The Orlando Magic stayed quiet through the first hours of free agency, not even meeting with Aaron Gordon. Indeed, it seems they are staying patient.
The Orlando Magic do not have a ton of cap room to spend when it comes to free agency. With Aaron Gordon and Mohamed Bamba‘s cap holds included, the team is slightly below the cap number of $102 million. That leaves them with virtually just the mid-level exception to spend in free agency.
Orlando will have to make a decision on Gordon before almost anything else this summer. His restricted free agency will take up the majority of the Magic’s free agent decisions.
So what did the Magic do Sunday night as free agency opened? It appeared they stayed quiet, opting to meet with Gordon another day perhaps.
Sean Deveney of Sporting News reports Gordon did not take any meetings as free agency opened — even with the Magic over a possible new contract. It seems everyone is going to wait things out a bit at this early stage.
For RFA Aaron Gordon, a source told me there was "nothing significant" as of yet from the @OrlandoMagic or other teams. Added, without irony, "It's early."
— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) July 1, 2018
This is not entirely surprising. Especially in light of more reporting that came out Sunday morning. Keith Smith of RealGM reported the Magic intend to match any offer on Gordon, likely scaring off a few teams from trying to engage him for an offer sheet.
There at least appeared to be no action with Gordon early on as everyone waits on other options and dominos to fall and maybe even the Magic to make their initial bid.
Source: Most teams expect the Orlando Magic to match any offer for RFA Aaron Gordon, so an offer sheet is unlikely to come.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) July 1, 2018
This benefits Orlando as far as potentially keeping costs down in a new deal for Gordon.
This is all part of the typical dance for restricted free agents. Teams trying to retain a player’s rights will make every signal they will match any offer and then try to engage in negotiations themselves to avoid that player opting for the qualifying offer.
Orlando has played the first step of that process well. Now the question is when will the Magic meet with Gordon and just how much are they willing to offer him to keep him without Gordon fishing for other offers.
Eventually other offers will come with whatever cap space remains. And there are teams who have Gordon as part of their plans at some point.
Gordon has made it clear he thinks he is worth a max contract. That is what he would hope to get in free agency. But it does not seem likely he will get that. Especially because money from some of his reported suitors is running out.
The Indiana Pacers could still have enough cap room to sign Aaron Gordon to a $20-plus million after spending a three-year $22-million deal with Doug McDermott. The Phoenix Suns took themselves out of the running in agreeing to a one-year, $15-million deal with Trevor Ariza. And the Dallas Mavericks also wrapped up their cap with DeAndre Jordan signing a one-year deal.
The Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings still have cap room to chase Gordon if they choose. But that room could quickly dry up.
It will now be up to the Magic to negotiate with Gordon and find a deal that makes sense for both of them. Or else Gordon could take the qualifying offer and prepare for unrestricted free agency in 2019. That would seemingly cinch Gordon leaving if he went that route.
Orlando should be prepared to make a fair market-based offer, hoping to get him at a mark a little lower than that market value.
As Deveney reported, this is still an early stage for Gordon and the Magic. Things could move quickly toward a deal when the two sides finally meet. That will surely happen soon.
From there, Gordon will have a decision to make as he assesses the market.
Next: Orlando Magic free agency to-do list
Orlando will surely end up offering Gordon a strong offer. It remains to be seen what that offer is or whether Gordon takes it.