Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic general manager John Hammond previews free agency on HoopsHype Podcast

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jun 24, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Bucks general manager John Hammond (L), second round pick Malcolm Brogdon (13), first round pick Thon Maker (7), and head coach Jason Kidd (R) pose for a photo during an introduction press conference at the Milwaukee Bucks training facility. Mandatory Credit: Sam Caravana- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Bucks general manager John Hammond (L), second round pick Malcolm Brogdon (13), first round pick Thon Maker (7), and head coach Jason Kidd (R) pose for a photo during an introduction press conference at the Milwaukee Bucks training facility. Mandatory Credit: Sam Caravana- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Orlando Magic general manager John Hammond joined Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype on the HoopsHype Podcast and discussed the Magic’s free agent prospects.

Free agency opens July 1 as teams will begin trying to improve themselves for the 2018 season. This is where seasons are made and expectations set. This is where a team can change its fortunes fairly quickly with the right decision from the right player.

For teams like the division-rival Miami Heat and Eastern Conference finalist Boston Celtics, it is a big time for opportunity. This is where all the cap cutting and maneuvering throughout the year pays off.

For the Orlando Magic? It is going to be a quiet month relatively.

The Magic have $77.9 million in guaranteed salary next season with $7.2 million committed in cap holds for Jonathan Isaac and Fran Vazquez. And another $3.9 million in non-guaranteed contracts to Stephen Zimmerman, Patricio Garino and Marcus Georges-Hunt.

It leaves the Magic with roughly $9.9 million in cap space to spend this summer (roughly D.J. Augustin‘s contract). Orlando can free up some room by renouncing Vazquez’s cap hold and the Ibaka trade exception. That is roughly another $5 million.

For a 29-win team, the Magic are not in a good position to make drastic improvements to the team through free agency. They will have to sit this free agency out and look for other ways to improve the team.

But that could be a good thing. With a young team, the Magic still have some desire to see if they can get the team to grow. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond are still getting settled and getting the lay of the land. There does not seem to be the same urgency to turn over the roster as fans might have after five years of frustration and some stagnation.

It is still not expected for the Magic to come back fully intact or without some additions. But the Magic’s management group is continuing its evaluations.

Magic general manager John Hammond joined Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype on the HoopsHype Podcast and discussed why he joined the Magic and the team’s immediate future.

"“Once again, if there is a player that we feel that could help our team and signing that player to a contract is the right thing for us, I don’t think we are going to hesitate and not come out early and aggressive,” Hammond said. “But, if that opportunity is not there for us, that doesn’t mean that we will not be more cautious and conservative moving forward. Sometimes if you wait and you be patient with some of your room, opportunities can come to you and they can be good opportunities.”"

This certainly seems in line with the way the team approached the Draft. Without a player the team felt comfortable picking, Orlando passed on the Draft and tried to preserve the asset by acquiring a future pick in exchange. It seems like the Magic may take the same approach.

If Orlando does not see a player or opportunity they like, it seems like they feel comfortable waiting and seeing how their team continues to develop. They are still young enough that they can still continue to grow. And

And certainly, continuity could help the team improve from its 29-win season and make the team a more desirable free agent locale next year. Or it would make their players more marketable in a trade.

At the very least, Hammond said the team has a solid two-deep. The Magic are in a position where they are looking to improve at every position. And that is likely how they will approach free agency and the trade market. They may not be able to fill specific needs, they just need to get better.

That patient approach may frustrate fans who are hungry for the team to return to success. But that may be the situation the Magic find themselves entering free agency this year.

Weltman and Hammond certainly will make their own opportunities where it makes sense. But they are not going to force a move just to make a move. After all, that is what led to the team’s struggles last season when it felt like there was a Playoff-or-bust mentality. The team rushed to put together an ill-fitting roster.

It would seem the first task for the Magic and their new management is to figure out what they have and create some flexibility with the cap to make those kinds of moves.

Orlando has to begin rebuilding its assets rather than tying themselves up into more salary.

Next: Orlando Magic will keep things simple for Summer League

For those staying up late, do not expect the Magic to be extremely active around midnight July 1. That much is clear.