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

How to Fix the Orlando Magic

How can we fix the Orlando Magic?

This team has not been to the playoffs since 2012 and has not been past the first round of the playoffs since 2010. In a league where more than 1/2 the teams make the playoffs, it simply isn't good enough. The truth is that it is very sad actually. What's worse is this team looks like it will miss out again this year and it doesn't look to get better anytime soon. What can we do to improve this outlook?

Sell! Sell! Sell!

I get it. Tanking sucks. It sucks to miss out on the playoffs year after year. It is a tough sell to fans, especially when the drought to the playoffs has already been so long. You know what though, it is also necessary. The worst place to be in professional sports other than the NFL is in the middle. We don't want to be in the middle ever (especially the lower 1/2 of that middle like we are now). You have to be really good or really bad. Since we aren't really good, we must trade for the future, get bad now, and go for the future. The painful truth is that it must be done.

The current cast has a ceiling of the 8th seed in the playoffs. That is their ceiling and honestly, I don't see them even accomplishing that. There are too many barriers, but if we tear it down like I outline below, you can make something happen in the next 3 years. If we hit on everything I say, this team can actually compete for an NBA Championship!

Who should we keep and who should we dump though?

I'll split guys into 3 categories, who to definitely keep, who we should try to keep, but be open to move, and who to trade.

KEEP
Jonathan Isaac - Isaac is basically a rookie this year after a devastating injury last year and is starting to develop. He is a great defensive player, has good length, and gets better daily. Additionally, he is fairly cheap for a starting player since he's on his rookie deal.

All Expiring Contracts Unless we get Draft Picks or usable pieces - All expiring contracts can be used to get better players in the off-season. A team that is looking to get better in the long term, must hold onto these in today's NBA. Unless we get great value at the deadline, we should hold onto these players with some exceptions. Use the money to make a run at Klay Thompson. This team just needs a stud in the backcourt and I see Klay Thompson as that franchise changing piece. For some reason, I just get the idea that he wants to be THE GUY. We'd afford him that chance, but have to be able to have $$$ to offer.

Wes Iwundu - Iwundu seems like he could breakout at any moment to me. He's a great switch defender and has a 7'1 wingspan. Add into that the fact that he makes less than 2 million a year and is looked up for 2 years and we need to hold onto Iwundu.

Be Open To Trade
Mo Bamba - I like Mo Bamba. I think he is going to be really good, but this team has a decision to make. Do we move forward with Mo Bamba or do we build the team around our best player in Vucevic and somebody else? We should be giving top $$$ to one frontcourt player and one backcourt player. Having two of our best players as centers doesn't make a ton of sense moving forward. This is especially true with Aaron Gordon making 21 million. We must get a more quality team. While I like Bamba, if trading him gets us more picks or better overall, we must look at a trade.

Nikola Vucevic - I personally feel we should build around Vucevic (who is due a huge raise). Vuc has been our best player and one that is wildly consistent, but.....  we could probably get a haul for him and he is not guaranteed to return to the team. I think we may get some crazy good offers for Vuc.
DJ Augustin - Augustin is actually a decent point guard. He's been effective and hes pretty cheap for an NBA Starting Point Guard. He's not elite enough to take this team to the next level by himself, but he's a good player. I'd like to keep him, but he may be more valuable to the future in a trade.

Terrance Ross - I want to hold onto expiring contracts and I like Terrance Ross. I just feel he is the most likely to be traded. Already used to the 6th man role and could be very valuable to a playoff squad as a shooter off the bench. I can definitely imagine a team like the Lakers giving up some good young talent for Ross.

Try With All Your Might To Trade
Timofey Mozgov - He doesn't even play and he makes 16 million. What a waste of $$$. Try to take back a similar bad contract, but one that expires this year from a playoff team. Pair him with a Vucevic or a Ross and there is a chance it can happen. Again, idea is to free up $$$ for a Klay Thompson type.

Evan Fournier - There is no Magic player (that plays) that frustrates me more than Evan Fournier. Why does this guy make 17 million? He makes it very unlikely we can get an elite guard or keep Vucevic. Our team simply can't compete with the contracts of Mosgov, Fournier and...

Aaron Gordon - I like Aaron Gordon. He's a good player. I can actually see why the Magic think he was worth 21 million. Just think we would be better off getting some other talent and draft picks and using that $$$ elsewhere.

So there you have it. Trade Gordon, Fournier, and Mosgov. Free up cap space. Bring in Klay Thompson or Kyrie or some other stud. OR bring in a group of higher end talent that isn't quite max level, but close and cheaper. Just don't stick with the status-quo of finishing 9th - 11th place in the East. The current plan is not working. Time to change course.

Heck, if you do this, you get a better player in the draft too!

Either way though #PureMagic and Go Magic!

- Noland