Should Tyreke Evans be our number 1 free agent target?

[OrlandoDream]

So after drafting Bamba and about to sign AG long term, our frontcourt is stacked with the "Victorious B.I.G." of Bamba, Isaac, and Gordon and we addressed our lack of paint defense but now we need to fix our PG/scoring problem. While this frontcourt has defensive potential, they lack offensive talent...now.

Missing out on Trae Young/Luka, not going to be able to trade for an all-star PG(Kemba, CJ, Dame, etc) we should look to free agency to solve our PG problems. Lucky for us, there is one PG/combo guard hitting the FA market who just had the most under the radar great season since probably his rookie year. That is Tyreke Evans finishing 17-18 with 19ppg 5ast and 5reb. Entering the prime of his career at 28, I'm sure he will be looking for his next long-term contract and we can be his suitors.

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Unfortunately, our cap situation isn't great. According to basketball reference, we have $84,558,897 tied up to payroll for the 18-19 season and that is without taking AGs contract into account and bringing back Mario(if that is still in the plans).

See here: https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/ORL.html


RH really screwed us over with Biz contract which won't come off the books until the end of 19-20 season we are stuck with that black hole for two more years. Some pieces will need to be moved and Vuc is prime candidate #1 with the drafting of Bamba and he is expiring.

If we are able to clear enough space, would a 3 year 35mil be something worth Tyreke Evans? We don't have alot of options available at PG right now so this could be probably the best temporary solution until something else comes up.

Yay or Nay?

[p0peye]

Why add longterm salary? Tyreke isn't moving the needle, just ride the season out, get a nice pick and prepare for 2019 offseason when we can finally have some cap space. Not much, but some.

[Gomagic44]

Yes. We need a capable point to help develop Isaac and Bamba. All aboard the winning hype train! Choo choo


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[MagicFan4Lyfe]

Ugh. No.

No Evans. No Vanvleet. Let’s commit to the kids and stop acting like we are one or two FA away from contention. This is what got us in trouble in the first place

[OrlandoDream]

Why add longterm salary? Tyreke isn't moving the needle, just ride the season out, get a nice pick and prepare for 2019 offseason when we can finally have some cap space. Not much, but some.

What PG is coming out in 2019 that will sign here? Kemba Walker is the only one and I doubt he chooses to come here as opposed to joining a more talented playoff team or maybe even sign a loaded contract with Charlotte.

WHo else will be available that year? Ricky Rubio? Rozier? Jeremy Lin? Collison? **vomit**

[Uncommon]

You know I’m already on board with this.

But I’ve been thinking about another possible PG: How do you guys feel about Lonzo Ball?

If rumors are to be believed, Lakers have a decent shot at LeBron this summer. More rumors suggest Chris Paul might be at odds with Houston over a max contract. If CP3 and LBJ team up in LA, Lakers might look to move Ball, especially since LeBron and LaVar have never seen eye to eye. That’s where we swoop in.

I’d swoop in and offer Evan Fournier, Jonathan Simmons, and a lottery-protected 1st for Ball and Luol Deng.

If that wasn’t enough, I’d try to revise the deal: Fournier, Simmons, and Vucevic for Ball, Deng, and Channing Frye.

In either scenario, Deng’s contract hurts us. 3 more years at $17M per is a lot to swallow. But Fournier’s contract isn’t great either, with 4 years at $17M. Frye is an expiring so it doesn’t matter much either way.

Now I don’t know if that offer is good enough at all, but not many teams need a PG so it may have to do if LeBron is adamant about not playing with Ball. Off the top of my head, Phoenix, Indiana, LAC and Milwaukee would probably be interested, and maybe Charlotte, Chicago and Detroit. We’d have to beat their offers, and it may have to involve a protected 1st rounder. But Ball would give us incredible size and length all around:

Bamba
Isaac
Gordon
Ross (or Hezonja)
Ball

That’s a team I could definitely get excited for. I may be way off base here, what do you think?

[Def Swami]

Having playmaking and shooting will be important for the development of all 3 of Gordon, Isaac, and especially Bamba. If you just want these 3 guys to go 82 games without anyone able to set them up or know how to run a pick n' roll, then it will just be a wasted year of development. The Magic need playmaking and shooting in one form or another. Having a guard that can create and run a simple pick n' roll will do wonders for these guys.

