The NBA season is finally about to return and the Orlando Magic are one of the remaining teams when play resume later this week. Now that it is about to return, is it too early to look at the NBA off-season? We have waited so long for games, why talk about them being over?
The truth is the Magic are not going to do much of anything in the playoffs. I hope I am wrong, but it is tough to see Orlando knocking off Milwaukee. So what does this off-season look like for Orlando? Any chance of upgrading the roster? Can we at least expect the Magic hold serve and continue making the playoffs? All of that will be answered in this post.
NBA Free Agency
Magic Free Agents
Evan Fournier (Player Option)
DJ Augustin
Michael Carter-Williams
James Ennis (Player Option)
Wes Iwundu (Restricted)
Melvin Frazier (Club Option)
Gary Clark
Daquan Jeffries
BJ Johnson
Expect Fournier to take the player option. There is going to be a lot of uncertainty and possible reduced salary caps moving forward due to Covid-19. That uncertainty will likely cause Fournier to do the certain thing and take the money. Ennis could do similar, but he is significantly cheaper. Orlando should certainly look to keep Iwundu who has always been a favorite of mine. The 25 year old small forward has a lot of potential and is cheap. Of course somebody could sign him to a huge offer sheet that will be difficult to match, but I think he's going to stay with the Magic. Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams fill their roles with the team well and will probably be with Orlando next year unless somebody else gives them offers they can't refuse. At least 3 of Frazier, Clark, Jeffries, and BJ Johnson will likely be gone.
Possible Free Agent Targets
Brandon Ingram (Restricted)
DeMar DeRozan (Player Option)
Carmelo Anthony
Glenn Robinson III
Jordan McRae
Malik Beasley (Restricted)
Shabazz Napier
The Magic's top two targets could and should be Brandon Ingram and DeMar DeRozan. They fit what the Magic need perfectly With the salary cap though it is difficult to see how the team could add either one unless Fournier opts out or a trade occurs. Maybe San Antonio takes a sign and trade of Fournier + for DeRozan. You can always hope that at least.
Before you laugh at the Carmelo Anthony target, he is a scorer and is averaging 15 points a game still at this stage of his career. The Magic could use another scorer. Anthony is a veteran and is making just 2 million this season. It is possible that he'd get a look.
Then there is the shooting guard group of Glenn Robinson III, Jordan McRae, and Malik Beasley. The Magic should look at this group and likely will at least see what the market is on each. My favorite of the group is Beasley who I really want the Magic to target. Since he's been traded to Minnesota, Beasley has averaged 20.7 points per game. The guy is an emerging superstar and would be an excellent target for Orlando. The team should make a run at Beasley regardless of what happens with Fournier.
If Augustin and/or Michael Carter-Williams leave, Napier would be a good target as a backup point guard.
NBA Draft
It would appear that the Magic will be picking 15th in the NBA Draft. That leaves them just outside the draft lottery. There are still many quality players that will be available at that point and we will look at a few of them here.
Possible Targets
Theo Maledon PG France
RJ Hampton PG USA International
Cole Anthony PG North Carolina
Nico Mannion PG Arizona
Josh Green SG Arizona
Tyrese Maxey SG Kentucky
Devin Vassell SG Florida State
Patrick Williams SF Florida State
I fully expect the Magic to pick somebody from this list with the 15th pick with it likely being a guard. NBAdraft.net has the Magic taking French guard Theo Maledon with the selection. I would not hate that selection, but if going point guard I prefer Hampton and I prefer to take a shooting guard. Devin Vassell fits what the Magic want to do better, is the best defender of the group and is my personal favorite player that will go round 1. I hope he's there and I hope he is the pick. I would not hate a Patrick Williams pick either. Seeing the athleticism of him, Isaac, and Gordon together would be really fun to watch. Any of these players would help the Magic.
I'd love to see the team pick up Trent Forrest in the 2nd round or as an undrafted free agent. He will not be highly sought after, but he's an incredible winner. Forrest is a guy that will have a successful pro career because he won't allow himself to do anything else. The dude just wills teams to victories. There is no Florida State Seminole basketball player in history that I have enjoyed more and I'd love for him to continue with the Magic.
If the Magic don't pick up Forrest or Vassell, I hope that they come out of the draft with a solid guard and draft the other guard spot in the second round. I can't wait to find out who the team picks.
Possibly No Summer League
It is difficult to see the NBA having a summer league this summer, since its summer and we have not started the playoffs yet. Summer league is always possible, but I just don't see it as likely. That means no work for Chuma Okeke or any of the rookies. Okeke is currently on the Lakeland Magic roster, but he has not played because he is still recovering from his injury suffered in last year's NCAA Tournament. If there is any expectation for him to be in Orlando next year, they could use him getting some work.
All of these issues will be very interesting in the era of Covid-19. None of them will help the salary cap, that's for sure. Hopefully, whatever moves are made this summer, they are able to improve the roster. It sure would be nice to see the Magic compete like the days of Penny and Shaq again. Perhaps we will have another Magic Moment soon.
- Noland
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