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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 35: Free agency cometh

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Khem Birch #24 and Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Khem Birch #24 and Terrence Ross #31 of the Orlando Magic talk during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on February 14, 2019 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jeff Weltman, Orlando Magic
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Future Free Agency

The Orlando Magic’s offseason revolves around Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross. There is no getting around this. The Magic hold their Bird Rights, giving the team the right to go over the cap to re-sign those players. But otherwise, the team does not have a ton of money to play with.

I estimate the Magic have a bit more than $20 million in cap space to spend if they renounce all their free agents. Even trying to keep Vucevic and holding onto his cap hold puts the Magic right against the cap — as a cap mechanism, the Magic will sign Vucevic last since his salary is likely greater than his cap hold.

Orlando can get to near-max space by stretching Timofey Mozgov’s contract. But that would mean spending it all on one player and renouncing their other free agents. That is probably not the best idea for the team.

And it feels like their decision to re-sign Vucevic was an acknowledgment that they would not be in the running for any players who are better. Vucevic might very well have been their best available player in free agency they could realistically sign.

So they moved quickly to get something done with him.

That signing will put the Magic over the cap. So they would not have any room left to sit on. But Orlando could go into next season with some money to spend. But there may not be anyone worth pursuing.

They had to solidify the roster now. The free agent class in 2020 is not attractive for the Magic.

Orlando had to make its move and set its roster up for the next few years this summer. That might explain why they are willing to take on the risk of a four-year deal for Vucevic. They want to remain competitive and this might be their best way to do it.

But they should certainly be willing to keep some cap space open. They should not spend for the mere sake of spending.

dark. Next. 5 under-the-radar free agents the Magic should pursue

Thanks everyone for the questions. I appreciate all the interactions. We will be sure to do another mailbag soon. Until then, you can always stay in touch with the site on Twitter @omagicdaily or drop us a line by e-mail at omagicdaily@gmail.com.

And thanks to Stephen Cameron of Close Up Magic for having me on his podcast (and sharing with Locked On Magic). You can hear our podcast together here and here. And check out his web site for more Magic content.