The Orlando Magic used the mid-level exception on Al-Farouq Aminu, which completes their free agent signings for the summer.
After the agreed to deals to re-sign Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross, the Orlando Magic had used up all of their cap space and had just more than $9 million to use from the nontaxpayer mid-level exception to use on free agents.
Instead of using that money on multiple players, the Magic agreed to terms with veteran wing Al-Farouq Aminu. The deal is reported to be three years, $29 million with a player option on the final year for the 28-year old, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Free agent Al-Farouq Aminu has agreed to a three-year, $29M deal with the Orlando Magic, league sources tell ESPN. Player option on third year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Al-Farouq Aminu’s $9.3 million annual salary uses up all of the Magic’s mid-level exception. It puts an end to the roster building for Orlando via free agency this summer.
The Magic now have a projected $132.0 million salary number, as the front office triples down on their positive feelings with making the postseason by paying a lot of money for their two re-signings and now Aminu.
The signings of Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross and Al-Farouq Aminu now has Orlando with a projected $131.97M in salary, $485K below the luxury tax. The salary includes the $1.8M cap hold of restricted free agent Khem Birch. Aminu was signed with the... https://t.co/NcepRITHP3
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) June 30, 2019
Aminu will not be an addition in a position of need, but he fits the prototype for an Orlando player these days. He is 6-foot-9 with a wingspan that is longer than 7-feet. He can defend multiple positions and is an average 3-point shooter.
Aminu averaged 9.4 points, 7.5 rebound and 0.8 steals per game while shooting 34.3 percent on 3-pointers last season. He shot 35.3 percent from deep during his four seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers starting at the 4 and often guarding the opponent’s best wing.
Teams often dared Aminu to shoot during the playoffs, but his defensive versatility can offset some of his offensive shortcomings. That sounds a lot like Orlando’s current wings.
Despite starting 255 of the 293 regular season games he appeared in for Portland, Aminu will likely come off the bench for Orlando. This improves the Magic’s bench vastly and offers a nice backup plan if one of their starting wings gets injured.
Having a player come off the bench who started for a 2019 Western Conference finalist is a good signing.
Al-Farouq Aminu, Terrence Ross, Wesley Iwundu, Mohamed Bamba, Khem Birch (if he returns) and hopefully Markelle Fultz is a pretty strong bench with plenty of defensive upside and athleticism.
This also opens up jumbo lineup opportunities. One example is an Al-Farouq Aminu, Aaron Gordon, Jonathan Isaac, Terrence Ross and Nikola Vuc five. This group can guard every position, can put their best scorers on the floor together and can create mismatches in the post.
Aminu’s agreement with the Magic came shortly after the free agency period officially started, and it still leaves some weaknesses on the roster. The Magic have only D.J. Augustin and Markelle Fultz as their lone point guards. Not to mention the team still lacks a lot of reliable shooting.
The Magic do not know when Markelle Fultz will play next, but the Al-Farouq Aminu deal means Orlando trusts Evan Fournier to run some point. Orlando may expand Aaron Gordon’s and Jonathan Isaac’s roles as ball handlers. The quicker Gordon and Isaac can continue to improve their ball handling, the better for both individuals and the team itself.
If Markelle Fultz is not ready to play by the beginning of the season and no other moves are made, Aaron Gordon could be in line for the most ball handling responsibilities on the team after D.J. Augustin.
This is probably best for Gordon and Isaac’s long-term development instead of using the mid-level exception on a veteran point guard. A better shooter would have been a smart use of the money, but it is tough to get a great shooter on a cheap deal these days.
Aminu is not the best player available, but he is a solid roster addition on a contract that would not be difficult to move.
Aminu is a player who aligns with the contract years of the Magic’s other free agency signings. His deal ends right around the time Aaron Gordon’s, Jonathan Isaac’s, Markelle Fultz’s and Mohamed Bamba’s contracts are up.
It is a move that adds a steady player to a team planning to make the playoffs, which is all this free agency period has been about for the Orlando Magic.