ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic acquired the draft rights to University of South Florida forward Izaiyah Nelson, the American Conference Player of the Year, in a three-team trade with the Washington Wizards and Milwaukee Bucks during the 2026 NBA Draft.
Nelson, selected 51st overall in the second round, is a 6-foot-10, 218-pound forward born Oct. 1, 2003, who started all 34 games for USF last season and averaged 15.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.65 steals and 1.41 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game while shooting .561 (194-346) from the field. He logged 18 double-doubles, which ranked ninth nationally, and finished 16th in NCAA Division I in rebounding.
The Magic also received cash considerations in the deal. Washington acquired the draft rights to Felix Okpara, the 46th overall pick, while Milwaukee acquired the draft rights to Malique Lewis, the 60th overall selection.
Nelson swept the American Conference’s top individual honors last season, earning Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. He led the Bulls to the conference’s regular season and tournament titles and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012. Over 135 career games — 106 starts — across four seasons at Arkansas State University (2022-25) and USF (2025-26), Nelson averaged 10.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.53 blocks while shooting .580 (532-918) from the floor. He earned All-Sun Belt Third Team honors in 2024-25 before transferring to USF.
The Magic, Orlando’s NBA franchise since 1989, have won eight division championships — most recently in 2024 and 2025 — with seven 50-plus win seasons and Eastern Conference titles in 1995 and 2009. The franchise, owned by the DeVos family, gives more than $2 million annually to the local community, and its Orlando Magic Youth Foundation has distributed more than $31 million to local nonprofit organizations over the last 36 years. Community relations programs impact an estimated 100,000 kids each year, while staff contribute more than 7,000 volunteer hours annually.
Nelson joins a roster that plays home games at the Kia Center and practices at the AdventHealth Training Center. The Magic’s NBA G League affiliate, the Osceola Magic — the 2021 G League champions — and the Orlando Solar Bears of the ECHL, an affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, round out the organization’s basketball pipeline. The Sports Business Journal recognized the Magic as one of the best places to work in sports in 2023 and 2024.