Orlando Magic: 3 Goals for the 2022 Season
By Isaac Ryu
Orlando Magic 2022 Season Goal #3:
Sign the Right Free Agents
While the Orlnado Magic have young players galore and two solid picks in the draft, a lot can go wrong, namely signing the wrong free agents to bad deals. At all costs, the Magic should avoid paying free agents that hinder the progress of their prospects or do not have the patience to participate in a rebuild.
The team will have a little bit of cap room to spend this season — roughly $7-8 million. The Magic also have a $17-million trade exception to use and ample 2022 cap space the team could rent. While Orlando might well decide to use their cap space to bring in players who will not contribute, they need to make sure they are getting valuable assets in return still.
More from Orlando Magic Daily
- 2023 Orlando Magic Playoff Lessons: Philadelphia 76ers can’t seem to avoid conflict
- 5 worst starters of the Orlando Magic’s Shaquille O’Neal era
- Orlando Magic FIBA World Cup: Franz Wagner can be a star if he takes it
- Orlando Magic are going to find out who they are in 2024
- 2024 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Moe Wagner is the spark off of the bench
It is really easy for a team to fall off the wagon and spend frivolously. Orlando worked hard to clear its cap sheet, the team cannot waste that resource.
Exhibit one: Remember the New York Knicks signed Joakim Noah to a four-year $72.5 million contract? Yeah, none of that.
Or perhaps like the Clippers signing Luke Kennard to a four-year, $64 million extension (a deal that fits nicely into the trade exception but also comes with that long-term cost). These types of deals hamstring potential progress, progress the Magic cannot afford to lose out on.
Players like Lonzo Ball, John Collins and Duncan Robinson are all up for restricted free agency which means teams can make offers. There are also players like Lauri Markkanen who despite being a high draft pick, have yet to play at a high level.
Deciding who will actually make a positive impact on the team will be one of the many things the front office will have to figure out going into the offseason.
But no need to worry, yet. The Magic will need to move off of several contracts before they can think about making any offer sheets. Otto Porter, Gary Harris and Terrence Ross will make around $60 million which, unless moved, will stay on the books for the coming year.
Coaching Search Power Rankings: Find your purpose. dark. Next
The Magic could look to swing on smaller role players to fill out the roster before making any big moves in the 2022 season. Hopefully, the basketball gods smile favorably on the Magic. No injuries, no bad signings and progress.