It has been three seasons since the Orlando Magic last made the playoffs in 2020. The front office started offloading players ahead of the 2021 NBA trade deadline and Orlando has been in rebuilding mode ever since.
During the past few years, their roster has undergone a near-full makeover with only Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac remaining with the team. Names like Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter headline a young Magic roster poised to push for a spot in the Play-In Tournament this year at the very least.
Last season, Orlando was able to add 12 wins to their 2022 total, claiming victory 34 times in the 2023 season. That improvement, alongside a lucrative $11 million salary, was enough to lure veteran wing Joe Ingles away from the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency.
Ingles could become the first of many free agents to head (close) to the Happiest Place on Earth as Orlando continues to build up their roster.
The Orlando Magic sat out free agency this offseason once again as they look to build with a similar roster. But they are biding their time and could look to free agency in 2024 to boost the team.
Orlando opted not to spend much of its cap room this offseason, guaranteeing several non-guaranteed contracts and retaining much of last year’s roster. The team flipped over cap room once again as they bide their time to find the right players to add to the mix.
Next summer the Magic have the most projected cap room at more than $96 million — which is defined as “cap space with cap holds renounced if team salary was below the cap maximum. Assumes veteran club options declined and non-guaranteed players released,” per Spotrac.
Of course, to have that much money in cap space, Orlando has to have expiring contracts of their own. Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke, Gary Harris, Goga Bitadze and Joe Ingles (team option) will all likely become free agents in 2024.
Orlando will certainly be considering extensions for Fultz and Anthony ahead of the season. And they will have to plan for Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner’s impending free agency in 2026 and 2025. But the team will once again have some money to spend even considering all of this.
For the purpose of this piece, we will focus on free agents of other teams, rather than Orlando’s own.
5 best free agents Orlando Magic could target in 2024
Tobias Harris makes his way back to the Orlando Magic
From 2013-16, Tobias Harris suited up in 205 games for the Orlando Magic. His tenure came to an end when he was dealt to the Detroit Pistons for Ersan İlyasova and Brandon Jennings.
Since being dealt, Harris has played for the Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers, where he has spent the past five years.
The 30-year-old’s time in Philadelphia has seen him reshape his game. Next to Joel Embiid, James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, he has had to get comfortable in a smaller role.
Harris averaged just 14.7 points per game last season — his lowest since leaving Orlando. The drop in output did not hurt his efficiency though. Harris still shot 50.1 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc for Philly.
Despite the solid numbers, the narrative surrounding Harris has been predominantly negative due to his lucrative $39 million salary. It is fair, 15 points per game is not worth that large of a check in today’s NBA.
But Harris’ ability to take on a secondary scoring role could open the door for a return to the Magic.
He would likely make for a solid fit beside Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, providing Orlando with a reliable third option on offense without stunting the pairing’s growth. He would help solidify the Magic among the East’s contenders, should Orlando’s young duo continue to improve.
A realistic contract for Harris, if he was to return to the Magic, could be three or four years for $25 million each season.
5 best free agents Orlando Magic could target in 2024
Orlando Magic chase after sharpshooting Buddy Hield
If the Orlando Magic want to go all-in for some shooting, then they will have the chance to try and lure Buddy Hield from the Indiana Pacers.
Hield is an interesting target because Orlando could either elect to start him or bring him off of the bench. Either way, he would have a solid role carved out.
The former No. 6 overall pick is coming off of a solid season in Indiana. He averaged 16.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game while knocking down 45.8 percent of his attempts from the field and 42.5 percent of those from deep.
Shooting is such a key skill in the modern NBA, teams are more than willing to shell out some cash in order to add a sniper to the team.
By bringing in Hield, the Magic would be doing just that. The 30-year-old would be an excellent fit next to Orlando’s young core. He would not demand too much of the ball, and the threat he provides from distance would keep opposing defenses from collapsing on the team’s projected stars.
Hield being interested in joining a budding young team like the Magic would not be the most shocking thing in the world. It would offer him one of the first experiences of his career to be a part of a competitive team.
