2019 Orlando Magic Offseason Outlook: All about Nikola Vucevic

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Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets, Amile Jefferson, Aaron Gordon, Orlando Magic

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Making Max Room

Of course, the Orlando Magic could go after a big fish. They have already been connected via rumor to Kemba Walker. The team would seemingly be out of the running for signing an All-Star with all the information already presented.

There is just little cap room if the Magic want to retain any of their remaining players.

But as also noted, the Magic have $25 million in cap room just based on their guaranteed contracts. That is not max cap room, but it is close.

If the Magic let all their free agents go and traded away their draft pick, they technically do have something near-max cap room. A few trades on the margins and all of a sudden, Orlando could be in the running for one of these players with still their mid-level exception to use to bolster depth.

That is plausible, but not likely a realistic play for the team.. The Magic are not going to spend all of their cap room on one player. That would leave them exposed at center without a trade to replace Nikola Vucevic.

But it is interesting to dream.

Losing the cap holds for Vucevic and Ross, releases $34.9 million in potential room. That creates that full $25 million in room they have with just their guaranteed salaries.

They can get further room if they find a trade partner for Evan Fournier and take back less salary. He makes $17 million per year. Then they could create more cap room by stretching Timofey Mozgov.

Mozgov is owed $16.7 million this year. And the Magic face a decision with what to do with that.

light. Related Story. 2019 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Steve Clifford

The Magic could just eat the final year and take on the savings next year. Orlando has $18.1 million guaranteed for the summer of 2020. Even adding a moderate $21 million contract for Vucevic and the second year of the 16th overall pick — roughly $3 million — and the team still only has $42 million in committed salary.

With the cap expected to make another leap near $120 million in 2021, the Magic would have a ton more cap room to add a free agent to bolster their roster. If that is what they want to do.

All signs point to 2020 as the year the Magic want to hit free agency. Although that market is not as robust as this year’s market. It might be too difficult to resist at least trying to see if one of the big stars would entertain them.

This is where Mozgov’s contract comes into play. If the Magic stretch Mozgov they can create a little bit more room.

The stretch provision allows a team to spread out the cap hit of a selected player for twice the remaining length of the contract, plus one year. So if the Magic stretch Mozgov’s contract, their books would show them responsible for $5.6 million for the next three years.

Stretching him would free up nearly $12 million in potential room. If the Magic still find themselves with work to do to fill out the roster and are short on cash, they can use this tool to get themselves a bit further under the cap.

Those savings could help them get to a number to fit a max contract. It is still unclear which direction the Magic will head.