When can Magic fill 15th roster spot for upcoming NBA season? It’s complex.

Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman addressed the financial constraints facing Orlando at media day. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)When the Magic open the 2025-26 NBA season Wednesday night against the Miami Heat at Kia Center, only 14 standard roster players will be inside Orlando‘s locker room.

And it’s likely the 15th standard spot on the Magic roster will be open for months, unless the team makes a move to create more financial space.

It’s all a result of the league’s relatively new collective bargaining agreement, and Orlando is far from the only team feeling the impact of the so-called apron era.

“Unfortunately this is a situation a lot of teams find themselves…