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Extensions do look unlikely for Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-sp-aaron-gordon-elfrid-payton-contracts-1013-story.html

We have discussed this earlier in the summer but I think this for the first given how they will both be restricted free agents and the fact the new front office needs to figure things out.

Personally, I would be open to extending Gordon but not Payton.

I’m not surprised at all. Magic management is new and haven’t really seen Gordon and Payton up close very long. Both were drafted by the previous GM who though they were stars in the making. 4 years later, only Gordon looks to potentially have any trajectory close to that. Payton to me looks like a really good 6th man pg, not one you can lean on.

But this is the year we found out and extending them big money blindly is a fools decision. If they break that glass ceiling and lead this team to the playoffs I have no problems extending them. If not, I’m ok with the Magic moving on from both. But if Gordon’s pre season is a barometer for the kind of year he’ll have, we probably give him a big money offer this summer.


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When is the deadline for extensions? Can they be extended mid-season?

Long way to go until next summer. I think Gordon definitely gets an extension. Payton, 50/50. We'll see how they do as the season progresses.

Really? This is bs especially for Gordon


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NickAnderson wrote:Really? This is bs especially for Gordon


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I'm sure a contract has been "offered", but preliminary numbers are probably not in the same realm of what Gordon's agent think he deserves or could get on the open market for the fact of the matter.

I'm sure Weltman and co are using Plumlee, Noel and KCP as prime examples not to wait and trying to offer a Warrenish contract where Gordon's agent is more than likely looking at Wiggins, Harris kind of money.

I think we end up settling on a little over Oladipo money something like 22/23m yearly with lots of incentives.

Not surprising.

Weltman did say in a previous interview that they'd take this year to evaluate things.

Magic_Johnny12 wrote:When is the deadline for extensions? Can they be extended mid-season?

The deadline is the start of the season, which is just two days away. No. They can't be extended midseason. It's important to keep in mind that Payton and Gordon would still be restricted free agents next summer, though I believe an extension can be worked out next summer before free agency opens as well.

The Magic are still in a comfortable position with each player going forward. Both sides are going to be reluctant to agree upon a contract at this juncture as they will have better knowledge to make such decisions next summer. You can start to worry if Gordon decides to accept the one-year team-option next summer, as opposed to signing an extension or offer sheet in free agency.

Extending Gordon is a 5-year 100M deal and Payton a 4-year 64M deal; both are tough to swallow. Glad I am not in Magic management.

I'm fine with this, let's see if they make that 4th-year leap. Gordon appears to be on track so far...

Both players are going to end up getting overpaid, regardless. Every player in this league outside of like LeBron, Steph, and KD are way overpaid now.

drsd wrote:Extending Gordon is a 5-year 100M deal and Payton a 4-year 64M deal; both are tough to swallow. Glad I am not in Magic management.

I would give Gordon 20 mil per season now... it's going to cost a lot more next summer if we'er giving him 16+ shots per game this season. That's going to put him in 20 ppg territory at 22 years old.

Extra motivation for them this year.

Wouldn't extend Payton if for no other reason, every team has a good to great point guard or an up-and-comer at point guard. No one is going to shell out 15+ million a year for Elfrid with the dried up cap imo.

AG on the other hand... he could make some change next year but they'll both be RFAs so it doesn't really matter if we don't extend.

This makes sense but I can’t help but feel just a little bit disappointed. If Gordon and/or Payton break out this year, it could cost the Magic a lot more money than it would have if hey had extended them now. Of course, it’s entirely possible that Gordon and Payton were not really interested in extensions unless they were huge overpays (from the Magic’s perspective), so who really knows.

Lets not cripple our franchise when we don't have to. They are now going to be 4 year players. If they can't figure it out this year, I'd let them walk. No way we need to overpay...thats what has screwed us up. If we make it ro the playoffs and both these young players show an improvement, then match the contract next Summer.

Wouldnt it be better paying them more money knowing they had great seasons? I could stomach the max then.

This team has yet to make that next step, and while we have acquired some high upside players, they have yet to prove they are franchise changing players capable of leading this team back to contention. As such, the team is right to be cautious when offering extensions because they don’t - or at least shouldn’t - want to tie themselves to players that aren’t going to take us to that next level.

Let them play this year and see what progress we make as a team and they make as individuals. If it’s enough, extend them. If it’s not enough, move on whether that be sign and trades or trade them before the deadline. That goes for any player as well that has value, if we are trending backwards, blow it up and build around those that fit the players the new front office want to build around.

This will be Aaron Gordon's first full season at the position he should have always been playing which is power forward.

Until Serge Ibaka was traded last season, that season had been a lost season for Gordon as him at small forward was a disaster in so many ways.

This season, we are going to find out a lot about Aaron Gordon.

On Elfrid Payton, he also should be in for a good season. Having Gordon and Tobias Harris at SF in his three seasons with The Magic has also effected his game as it hurt with floor spacing.

We are truly going to see what these guys have this season.

Current Management did not draft these players so I'm not surprised they don't have contracts. I hope management makes the right decision on whether or not to keep these players.

My guess?

The Magic would extend Aaron Gordon right now in the 17-18M per season range. But obviously Gordon is (and should be) willing to gamble on himself. I think Gordon absolutely expects to play his way into a 20-24M per year contract.

I'm one of the biggest Payton defenders on this board, but I agree with the decision not to extend him. I definitely feel like he's the kind of guy who won't have a crazy market next year and could end up agreeing to something way less than he's probably asking for right now.