Orlando Magic Free Agency Guide (Cap Info UPDATED page 37)

[EAS Law]

I still have hope that there is a concrete plan at the very least to sign KD, but I do live in reality too, and I think I'd be alright with us signing DeRozan and one of Horford/Whiteside/even Howard in the offseason.

If you DON'T win the KD sweepstakes, it virtually doesn't matter who you sign at that point; the team would still fall short every year.

[cedric76]

Right or Wrong.... If I were the GM of the Magic, I'd take ya'll on a wild ride this offseason!

First thing I do is recruit the hell out of Whiteside starting at 12:01 midnight and offer him the max. I know this is not a popular decision, but I'm willing to take the risk. His talent is too rare. Vucevic starts to play a little more PF depending on the match up.



Next, I offer Brandon Jennings a contract between $10-12M per year for 4 years.

Then, I exercise the Team Option on Ersan Ilyasova at $8M.

Happily match whatever contract Evan Fournier receives. At this point the Magic are over the cap

Draft Ivan Rabb, currently #13 at DX.

PG Brandon Jennings / Elfrid Payton / CJ Watson
SG Victor Oladipo / Mario Hezonja / CJ Watson
SF Evan Fournier / Aaron Gordon / Mario Hezonja
PF Aaron Gordon / Nikola Vucevic / Ersan Ilyasova / Ivan Rabb
C Hassan Whiteside / Nikola Vucevic

Still loaded with youth in a model that is built for long term sustainability.

whiteside= fool's
gold

[p0peye]

You go after Durant & Horford. In case we miss on Durant, turn to Harisson Barnes. Turning Tobias into Barnes is not a bad deal - he is eficient, can defend and can shoot.

[AddiFB]

I have this weird feeling that Durant kinda likes the Magic and will seriously consider us, at least. He has some connection to Rob Hennigan, he seems to like the team. Like others, I have hopes, but I'm also realistic. I'd LOVE Durant here, but honestly I don't think it'll happen. One can hope, though.

[RickB-Orlando]

Horford really shouldn't be worth max dollars. He's not a star, and I'm not sure he's a massive difference maker as an individual, and he's had big issues with injuries in recent years, and he's going to be 30.

Yeah, he's a good player, and he'd be good as a 3rd option on a Big 3 (like in OKC with Durant and Westbrook, or in Chicago with Rose and Butler, etc), but we need to prioritize getting the Big 2 first and foremost. Adding an expensive 3rd option like that just makes it harder to obtain a legit star.

He's a borderline all-star and over the next few years, that's probably good enough to get a max offer.

I think he's a fine "second" option. While you'd ideally like the superstar in place first, it's not always going to work out that way.

[npiper17]

Whilst I think we will obviously contact / pursue Durant, I think Rob hinted at Plan B if it doesn't work out an in an interview he did with David Steele that was shown during the Magic-Mavs broadcast.

When asked about cap space he specifically said it's good to have flexibility for this summer and next. So...if we don't hit on our top targets (Durant or otherwise), we may look to add one big name, make further strides next season to make us more attractive for the 2017 free agency bounty which is significantly stronger than 2016 (Durant aside).

[BadMofoPimp]

You go after Durant & Horford. In case we miss on Durant, turn to Harisson Barnes. Turning Tobias into Barnes is not a bad deal - he is eficient, can defend and can shoot.

What if we miss out on all 3?

[Flannerz]

Whilst I think we will obviously contact / pursue Durant, I think Rob hinted at Plan B if it doesn't work out an in an interview he did with David Steele that was shown during the Magic-Mavs broadcast.

When asked about cap space he specifically said it's good to have flexibility for this summer and next. So...if we don't hit on our top targets (Durant or otherwise), we may look to add one big name, make further strides next season to make us more attractive for the 2017 free agency bounty which is significantly stronger than 2016 (Durant aside).

I get the feeling it will be Horford this summer and then try and add someone the following summer, maybe Griffin.

[AddiFB]

You go after Durant & Horford. In case we miss on Durant, turn to Harisson Barnes. Turning Tobias into Barnes is not a bad deal - he is eficient, can defend and can shoot.

What if we miss out on all 3?

Relocation. Parking lot.

[jezzer45]

Imo durant is not leaving westbrook. He signs a 1 and 1 deal like lebron and him and westbrook either stays in okc or leave together for another team.

[EAS Law]

My hope is based on the logic that Hennigan can't be dumping contracts, creating cap space, for nothing. Most times, things are going on behind the scenes that we fans don't know about until months, maybe years after.

Hennigan has had some real sh** luck though. Hope it finally works out.

[PennytoShaq]

You go after Durant & Horford. In case we miss on Durant, turn to Harisson Barnes. Turning Tobias into Barnes is not a bad deal - he is eficient, can defend and can shoot.

Agree. We get the right SF and we will be much better. Fournier is out of position really at SF and Skiles has said this many times.

Reality is if we can roll out a lineup with Barnes or Batum at SF and he is flanked by Gordon and Fournier, we will already be a much better team then we are right now.

I like Barnes because he has played his role perfectly for GSW, but that does not mean it is all he is capable of.

