The Orlando Magic are interested in signing players to one-year prove-it deals. There are plenty of options available for the Magic to explore.
So far in free agency, the Orlando Magic have remained inactive, as the only roster move they have made was releasing second-year center Stephen Zimmerman.
There were rumors pointing to Joe Ingles being a potential target for the Magic. But the Utah Jazz quickly re-signed the restricted free agent to a four-year deal. The Magic’s needs include shooting, veteran leadership and a backup point guard (assuming they waive C.J. Watson).
For now, the Magic seem content with letting free agency pass them by. They are not going to sign a player just to sign a player and they certainly could preserve their cap space for future acquisitions. On top of all that, Weltman said the team is likely targeting one- and two-year deals.
This could lead to the team signing a veteran to one-year prove-it deal. Similar to how the Magic signed Jeff Green last summer.
This strategy seems to be for the best, as for lottery teams one of the most important things is cap flexibility.
Further, young players Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton will hit free agency next year and it will take major money to keep both (which is another reason Magic are trying to keep cap space). If the Magic had signed Ingles or any other enticing free agent to a large-money deal, role players would have dominated the payroll and the team would be stuck in mediocrity for the next few years.
One-year reclamation project deals are common in the NBA, as shown by the Philadelphia 76ers as a way to keep cap flexibility for the future. While most of these signings do not pan out for the long term, grabbing a solid presence in the locker room is a must for young teams. The Magic can take a chance on a high upside player and improve the locker room, all while keeping cap flexibility for the future.
Tyreke Evans
Tyreke Evans is probably the best player on this list and would command the highest salary of these six (besides maybe Monta Ellis, but we will get to that later). A possible Tyreke Evans contract could be a one-year deal with the money being about $8-12 million.
The Sacramento Kings drafted Evans with the fourth pick in 2009, instantly putting a lot of pressure on Evans to become the star the Kings needed. Evans responded well to the pressure and put up a superb rookie campaign, averaging 20.1 points, 5.8 assists and 5.3 rebounds per game as a combo guard. Evans won Rookie of the Year and was heralded as the next big thing in the NBA.
But Evans never reached the potential and glory his rookie campaign seemed to suggest. He has never topped his production and stats from that year.
Evans later signed with the New Orleans Pelicans and endured four straight mediocre campaigns limited by constant injuries and the lack of a deep shot. While the 2017 season was his worst season to date, there are reasons why he is an intriguing free agent.
Evans has always been a solid slasher, but his efficiency and production have been limited because of his atrocious deep shot. But Evans seems to have turned a corner last year, a year in which his 3-point percentage was a career-high 36 percent.
If Evans can continue to improve his outside shot while providing great value as a versatile point forward, he could be a great addition for the Magic.
While Evans is an interesting player, does he fit with the team? The answer is complicated, as the Magic could use a playmaker but also have a surplus of wings.
Signing Evans could limit the minutes for Mario Hezonja. But signing Evans is a solid move since young players must earn their minutes and beat out veterans. Considering his age (27) and offensive capabilities, Evans is a top choice for the Magic.
Monta Ellis
Monta Ellis is another potential veteran the Magic could sign this offseason to a one-year deal. Ellis has had no problem scoring throughout his career, but he has struggled defensively and has a reputation for stopping the ball on offense.
The rebuilding Indiana Pacers recently waived the 31-year old guard, as he was a clear casualty of their youth movement.
Ellis has had an excellent career, averaging 17.8 points per game while adding 4.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. But Ellis has started to slow down and has only averaged around 11 points per game for the Pacers. He even lost his starting job last year.
Ellis is a poor fit for the Magic, as the Magic need either a player with upside or a strong locker room presence. Ellis has neither.
At 31, Ellis has clearly peaked and is now at most a rotation player. Further, Ellis is not the selfless veteran teams are looking for to mentor their youth. Ellis has a gunslinger reputation. He has always been a volume scorer — and an often inefficient one at that. Last year he posted a 48.2 percent effective field goal percentage.
This is not the type of player the Magic want around their impressionable young players. They want their young players (Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac etc.) to learn good habits.
