Complete 2018 NBA Free Agency primer for OKC Thunder and all 30 teams
Orlando Magic:
Free Agents:
- Arron Afflalo (UFA)
- Aaron Gordon (RFA)
- Mario Hezonja (UFA)
- Shelvin Mack (UFA) – waived
- Marreese Speights (UFA)
- Jamel Artis (RFA – 2-way FA)
Team Profile and Ranking:
Key Ranking Stats to end season:
- Offense: 25th (103.1)
- Defense: 20th (108.0)
- Net: 25th (minus -5.0)
NBA Power Ranking at 2017-18 season end: 28th
ESPN Power Ranking post playoffs: 28th
Vegas odds to win 2018-19 title as of June 26: 500 to 1
Committed Salary: $84,558,897.00 as of June 29th
Average attendance: 17,893
Attendance rank: 17th
Arena: Amway Center
Management:
General Manager: John Hammond – 2017
Head Coach: Steve Clifford – 2018 (replaces fired Frank Vogel)
Salary Profile:
The Magic waived Shelvin Mack making him an unrestricted free agent. Although the Magic continue their rebuild the move to cut Mack may be to open up salary in an effort to pursue a star talent in free agency. The Magic have two non-guaranteed contracts in Khem Birch and Rodney Purvis, both for $1,378,242.
Orlando has the bi-annual ($3.4 M) and the non-tax midlevel ($8.6 M) exceptions at their disposal.
| Sala | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Age | 2018-19 | Signed Using | Guaranteed |
| Evan Fournier | 25 | $17,000,000 | Cap Space | $51,000,000 |
| Bismack Biyombo | 25 | $17,000,000 | Cap Space | $34,000,000 |
| Nikola Vucevic | 27 | $12,750,000 | Bird Rights | $25,000,000 |
| Terrence Ross | 27 | $10,500,000 | Rookie scale extension | $21,000,000 |
| D.J. Augustin | 30 | $7,250,000 | Cap Space | $21,750,000 |
| Jonathon Simmons | 28 | $6,000,000 | Cap space | $13,300,000 |
| Jonathan Isaac | 20 | $4,969,080 | 1st Round Pick | $9,155,400 |
| Wesley Iwundu | 23 | $1,378,242 | $2,428,242 | |
| Khem Birch | 25 | $1,378,242 | Minimum Salary | $815,615 |
| C.J. Watson | 34 | $333,333 | $1,000,000 | |
| Team Totals | $78,558,897 | $199,577,604 |
Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/29/2018.
Draft 2018:
Round 1:
With the 6th pick, the Magic selected Texas center Mo Bamba
Rookie Profile: Mohamed Bamba: The ultimate boom or bust prospect
Round 2:
With the 35th pick, the Magic selected Tuane guard/forward Melvin Frazier
Rookie Profile: Athletic Melvin Frazier is the ultimate risk versus reward prospect
Free Agency – Offseason Mandate:
Re-signing Aaron Gordon is imperative for the Magic. Almost equally so is new head coach Steve Clifford finally employing him as a full-time power forward which is where his skill set is best utilized.
The other priority is finding a point guard who can captain this squad and be competitive nightly. I don’t blame the Magic brain trust for selecting Bamba given his potential upside.
It seems idiotic to state the Magic are in a rebuilding season for the umpteenth time, but that is precisely where they are. One good note is Clifford recognized immediate success in Charlotte, so hopefully, he’ll have the same experience in Orlando. And, hey if the Hornets don’t want to invest in Kemba long term may be sending a few pieces and/or draft picks in exchange for reuniting him with Clifford might not be a bad idea.