Magic Offseason Outlook

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

10 Most Effective Pro Seminoles in 2018

Now that the Super Bowl has is over, we can officially put the 2018 season behind us. So with that said, it begs the question of which Seminoles were most effective during the calendar year. This post looks at the 10 Most Effective Noles in the Pros for the year 2019. The list is below and is not limited to football. These players have all earned some recognition.

10. Xavier Rhodes
Rhodes only had 1 interception, but he has done a great job. Teams simply don't test him anymore, but Rhodes is still as good as it gets.

9 . Telvin Smith

Lets take a few looks about Telvin and his case.
134 tackles
2 INT
1 defensive touchdown.
This guy is an absolute stud of a linebacker and he should be recognized for how outstanding he has been for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

8. Buster Posey
Buster Posey usually is higher on this list. The only reason Posey isnt higher this year is that he only played in 105 games. He was having another terrific year and made yet another all-star game. When healthy, Posey is still the best catcher in baseball. The last time Posey hit .284 in an injury shortened season, he won MVP the following season. Baseball, you have been placed on notice.

7. Jessica Warren
Jessie only hit .262 for the 2018 summer season for the USSSA Pride, but that doesn't tell the whole season. Warren won FSU a national title in 2018 and then had a successful season in her 1st year of pro ball. Be very proud of Ms. Warren for a fantastic 2018.

6. Malik Beasley
Malik Beasley is having a fantastic year for Denver. He is a vital part of a strong rotation in the Rockies. Beasley has just 12 starts on the year, but is averaging 11.6 points per game. This guy is a very big part of the Nuggets success as a team this year. Denver is 2nd in the West and was ahead of them until the current losing streak (streak counts as 2019.

5. Natasha Howard
Natasha Howard won her 2nd WNBA Championship in 2018. She was also named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team last year. Howard averaged 13.2 points per game and started 33/34 games for the WNBA champion Seattle Storm.

4. Jalen Ramsey
Ramsey wasn't quite as dominant in 2018 and he was in 2017, but many still consider him the best cover corner in the NFL (including me). He also had 3 picks this season. Ramsey made the pro bowl again in 2018.

3. Derwin James
Derwin James was clearly the best player in the draft last year and the Bucs will be kicking themselves for decades for passing on James. He had more than 100 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 INTs. The guy is a swiss army knife that can do everything. James was an all-pro and was the defensive rookie of the year.

2. Rodney Hudson
This might seem odd to have Rodney Hudson this high, but the man is amazing. He is the best center in football. In fact, since 2017 Hudson leads all centers in pass blocking snaps per pressure allowed. He allows just one QB pressure per every 151 snaps. To give you some perspective #2 on the list has 60 snaps per QB pressure.

And the number 1 Seminole for 2018 was.....

1. Brooks Koepka
This one is pretty obvious right. Koepka is the #1 golfer in the world and won 2 majors in 2018. There was not a person in all of sports that had a much better year than Koepka

Let's see what the Noles in the Pros have in store for 2019.

Until then have a great week

- Noland