[OrlChamps2030]

Imo durant is not leaving westbrook. He signs a 1 and 1 deal like lebron and him and westbrook either stays in okc or leave together for another team.

Agreed. I would seriously bet money that Durant re-ups for one more year with OKC. Win another 60+ games with Westbrook, gets another season to see what Billy D can do at the helm, and young role players like Payne, Adams, and Kanter get another year to improve. Then he can sign a way bigger deal with whomever he wants afterwards.

Other than GS, OKC is easily the best place for him in the 2016-17 season.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums

[Mc-o]

You go after Durant & Horford. In case we miss on Durant, turn to Harisson Barnes. Turning Tobias into Barnes is not a bad deal - he is eficient, can defend and can shoot.

Agree. We get the right SF and we will be much better. Fournier is out of position really at SF and Skiles has said this many times.

Reality is if we can roll out a lineup with Barnes or Batum at SF and he is flanked by Gordon and Fournier, we will already be a much better team then we are right now.

I like Barnes because he has played his role perfectly for GSW, but that does not mean it is all he is capable of.

I like Barnes too but it's hard to know what he is actually capable of . Maybe he can do more maybe he can't , it will be a big risk to give him a max , batum is a safer bet because we have seen him thrive in Charlotte but who knows I'm glad I don't have to make those decisions lol

[TodGre]

I also am of the opinion that Durant signs a 1+1 and goes into Free Agency in 2017. There may be less teams with max salary cap available in '17 (having blown it on overrated players in 2016). If it is true Durant really wants to play with Horford, they should sign Horford in 2016, but leave the door open for KD in 2017. If Horford is willing to accept less than the max, they could then possibly shed more contracts (ie. don't resign Fournier, Nicholson), then try to offer the max to both Durant and Westbrook in 2017. Likely wouldn't be able to resign Oladipo in 2017 either, but with Hezonja and AG coming off the bench, would be a championship contender through and through starting in the 2017/18 season.

Payton/Watson/Napier
Westbrook/Hezonja
Durant/Gordon
Horford/Smith
Vucevic/Dedmon

[Mc-o]

I also am of the opinion that Durant signs a 1+1 and goes into Free Agency in 2017. There may be less teams with max salary cap available in '17 (having blown it on overrated players in 2016). If it is true Durant really wants to play with Horford, they should sign Horford in 2016, but leave the door open for KD in 2017. If Horford is willing to accept less than the max, they could then possibly shed more contracts (ie. don't resign Fournier, Nicholson), then try to offer the max to both Durant and Westbrook in 2017. Likely wouldn't be able to resign Oladipo in 2017 either, but with Hezonja and AG coming off the bench, would be a championship contender through and through starting in the 2017/18 season.

Payton/Watson/Napier
Westbrook/Hezonja
Durant/Gordon
Horford/Smith
Vucevic/Dedmon

IMO No way Payton starts , it would be

Westbrook/Payton
Hezonja / ?
Durant/Gordon
Horford/Gordon
Vucevic

[AddiFB]

Dag nabbit, people. Stop toying with my emotions! I'd love Durant here. Durant with Horford? Yes, plz. Durant and Horford PLUS Westbrook? Yo Magic fans, I'd be really happy for us and I'ma let you finish, but I already did in my pants.

So... I'm mentally gonna prepare for a Channing Frye-like offseason signings

[TodGre]

I also am of the opinion that Durant signs a 1+1 and goes into Free Agency in 2017. There may be less teams with max salary cap available in '17 (having blown it on overrated players in 2016). If it is true Durant really wants to play with Horford, they should sign Horford in 2016, but leave the door open for KD in 2017. If Horford is willing to accept less than the max, they could then possibly shed more contracts (ie. don't resign Fournier, Nicholson), then try to offer the max to both Durant and Westbrook in 2017. Likely wouldn't be able to resign Oladipo in 2017 either, but with Hezonja and AG coming off the bench, would be a championship contender through and through starting in the 2017/18 season.

Payton/Watson/Napier
Westbrook/Hezonja
Durant/Gordon
Horford/Smith
Vucevic/Dedmon

IMO No way Payton starts , it would be

Westbrook/Payton
Hezonja / ?
Durant/Gordon
Horford/Gordon
Vucevic

Well yeah, there are many different lineups that could go down. Could even trade Watson and Napier this summer and sign Jennings on a modest salary to keep him here in Orlando. That would work with Skiles at the helm, however, I'd like to see the Magic sign Scott Brooks. He is who I wanted before we signed Skiles. Durant and Westbrook already have good relationship with Brooks, and Henny has a relationship with them all. Skiles could be too abrasive and drive players off.

[fendilim]

This is a copy of Melvinlocker's original thread post (with some updated edits). The other thread is having formatting issues. Mods please close this if other thread is fixed.

Actually nice to see how the discussion made RealGM think out of the box.

[NBlue]

I think you guys are all wrong on KD. I think it is clear he is desperate to be coached by a real coach like Skiles. I anticipate Skiles to be a real draw for free agents starting with Durant. No question about it.