Orlando Magic Rumors: Orlando Magic have received multiple Channing Frye inquiries
According to The Sporting News, the Orlando Magic have received multiple offers already involving Channing Frye, a player who has plenty of value in the NBA.
There is a bit of angst among the Orlando Magic faithful after a 2-12 January. A momentary relief in a win over the Boston Celtics on Sunday does not change that bare fact.
There are some big questions being asked about this team that need to get answered for the team’s future. Lots of long-term personnel decisions need to get made in the next few months and weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
In the immediate future though, Orlando has struggled to stay in the playoff race. The Magic are not out of the running by any measure, but falling in the standings. It is clear Orlando likely needs to make a move to get into the Playoffs, if that is really the team’s goal.
Seeing that it is now Feb. 1, the trade deadline is a mere 18 days away and rumors will surround the Magic pretty quickly.
If Orlando is going to make a move, it appears Channing Frye has been the target for many teams looking to add some shooting before the deadline. According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, the Magic have received multiple offers for Frye:
"Now, league sources tell Sporting News, changes could be coming to the Magic’s promising young roster ahead of this month’s trading deadline. Already, the team has received multiple inquiries on big man Channing Frye, who despite being 32 years old and having two years and $15.2 million left on his contract, still is considered a commodity around the league because of his combination of size, defense and perimeter shooting.“He’s one of the names I think you hear a lot and you will hear a lot more about before the deadline,” one NBA executive told Sporting News. “His contract is not that bad and he could help a contender, and it looks like they’re moving on from him. There’s a lot of interest there.”"
Frye certainly seems to be a better more reliable option for teams. Ryan Anderson is likely on the market, but Anderson is an expiring contract and so a team could essentially rent him. If they are looking for something a little longer term, Frye provides much of the same shooting and veteran poise without that feeling of renting a player.
Of course, the remaining two years and $15.2 million (his contract is front loaded, so his salary decreases) also might be a deterrent. In order to take on the salary teams will likely require the Magic to take back more long-term salary.
This is the complication of trading Channing Frye at this point. Teams are not going to take him simply without giving back something other teams may not want.
Orlando is likely focusing on its long-term future with any trade that it makes, as Deveney reports. If the team makes a deal, it has to benefit the Magic’s long-term plans.
Then again, swapping veterans especially if it does not increase the Magic’s payroll has its appeal since the Magic have so many holes and are in desperate need of some veteran leadership on the court.
Frye has been better than the criticism gives him credit for. He spreads the floor and makes 3-pointers at a solid rate — his 41.4 percent 3-point field goal percentage is even higher than last year. When the team is playing well, he helps everyone. When they are not like in January, he is a hindrance because of his inability to defend or do much else than shoot 3-pointers.
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Undoubtedly his reputation as a shooter and floor spacer is around the league. He has value. It depends on what the Magic want at the end of the day. They likely wait until the deadline to see what else pops up that might involve Frye.