Tyreke Evans is an excellent option. He had a subtly nice season. Was efficient from the field and was excellent in pick n' roll. The Magic don't need a long term solution, but they do need competence and someone who can dribble, pass, and shoot on this team to help open up the floor for all 3 of those big guys. I don't know how desirable we are to Evans; he'll definitely be pursued by playoff teams. Our cap situation is awful. Without counting Bamba, we have $30 million between Vucevic and Biyombo. We have to fix this before going into next season. We have to flip these assets into assets at different positions.

Evans would be a huge get for Orlando. I'd be surprised to see him want to be here, but I'd welcome him.

[OrlandoDream]

You know I’m already on board with this.

But I’ve been thinking about another possible PG: How do you guys feel about Lonzo Ball?

If rumors are to be believed, Lakers have a decent shot at LeBron this summer. More rumors suggest Chris Paul might be at odds with Houston over a max contract. If CP3 and LBJ team up in LA, Lakers might look to move Ball, especially since LeBron and LaVar have never seen eye to eye. That’s where we swoop in.

I’d swoop in and offer Evan Fournier, Jonathan Simmons, and a lottery-protected 1st for Ball and Luol Deng.

If that wasn’t enough, I’d try to revise the deal: Fournier, Simmons, and Vucevic for Ball, Deng, and Channing Frye.

In either scenario, Deng’s contract hurts us. 3 more years at $17M per is a lot to swallow. But Fournier’s contract isn’t great either, with 4 years at $17M. Frye is an expiring so it doesn’t matter much either way.

Now I don’t know if that offer is good enough at all, but not many teams need a PG so it may have to do if LeBron is adamant about not playing with Ball. Off the top of my head, Phoenix, Indiana, LAC and Milwaukee would probably be interested, and maybe Charlotte, Chicago and Detroit. We’d have to beat their offers, and it may have to involve a protected 1st rounder. But Ball would give us incredible size and length all around:

Bamba
Isaac
Gordon
Ross (or Hezonja)
Ball

That’s a team I could definitely get excited for. I may be way off base here, what do you think?

In no alternative universe am I giving up our leading scorer in Fournier for Lonzo ball. Lonzo ball isn't good enough to warrant a team taking on his soap opera family and the BBB drama. He belongs in LA. Its a hard pass for me. Also after having to endure 4 years of Elfrid Payton, so we really want another non-shooting PG? I cant see that working out.

[Uncommon]

100% fair enough. I’d be interested in taking a flyer on him though. Ball shot it pretty well in college and he’s just a rookie with a lot of room to improve. I like EF but to be honest, he’s a dime a dozen. Totally get anyone’s concerns though. His size and decision-making just intrigue me.

[Uncommon]

Conversely, I also wouldn’t mind Isiah Thomas.

But yeah, if Evans accepts a 2-year MLE, I’m all for it. If IT accepts a 2-year, $20M contract with a team option after a year, I’d do it too.

[OrlandoDream]

Having playmaking and shooting will be important for the development of all 3 of Gordon, Isaac, and especially Bamba. If you just want these 3 guys to go 82 games without anyone able to set them up or know how to run a pick n' roll, then it will just be a wasted year of development. The Magic need playmaking and shooting in one form or another. Having a guard that can create and run a simple pick n' roll will do wonders for these guys.

Tyreke Evans is an excellent option. He had a subtly nice season. Was efficient from the field and was excellent in pick n' roll. The Magic don't need a long term solution, but they do need competence and someone who can dribble, pass, and shoot on this team to help open up the floor for all 3 of those big guys. I don't know how desirable we are to Evans; he'll definitely be pursued by playoff teams. Our cap situation is awful. Without counting Bamba, we have $30 million between Vucevic and Biyombo. We have to fix this before going into next season. We have to flip these assets into assets at different positions.

Evans would be a huge get for Orlando. I'd be surprised to see him want to be here, but I'd welcome him.

Yes, our cap situation is truly awful and the biggest barrier to making any big FA splash. Paying 37mil to the combined DJ, Biz, and Vuc is one of the many fireable offenses of Hennigan.

Even if we were able to make some moves and shed some salary, I fear like you said that Evans will have plenty of suitors. Although Im not sure how many playoff teams have the cap to sign him to the contract he will demand. Im assuming he will be looking for 10mil per season plus. I can see Philly(if they miss out on Lebron), Utah, and even San Antonio making a move at Evans.

But yes Tyreke Evans possess the main of the qualities (Pick and roll, playmaker, and scorer) that could help our young core positively develop next year. Weltman should make a call just to see where his interest lie.