Ellis has been rumored to be interested in contenders and he is a potential ring chaser. He might not even want to play for Orlando. Given all of these red flags, it is best if the Magic pass on Ellis in free agency.
Trey Burke
Point guard Trey Burke is an interesting reclamation project for the Magic.
Burke fits the archetype of the college star who is not athletic enough or tall enough to make it in the NBA.
The Minnesota Timberwolves drafted Burke with the ninth pick in 2013 (the same draft as Victor Oladipo). They traded him on draft night to the Jazz.
Burke was a complete stud for the Michigan Wolverines and was one of the best college players in the past decade. But his shot has not translated to the NBA. He has struggled to guard taller and more athletic players.
Burke enjoyed great amounts of playing time during his stay with Utah, but he failed to capitalize on the opportunities. Burke statistically peaked during his rookie year, as he averaged a career-high 12.8 points and 5.7 assists per game.
Orlando Magic
Burke failed to exceed or even match those numbers in his final two years in Utah. The Utah Jazz traded Burke to the Washington Wizards last year for a practical bag of rocks. He had trouble finding constant playing time behind John Wall.
While Burke sounds like a complete bust, there is still potential in him. First, Burke fits a positional need, as the Magic have a need for
First, Burke fits a positional need, as the Magic need for third point guard. Further, Burke is too young to give up on, as he is only 24. His best days can certainly be ahead.
The Magic need shooting, and while this was a problem for Burke in his first couple years, he has improved his shot mightily. He even shot 44 percent from the three last year. While that is a small sample size (only 12 minutes per game) it is certainly a positive sign.
The Magic may be better off seeing what they have in rookie Summer League guard Derrick Walton Jr. (he has been very impressive in summer league) than signing Burke.
This is a real possibility, as the Magic have rumored interest in Burke.
Anthony Morrow
Anthony Morrow has one role in the NBA, a 3-point specialist.
Morrow has made solid NBA money fulfilling that role, making 41.7 percent of his 3-pointers for his career. But his shot disappeared recently and so has his place in the NBA.
Prior to the 2017 season, Morrow had established himself as a top-tier 3-and-D player. Morrow consistently shot better than 40 percent from the three.
But in 2017, Morrow shot an atrocious 29 percent from the three as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He seemingly losing his shot.
Morrow was shipped off to the Chicago Bulls and seemed to regain his form, shooting a stellar 43 percent from three in his nine games played.
The Magic are in desperate need of shooting. The Magic ranked in the bottom three in the NBA in almost every 3-point shooting stat. The team’s best shooters, Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross, are streaky at best and the team’s two potential cornerstones, Gordon and Payton, have no outside game.
The Magic acquired Jodie Meeks for this purpose last year. While Meeks was effective, he missed significant time with injury. While re-signing Meeks would have been safer, Morrow is a worthwhile reclamation project on a cheap deal.
Shabazz Muhammad
Shabazz Muhammad was an extremely hyped-up player out of high school and has disappointed everyone since.
Muhammad was able to dominate in college because of his NBA body and relied on that rather than skills that would translate to the NBA. Muhammad has struggled greatly in the NBA and has been sent down the D-League for short stints.
Muhammad has become a mediocre role player for the Timberwolves, nothing close to what many projected of him coming out of high school.
Muhammad is what he is, a solid driver who has a weak shot. Muhammad has no distinguishable positive qualities and his career stats do not jump off the page (9.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game).
Muhammad could find a fit on a decent amount of other teams, but he would be a dreadful fit on the Magic.
The Magic cannot afford to add another interior-centered player with no shot. The Magic already struggle to create lanes, and they must add shooters, not guys who would damage the limited spacing they have.
There are some key differences between a player like Muhammad and another non-shooting driver like Tyreke Evans.
Evans is a much better playmaker and better passer, while Muhammad has barely even registered assists. Further, Evans has shown progress as a shooter, while Muhammad has not.
Adding Muhammad would just limit others’ playing time while adding no clear positives to the team.
Next: How the Orlando Magic can take advantage of the Gordon Hayward signing
Muhammad has talent to spend, but he is not likely a good fit for the Magic. Especially if he commands a hefty price.