![]() We want to make better decisions, we want to have our awareness and maturity level really start to elevate itself and become more of a veteran team. “We want to move the team forward,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman told reporters Monday. They’re also ready to get back into playoff contention. They owe zero of their own draft picks to any other team, but they're owed a top-five-protected first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets in 2025 along with at least six additional second-round picks from a number of teams over the next five years. The Magic already have two star-caliber talents in place between Banchero and Wagner, plenty of other young, high-upside players and the financial flexibility to go swinging for a big star either via trade or free agency. However, any team that acquired him in a trade would also receive his Bird rights, which would allow them to offer him up to his max salary as a free agent next summer even if they're already over the salary cap. He averaged 12.3 points on 58.3% shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in only 27.5 minutes per game across 32 starts, which could pique the interest of rebuilding teams around the league.īecause Bol's contract is so small, the Magic would have to package him with one of their larger salaries to receive anything of real value in return via trade. Bol was one of the early front-runners for Most Improved Player this past year before Orlando bumped him out of the starting lineup at the beginning of January. The Magic also have breakout big man Bol Bol under contract for one more season at a paltry $2.2 million. He thrived as more of a sparkplug sixth man this past season after mostly starting during his first two years in Orlando, which likely puts his annual contract value in the low-to-mid teens. ![]() Given how much success the Magic have had in recent years at getting players to agree to non-max extensions-Carter, Isaac and Fultz all took far less than they were eligible to receive-it wouldn't be a surprise if they came to terms on a deal with Anthony, too. Guards Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs are both still on their rookie-scale deals, although Anthony will become eligible for an extension on July 1. Center Wendell Carter Jr., who just turned 24 in mid-April, is fresh off averaging a career-high 15.2 points per game and is signed to a team-friendly contract that descends in value over each of the next three seasons. ![]() The Magic have plenty of young players beyond Banchero and Wagner who could either be building blocks of their own or sweeteners in a blockbuster trade. (The rest of Isaac's 2023-24 salary won't be fully guaranteed until Jan. ![]() ![]() They'd have to guarantee the salaries of Fultz, Isaac and Harris to use their full contracts for salary-matching purposes anyway, and they'll have to make the decision on Fultz and Harris by June 30 at the latest. Fultz just turned 25 in late May, so there's reason to believe he could continue improving and come closer to resembling his former self.Īlthough the Magic could waive Fultz to clear out additional cap space if needed, they're far more likely to guarantee the remainder of his contract. 1 overall pick, but even stringing together consistent nights after two injury-plagued seasons was a major step forward for him. His per-game averages of 14.0 points, 5.7 assists and 3.9 rebounds hardly stand out for a No. Depending on what else the Magic were willing to offer, that could put them in the conversation for a legitimate star.įultz quietly put together a career year last season after a turbulent start to his NBA career. Between Jonathan Isaac ($7.6 million guaranteed of his $17.4 million salary), Markelle Fultz ($2 million guaranteed of his $17 million salary) and Gary Harris ($13 million fully non-guaranteed), Orlando has nearly $38 million in expiring and/or non-guaranteed contracts to offer to other team in trades. Beyond those two, the Magic have a ton of flexibility. ![]()
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