[The Effect]

Hasn't he been really injury prone the past 3-4 years?

[p0peye]

Why add longterm salary? Tyreke isn't moving the needle, just ride the season out, get a nice pick and prepare for 2019 offseason when we can finally have some cap space. Not much, but some.

What PG is coming out in 2019 that will sign here? Kemba Walker is the only one and I doubt he chooses to come here as opposed to joining a more talented playoff team or maybe even sign a loaded contract with Charlotte.

WHo else will be available that year? Ricky Rubio? Rozier? Jeremy Lin? Collison? **vomit**

There probably won't be one really good PG available for us in 2019, either in draft or in FA. Even if we had cap space for max contract and there is a superstar free agent available, we simply do not have a team to attract proper max player in todays NBA.

We stay the course and avoid any long term contracts, while developing young guys and collecting assets. In today's NBA, you have Thunder, Warriors, Boston, Philly, Jazz, all of them building through draft and reaching some playoff success before trying to acquire impact players through trades or FA.

We ain't there yet and signing/trading for non-impact veterans on long term contract kept us here, at the bottom of the league. To be honest, we probably won't be a good team soon. Maybe in summer of 2021 or 2022 we will sign All Star FA. Maybe we won't need to sign one. But I doubt we will reach playoffs sooner.

[J_Magic]

Yes. We need a capable point to help develop Isaac and Bamba. All aboard the winning hype train! Choo choo


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Honestly, if we can make 8th seed with this young group...it's a lot better than being a lottery team.

Can you imagine if we made the playoffs in Bamba's first year?

[Def Swami]

Yes. We need a capable point to help develop Isaac and Bamba. All aboard the winning hype train! Choo choo


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Honestly, if we can make 8th seed with this young group...it's a lot better than being a lottery team.

Can you imagine if we made the playoffs in Bamba's first year?

If the Magic make the playoffs, it will be because someone on this team took a leap and approached all-star status. Which is definitely not a bad thing.

[tiderulz]

You know I’m already on board with this.

But I’ve been thinking about another possible PG: How do you guys feel about Lonzo Ball?

If rumors are to be believed, Lakers have a decent shot at LeBron this summer. More rumors suggest Chris Paul might be at odds with Houston over a max contract. If CP3 and LBJ team up in LA, Lakers might look to move Ball, especially since LeBron and LaVar have never seen eye to eye. That’s where we swoop in.

I’d swoop in and offer Evan Fournier, Jonathan Simmons, and a lottery-protected 1st for Ball and Luol Deng.

If that wasn’t enough, I’d try to revise the deal: Fournier, Simmons, and Vucevic for Ball, Deng, and Channing Frye.

In either scenario, Deng’s contract hurts us. 3 more years at $17M per is a lot to swallow. But Fournier’s contract isn’t great either, with 4 years at $17M. Frye is an expiring so it doesn’t matter much either way.

Now I don’t know if that offer is good enough at all, but not many teams need a PG so it may have to do if LeBron is adamant about not playing with Ball. Off the top of my head, Phoenix, Indiana, LAC and Milwaukee would probably be interested, and maybe Charlotte, Chicago and Detroit. We’d have to beat their offers, and it may have to involve a protected 1st rounder. But Ball would give us incredible size and length all around:

Bamba
Isaac
Gordon
Ross (or Hezonja)
Ball

That’s a team I could definitely get excited for. I may be way off base here, what do you think?

Deng only has 2 years left, not 3. But Lonzo cant shoot consistently from outside and now way do i want the Ball Family circus anywhere near our young guys. And definitely not give up a pick.

[MagicFan4Lyfe]

2018-19 season..... we tank again for another lottery pick. Seriously we need more talent on the floor and drafting these role playing FA you guys talk about is going to make us a treadmill mediocre team for the next 5-6 years. Stop with this madness and commit ourselves to a full rebuild.

[Max Power]

I wouldn’t give up Vucevic alone for Lonzo. I think he has the chance to be good but his Dad and knucklehead brothers are reason enough to pass. Taking back Frye and Deng are awful ideas too. I’d take a shot at Tyreke Evans instead. We need a guy with a nose for scoring. Even at the point. If we’re using Vuc as a trade chip, let’s not use it on a migraine maker like the Ball family.


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[ORL_on_FIRE]

You know what, that honestly sounds pretty good. I’ll take it.

[MagicFan101]

Tyreke Evans is a nice player who can be a good pickup for the right team. I don’t think Orlando is that team.