Orlando could likely entice Hield with a two-year deal worth about $40-50 million. The front office probably would not want to offer anything longer than that in order to remain flexible as the Oklahoma alumnus continues to age.
5 best free agents Orlando Magic could target in 2024
Malik Monk helps Orlando Magic strengthen depth
It may be a bit soon to start thinking about backcourt help for the Orlando Magic after the team just drafted Anthony Black and Jett Howard. But there is no guarantee that both players — or even one of them — pans out the way that the front office is hoping.
Should the rookies fail to impress — or the Magic decide it is time to move on from Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz or Jalen Suggs — then it would make sense for the Magic to pursue some added depth for their guard rotation, especially considering that it feels like the team is ready to start being competitive.
Enter Malik Monk.
The former Kentucky star’s contract with the Sacramento Kings is set to expire at the end of the upcoming season. If Orlando wants to bring in some bench scoring to aid the likes of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, then Malik Monk is a good option.
He is coming off of the most impactful season of his career. He appeared in 77 games for Sacramento and played about 22.3 minutes each time. Monk averaged 13.5 points per game while shooting 44.8 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from long range. His scoring average jumped up to 19.0 points per game as his minutes increased.
The reason why Monk is an appealing option for the not-so-distant Magic is because he likely would not cost them an arm and a leg. Realistically, the 24-year-old could ink his next deal — perhaps in the Sunshine State — for $15 million per season. On top of that, his age makes it less of a risk to offer him a longer deal.
Of course, Orlando might not even need to add guard depth if their draft picks pan out.
5 best free agents Orlando Magic could target in 2024
Orlando Magic lure Zach Collins to strengthen center spot
Wendell Carter is a fine player, make no mistake. But, who are the Orlando Magic going to be rolling out there behind him?
If they want to be competing with the East’s best in two seasons, it is probably going to take more than Moe Wagner and Goga Bitadze. Especially considering that Carter has missed a combined 45 games during the past two years.
The Magic should take a look at Zach Collins next summer after his contract with the San Antonio Spurs expires. There is a good chance that his role with the Spurs will become less concrete as the team looks to develop No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama. Will they bring Collins off of the bench? Start him alongside? Who knows?
It would not be the most shocking thing if Gregg Popovich finds a way to make the pairing work. But in the case that he doe snot, Collins could go looking for opportunity elsewhere.
If he does, then the Magic should work to sign him as a free agent. Maybe they sell him on the potential of earning a starting spot over Carter Jr. Maybe he’s okay with a smaller role (likely not the case if he leaves the Spurs due to playing time).
Regardless, Collins’ 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game would make him a welcome addition in Orlando.
The 25-year-old might cost the Magic around $15 million annually if they do decide to pursue him.
5 best free agents Orlando Magic could target in 2024
The Orlando Magic impress James Harden, pay him to run the point
Of the options that have been presented in this article, this is by far the least realistic.
James Harden’s future is currently in limbo, and the Orlando Magic are not on his one-team list of preferred trade destinations.
But that is now. What about in a year?
What if the Magic soar above expectations and turn some heads next spring — maybe even winning a playoff series? What is so bad about losing in the second round?
Harden’s Philadelphia 76ers seem to do it every year, and he forced a trade there two seasons ago. Plus, there were strong rumors that he was interested in joining a budding Houston Rockets team this summer. So it’s not impossible for him to make a surprising move.
When looking at Orlando’s roster, the point guard position has to be one of the least solidified spots. There are four or five guys on the team that could earn the role for years to come — the front office probably hopes it is Anthony Black — but there is no guarantee that any of them pan out.
If the Magic decide that they are ready to take the next step, then they could go all-in on the former league MVP. By the time he is a free agent next summer, Harden will be 34 years old. Not a lot of teams are going to want to open the checkbook (if anyone even uses those anymore) for him. Orlando could get Harden’s attention with a big offer — at the very least.
It may take something like three-or-four years, $120-150 million to do so, but it is probably not as impossible as it seems.