Magic Gaming Acquires Duck From Knicks Gaming as Part of Four-Team Trade

Orlando Sends Kapp to Wizards District Gaming in Massive Deal

ORLANDO – Over the past few seasons, Magic Gaming has been searching for a consistent backcourt scoring threat, capable of not only running the offense, but also forcing opposing teams to adjust their defensive schemes.

They may have finally found their answer.

On Monday, Magic Gaming acquired Christopher “Duck” Charles from Knicks Gaming as part of a massive four-team deal that sent shockwaves through the NBA 2K League. In the exchange, Orlando sent point guard Justin “Kapp” Kaplan – the No. 10 overall pick in the 2022 NBA 2K League Draft – to Wizards District Gaming, Washington shipped point guard Tyrell “Ty” Johnson to Kings Guard Gaming, and Sacramento dealt point guard Anthony “Ant SZN” Costanzo to New York. Wizards District Gaming and Kings Guard Gaming also did a pick swap as Washington sent a future first round pick to Sacramento in exchange for a future second round pick.

Duck, the No. 2 overall selection in the 2020 Draft, was named the NBA 2K League’s Most Improved Player last year. He ranked 10th in the league in points (26.7) and 15th overall in assists (9.6) per game during the 2021 regular season.

“Along with being a smart kid, he’s a scorer,” said Magic General Manager and Head Coach Jonah Edwards. “He’s the kind of guy who can orchestrate a team on offense, put the pieces where he wants them to go, and just go get us a basket when we need it. I think that’s something we may have been lacking over the last couple of years here.”

The third-year NBA 2K League floor general already has some connections in Orlando. Described as a humble guy who will fit right into Magic Gaming’s locker room culture, Duck has previously played the retail version of the game with Orlando shooting guard Justin “Snubby” Stemerman.

“I think the fit with Snubby is much better for both parties here,” Edwards explained. “Duck had an interesting fit out in New York and Snubby has had a struggle getting started here this season. In this environment, both of them can play off each other. They’re both pretty soft-spoken kids, so overall, I think they blend together nicely. One is not going to step on the other, but they’re both going to look out for each other, and they have a great mutual respect for each other. The fact that they know each other and have played together in the past is a huge win for us.”

Magic Gaming hopes that their new point guard will help jumpstart a team that got off to a slow start this season, going 1-4 in 5v5 play and 0-3 in 3v3 action. While Kapp was as advertised as a leader in the locker room, he was still adjusting to the league as an inexperienced player navigating his way through a rookie campaign. With a 2K League veteran like Duck taking the reins, Orlando is hopeful that he can have an instant impact on his new squad.

“It makes it a lot easier that Duck has been around,” said Edwards. “He understands what locker rooms in this league look like. Though he’s only been in one (New York), he’ll fit in here quickly, and things will get rolling quickly. There are some deeper understanding things that he will have to learn. We don’t have the expansive playbook of an NBA team, but we do have one and he’ll have to learn it. There’s a bit of a challenge there, but we look to him to potentially start in three v threes right away and certainly be our point guard in five v fives. As crazy as it sounds with it being a midseason trade, this is now kind of his team to lead and be the guy at point guard. We’re invested in him, and we believe in his ability.”

Magic Gaming is back in action on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET when they face Grizz Gaming in the season week of 3v3 group play in the SLAM OPEN tournament.