2019 Orlando Magic Offseason Outlook: All about Nikola Vucevic

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ORLANDO, FL – MAY 30: Orlando Magic President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman introduces new Head Coach Steve Clifford during a press conference on May 30, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Gary Bassing/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What to expect

It is still not clear what direction the Orlando Magic will go this summer. Everything it seems depends on their decision about what to do with their current free agents — especially Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross.

If the Magic sign them both, they will have little more than the non-taxpayer mid-level exception to spend in free agency. That is not going to get the Magic much in the end.

If the Magic let one or both walk, they will have a limited amount of money to spend to replace them. But it should still be enough to get a starter-caliber guy. The team could get even more money to spend if they stretch Timofey Mozgov’s final year of his contract.

The Magic, on their face, do not have a ton of maneuverability for free agency outside of handling their own free agents. But they can wriggle some extra cash free and get themselves into the market for a high-level player if a few things happen.

There are already at least a few rumors the Magic might do this. Whether Orlando goes down that path likely depends on whether they can get that commitment first.

On that same token, the Magic have made it clear that negotiating with Vucevic is their primary objective in free agency this year. They will try to bring him back first on an agreeable contract before doing anything else it seems.

Orlando will know fairly early into free agency whether they will be able to retain him and what path they will have to go next. Orlando can go over the cap to re-sign Vucevic, but the team will not be able to go after many bigger-name players without renouncing that right.

And that is the pickle the Magic are stuck in for this free agency period. Orlando has to balance trying to bring back and retain the team that made that surprising playoff run with doing the work necessary to improve the roster. It will not happen in one fell swoop.

Perhaps Orlando can foresee having more room to spend in 2020 and can gamble that running this team back can entice a player to join the team then. Jeff Weltman can flex some of his negotiating muscle then.

The 2019 offseason is really more about balancing the present with the future and keeping that cap flexibility. All the while keeping the team in the playoff conversation.

Next. 2019 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Jeff Weltman. dark

Without much money to spend to do that, the Magic will once again work on the margins unless they are forced to make a bigger move.