahoma City bringing in an influx of young pieces upon this season’s onset — GM Sam Presti has had to cut ties with a barrage of potential prospects. Given these roster changes, a collection of both preseason and in-season cuts have paved their own routes onto NBA rosters. Now, that list has expanded with training camp attendee Admiral Schofield inking a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic.
Schofield joined the Thunder last fall after a draft-day move sent the forward alongside the draft rights for Vit Krejci (pick 37) in exchange for Cassius Winston (pick 53) and a 2024 second-round selection.
For the former Tennessee Volunteer, his tenure with the Thunder’s preseason roster was feeble, to say the least. Schofield played just 26 minutes in a Thunder uniform going blank on points (0-of-3 FG), 2 rebounds, and 2 assists.
After his release on December 18, Schofield lingered around the free-agent market for a potential NBA contract, but with zero offers — he put his name in a new ballot — the G-League. Upon his entrance to the draft, the Greensboro Swarm (Charlotte Hornets affiliate) pounced on the opportunity to foster the power-forward, adding him on with the league’s first overall pick.
Playing with the Swarm in the G-League bubble, Schofield ended his 14-game season averaging 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists veering a bit off track going 38.2-percent from the floor.
Despite this, the Orlando Magic saw enough potential in the former second-round pick to take a bite as with the league granting the franchise with a hardship exception — Orlando had space for Schofield. Orlando’s hardship exception permitted the organization to add another player to the roster despite having a full 15-man rotation at hand. This is due to season-ending injuries from Jonathon Isaac and Markelle Fultz in addition to five more members expected to miss the remainder of the season.
With the move to Orlando, Schofield will receive an ample amount of playing time as with forwards in Jonathon Isaac, Otto Porter Jr., Terrance Ross, and Chuma Okeke out — the 6-foot-5 forward should have the spotlight.
Admiral Schofield joins Oklahoma City’s list as the sixth member of the franchise to sign elsewhere after parting ways with the team. As a preseason alum, Schofield joins Frank Jackson (Pistons) and T.J. Leaf (Trail Blazers) as back-end cuts to redeem a ticket while joining Justin Jackson (Bucks) and Austin Rivers (Nuggets), who both received in-season cuts and found a new home. Schofield will also become the second Thunder player this season to join the Magic as he will pair up with former Oklahoma City Blue point-guard Chasson Randle in his indoctrination to the team.