The Orlando Magic have a busy summer ahead of them. Aaron Gordon is due for a big payday and the front office will begin to build around a promising frontcourt.
While the Orlando Magic’s free agency will be defined by Aaron Gordon’s decision, there will be plenty of work to do as the organization tries to build a postseason contender.
The to-do list for Orlando will begin with mostly in-house with players like Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja. The pair of former top-five selections are likely coming back if the Magic want them. But with limited cap space, there is a chance that one of them may find a new home.
With the draft in the rearview, the front office knows exactly the areas they need to address. Orlando’s draft solidified the center position and added long-term depth on the wings.
The Draft still left the Magic with questions at point guard. D.J. Augustin is the only viable option on the roster and free agency may be the best bet to find another facilitator.
Orlando’s free agency to-do list also predicates heavily on what trades the team may get involved in. A logjam at center and a handful of team-friendly contacts may allow the Magic to add talent via trade.
The Aaron Gordon Decision
The first order of business will be wrapping up Aaron Gordon’s new long-term extension.
The Orlando Magic’s best bet at developing a star is still Gordon. The jury is still out on Mohamed Bamba and Jonathan Isaac. But Gordon clearly has displayed the most offensive potential. After a hot start to the season, Gordon trailed off as spring came around.
His up-and-down play has left Orlando with a tough decision on their hands. Will the Magic bet on his ceiling? Or save the cap room in hopes that they will land a star in the near future?
Reports indicate the Magic will match any offer a team sends Gordon’s way. If that is the case, it will dictate how the front office will operate for the rest of free agency.
The Magic can offer Gordon a 5-year, $148-million max contract. They may not have to go that high, but Gordon is one of the most intriguing and more importantly young options on the market. Teams that are desperate for a budding star may swoop in and try to bump up his price.
Most Orlando supporters feel that bringing Gordon back is a no-brainer. They are probably correct. There is not another player on the roster who has earned long-term money besides him.
Plus, it would keep the team’s most marketable star in central Florida until 2024.
Give Hezonja one more chance
When the Orlando Magic declined Mario Hezonja’s fourth-year option before the season, it was widely criticized. The young Croatian had not lived up to his draft selection, but declining that option showed how little hope Orlando had in his future.
Fast forward to the end of the season and Hezonja may have plenty of suitors in free agency. He is coming off his best season as a pro. Hezonja shot 44.2 percent from the field, averaged 9.6 points per game and created an impressive highlight reel that had Magic fans dreaming of what he might become.
Sadly, there is a real chance the Magic are unable to bring him back. Due to the Magic declining his option, the most the organization can offer Hezonja is a contract with a starting salary $5.2 million per season. Other organizations can offer more and snatch him for a few more dollars. He is the perfect example of a player an NBA front office would (and should) take a risk on.
Hezonja’s departure may not impact a team that is still a few years from contention, but losing a lottery talent for nothing is a bad look for a Magic team desperate for talent.
Although they are in a bind due to their decision earlier this season, Orlando must work diligently to bring him back. At the very least he can provide an instant scoring punch off the bench.
Adding a point guard?
The free agent point guard market is not overly enticing. Chris Paul headlines the group, but he will not be taking his talents to Central Florida any time soon.
But there are a few players who could end up in Orlando.
The Magic could sign them to “prove-it” deals in hopes that they can use a strong season or two with the Magic to propel them to a long-term, big money deal down the road.
The two most discussed names are Isaiah Thomas and Dante Exum.
Thomas, who has built a reputation as a tremendous scorer, would check a lot of boxes for Orlando. He provides a clear number one option and obviously fills the need at point guard.
Although he has been moved frequently throughout his career, he is a household name and would bring some excitement to the fan base. Thomas will probably have a handful of suitors, but the Magic should be a contender to sign him if they are interested.
With the full mid-level exception to offer, they might have enough to give him a solid salary this year and the chance to showcase himself for a bigger deal next summer.
Exum is a different story. A top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, he has never lived up to the potential thanks largely to a recurring knee injury that included two torn ACLs. Similar to Hezonja, Exum ws not given a consistent role with the Utah Jazz. A change of scenery could do the Australian good.
Clearly, there are a few solid options available on the market. But look for Orlando to also look to trade for a floor general.
The bargain bin
The Orlando Magic are not in a great cap situation. According to RealGM, the Magic will have just shy of $20 million to work with in free agency. Aaron Gordon’s contract will eat up almost all of that amount. That leaves the Magic with just the full mid-level exception of $8.6 million to offer.
The limited flexibility will force the Magic to be extremely smart with their money. They may be patient and wait until the initial frenzy ends to grab a player. One who may have fell between the cracks because of an unusual market, or limited interest.
There are a few players who fit the “bargain bin” mold.
Guard Seth Curry, who is returning from injury, center Arron Baynes and guard Wayne Ellington are all players who may not have the market they deserve.
While they may not move the needle much, they play their roles well. Plus, they are comfortable coming off the bench. As the Magic continue to build a viable roster, adding veterans and taking chances on players with something to prove could land them a hidden gem.
While a player like Curry will not become a star, he may develop into a trade asset in the near future. The best organizations in the NBA consistently land under-the-radar free agents and turn them into key contributors.
The Magic did a good job scrounging the bargain bin to get Jonathon Simmons on a reasonable deal last summer. Everyone praised president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman for his patience to get this growing player.
This will be the final step for Orlando. A great way to round out a largely young roster with savvy veterans that know a thing or two about winning.
The Magic will have a lot of time to explore the trade market too. That operates a bit independently of free agency. For now, the team is going to operate as best it can to fill the holes in the roster with the options available to it.
Next: OMD Roundtable: Draft recap
The Magic certainly have their work cut out for them. and plenty to do in free agency to get there.