The Orlando Magic are reportedly set to sign second-round pick Wesley Iwundu to a three-year deal. The guarantees show just what they think of this player.
The Orlando Magic will sign second-round pick Wesley Iwundu to a three-year, $4.1 million deal, Iwundu’s agent Austin Walton told Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders.
Magic & Wesley Iwundu agree to a fully guaranteed 3-year, $4.1M deal, agent @austingwalton told @BBallInsiders. It's more than picks 31 & 32
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) July 25, 2017
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic are on their way to a deal with Iwundu, but the final details have not been set. Robbins reports the third year is a team option.
Wesley Iwundu's 3-year, $4.1 million deal with the Magic includes a team option for the 3rd year, WI's agent, Austin Walton, said.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) July 25, 2017
It is not surprising the Magic signed the 33rd overall pick from last year’s draft. The team was inevitably going to sign their second round pick. The team was very high on him, high enough to make him the only second-round pick they took after trading away the 25th pick and the 35th pick.
But it is surprising the team is willing to fully guarantee three years of his contract. It is not typical for teams to guarantee much more than the first year for second round picks.
For example, the 31st overall pick (the first pick of the second round) Frank Jackson got a three-year $3.8 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. The third year of that contract is non-guaranteed. The 32nd pick, Davon Reed, got a similar deal from the Phoenix Suns.
The Magic are paying more over the course of the contract and guaranteeing more money for Iwundu than the players picked ahead of him in the second round this past year.
Orlando clearly liked Iwundu coming off his four-year career with the Kansas State Wildcats. He gradually improved each of his four years there, becoming a reliable scorer in addition to his incredibly athletic defensive abilities.
In his final year at Kansas State, Iwundu averaged 13.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. His shot still needed some work but he showed some tremendous improvement.
Iwundu did not stand out too much in Summer League. But he still showed plenty to suggest he can do some things on a NBA floor.
Iwundu averaged just 5.6 points per game and shot 30.3 percent from the floor. He made just two of his eight 3-point attempts. It was not an incredibly encouraging shooting performance. That is still an area of his game he has to improve.
Orlando Magic
But Iwundu stood out on the defensive end. And he displayed plenty of the athleticism and length that had the Magic more than intrigued. He had several plays where he made a strong defensive play on one end and got out in transition to finish on the fast break on the other end.
This is very much the kind of player the Magic envisioned when they drafted Iwundu. And this is the kind of team they want to be — using their defense to spark the fast break and catch defenses in transition or secondary transition.
The Magic roster is quickly filling up. With the reported Marreese Speights signing and the reported Wesley Iwundu signing, the Magic have 15 players under contract. Marcus Georges-Hunt and Patricio Garino are still non-guaranteed (until opening night). And the Magic are reportedly still interested in signing Khem Birch.
The roster is getting full heading into camp. The Magic during the season will be able to carry 15 players with two more players on two-way contracts. Orlando has yet to use those yet.
Next: Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: End of the Offseason
Guaranteeing Iwundu shows how much the Magic like this young player. And now they have him on board for the season.