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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 13: No such thing as a free agent

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 21, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Scott Skiles huddles up with center Nikola Vucevic (9) and teammates against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Amway Center. Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic 105-102. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Scott Skiles huddles up with center Nikola Vucevic (9) and teammates against the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Amway Center. Indiana Pacers defeated the Orlando Magic 105-102. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Joakim Noah, Taj Bigson, Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls
May 6, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Chicago Bulls small forward Jimmy Butler (far left) greets teammate center Joakim Noah (center) as power forward Taj Gibson (far right) after defeating the Miami Heat in game one of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at American Airlines Arena. The Bulls won 93-86. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Most likely to sign with the Magic then?

I do not think they will get their main targets. Al Horford, Nicolas Batum and Hassan Whiteside are likely going to be looking for more established environments. I even think Harrison Barnes is going to be a pretty hot commodity coming off a deep Playoff run and might be out of the Magic’s range.

The bad part of this plan to go after free agents is that this team is not attractive enough yet — or, at least, obviously attractive enough — to get a free agent on the team outright. It is going to take some great negotiations and selling to take that step forward.

I am thinking a little bit smaller with this free agency. I think the Magic make some secondary moves like signing veterans in Luol Deng and Joakim Noah to bolster the bench and then re-sign Evan Fournier. That helps their bench and brings some good veterans into the locker room to support the young group. The Magic give them one more chance.

It is not a great summer, but I do not think it sets the team back. It sticks with the rebuild and gives the group another chance to develop. But there will certainly be fan blowback for not making a big splash.

Like I said, Orlando is probably going to push hard for a trade around the Draft. If they can get Jimmy Butler or someone like him, the calculus changes. They can get a big guy to come here — someone like Hassan Whiteside or Harrison Barnes or Dwight Howard — and that would really help.

I think the Magic will be more active searching for trades than in free agency. If they cannot swing a trade to cash in on assets, then that means they have to believe in the roster they have and that cap room should be spent on short-term deals on veterans that can bolster and support the roster — a lot of what the team should have done last year, but could not with 25 wins, maybe they can with 35 instead.

Maybe the big splash is getting Dwight Howard back on a 2+1 deal (so he can get Bird Rights) on a little more reasonable salary. I don’t know. This free agency period is kind of screwy with the cap increasing so much and everyone having money.

It is very hard to get a sense of what the Magic will do. I think the path becomes a bit clearer after the Draft and the first domino begins to fall. Or maybe I am just pessimistic about the Magic’s free agency prospects.

Next: 'This Magic Moment' about a team that still resonates

I should have another mailbag shortly after the season ends with more of your questions. Thanks for your patience. It should be an interesting offseason!