Official Summer 2024 Magic Free Agency and Trade Ideas Thread 6.0

[RichCollab]

Boston traded a first round pick to get Brodgon and then turned around and used his salary a year later plus more picks to get the vastly superior Jrue Holiday. They didn’t sit around and moan that the Brogdon move didn’t work out. They stayed proactive and made their team better.

Sometimes trades and free agent acquisitions are simply moves to acquire assets that can be used in bigger and better transactions down the line.

Don’t assume just because the Magic’s front office is cowardly and risk adverse that it can’t be done.

We aren’t the storied franchise Boston is where players force their way there.

[Skybox]

But they don’t care. Don’t create expectations and you’ll never be criticized for not reaching them.

Didn't care their way into 50 wins with the 4th youngest roster in the league.

1. They didn’t win 50.

2. I’d argue they had those results in spite of their plan, not because of it.

Last year’s results were great, it was a fun season. But ultimately it was bad process. They could have gone further than they did or they could have better positioned themselves for this upcoming season and they did neither.

And I get that I sound like one of these people who can’t be pleased, but that’s ok with me. I have high expectations because I believe in the young core and don’t want to see these guys screw it up by just waiting for it to maybe happen rather than being proactive and actually trying to help it happen.

I agree with your "supportive but anxious" position

They had a great season, but there's a few question marks that, maybe, even if it didn't lead to second round or even more wins...could have "stabilized" the team and/or took away some of the continued concerns. There was certainly some good fortune last season, particularly injuries (not to us AND to others) that could/should make fans and FO cautiously optimistic but not content going forward.

My criticisms of a job really well done otherwise...
-Fultz should have been gone, ideally to WAS with a frp for a Tyus test-drive. Fultz' experiment needs to be over and I still can't believe that AB rode the bench while Fultz picked up so many minutes in the second half of the year, even after it was evident that he was significantly hampered and not even seriously considering shooting from any kind of range. By the playoffs, it was too late to just 'work in' the largely untested rookie, but still could, arguably, have helped more than Fultz. I'm a big supporter of the Fultz salvage experiment - I'm also aware enough to see that it very definitely didn't work out, so tap out already, years and millions later.
-The Jett thing is still TBD...on a team with some of the worst shooting in the NBA, despite two of the biggest double and triple-team drawing point forwards in the league, he didn't even get a real looking at. It could be a master stroke of player development and tactical, patient, 4-D Chess, blah blah...but I'm not sold on the G-League helping anyone become a better NBA player. G-League Ignite has to be considered a fail...as its esteemed alumni have all disappointed at the NBA level. For a couple of years, they got some of the highest upside draftees, many of them are or will be good players - but they came in LESS ready than even guys who got only one year of college coaching. I still think major programs with esteemed Coaches (who can actually criticize a child-star without losing their job) still is the best route of development.
-The "hand it to Paolo or Franz 25 feet from the rim and watch him work" offense was extremely limited and predictable and, hopefully, more of a band-aid solution to the lack of decent guard play than an actual plan. Finishing out the season and playoffs with Suggs and Harris at the two guard spots is a cry for help, imo. They're effectively the same good, but extremely limited, players. One of them just happens to younger, better, and still growing...but that doesn't make either one a PG or even, really, a Combo Guard.

I'm not angry or whining, just looking at where we are and how we move forward. Great season...let's have a great summer.

[VFX]

Since you won’t actually quote me I won’t either.

I already gave you an example that isn’t “benefit of foresight” Wendell Carter. No, you are glossing over obvious contract windows where players have more value, not less.

What do you mean “if Paolo, Suggs, and Franz aren’t good it’s fireable?” They have proven they are in year 2-3. That’s the point. You don’t draft a guy that barely sees the floor and then let him rot on the bench until he has zero value. They wouldn’t be playing if they weren’t good.

Take that theory one step further. OKC just traded Giddey before he got paid and has real value. Why? Because he doesn’t work in their system. Something Orlando would never do despite being obvious to everyone. That’s why I gave the Carter example now, with Fultz being the previous example 2 seasons ago when everyone was bitching about how we should just “wait it out”. Yeah that’s not how things work in Front Offices that know what they are doing. OKC knows what they are doing and their roster/ results are proof of that. The excuse that they aren’t big market Boston doesn’t work there.

Bamba wasn’t BPA. Why? Because you had Vuc already and were letting a rookie, with no playing time, dictate that decision. Stupidity. You had DJ Augustine, Elfrid Payton, and Jonathan Simmons logging real minutes and decided not to draft one of the 15 guards starting on teams today, and instead take Bamba without a rebuild. Yeah. This is why I argue about positional opportunity mattering in the draft every season and I’m usually right.

You are missing the point about Fultz. He didn’t deserve the contract he received. He wasn’t worth Maxey, who he was ultimately traded for. He still has more value as an asset prior to being an expiring deal. Because that’s true of nearly every player that isn’t in their mid 30’s. Me thinking he’s trash has nothing to do with how the league views him. But you know that already. It’s just a bad faith argument.

And what did they ultimately do with those low commitment/ high reward guys? Well one they buried mid season after boosting his stock, which resulted in nothing because he expired. The other they actually won games with and will let walk because the guy that starts over him has a cute skill set that only seems valuable due to the fact that they didn’t address it elsewhere. Seems like a form of mismanagement to me in a way. Either way, maybe they should start taking risks on guys that aren’t third stringers or under contract for half a season so it’s convenient for them to leave with no repercussions.

The bottom line is that the same people that argued for these decisions here are the same people that go “OH WELL moving on” like every smaller decision doesn’t matter in the larger picture. It does. It’s a pattern. That’s why it’s even a conversation.

[eyriq]

It will be interesting to compare GTJ to KCP. It looks like Melton clears GTJ pretty easily.

Read on Twitter

?t=KRLm9uR-duuXDyJ4cphuUA&s=19

[pepe1991]

Melton is 6'1, not really- PG- not really-SG, career 9 ppg, 2,7 apg , 53% TS player.

He is PERFECT guy . For Nuggets. To be like 8th best guy and come off bench.
He does apsolutley nothing for Orlando other than adds to a list of limited, onedimensional role playing guards who shouldn't be starting.

Where does fascination with him comes from? I literally forgot that guy is still in nba. Thought 76ers just vaiwed him and that was it.

[RichCollab]

It will be interesting to compare GTJ to KCP. It looks like Melton clears GTJ pretty easily.

Read on Twitter

?t=KRLm9uR-duuXDyJ4cphuUA&s=19

Why not just give Jett a shot. GTJ doesn’t seem to provide much more than experience.

[RookieStar]

Cmon trades!!! Pick it up. It will tide us over until draft day

[BadMofoPimp]

It will be interesting to compare GTJ to KCP. It looks like Melton clears GTJ pretty easily.

Read on Twitter

?t=KRLm9uR-duuXDyJ4cphuUA&s=19

Why not just give Jett a shot. GTJ doesn’t seem to provide much more than experience.

Maybe because Jett spent most of the season on the G-League team and was possibly the 3rd best player on that team. Obviously, he hasn't shown that he is capable of earning many minutes in the NBA yet. His hope is that he truly works at his game hard this off-season or he is most definitely a bust.

[BadMofoPimp]

It will be interesting to compare GTJ to KCP. It looks like Melton clears GTJ pretty easily.

Read on Twitter

?t=KRLm9uR-duuXDyJ4cphuUA&s=19

KCP is solid on Defense, but not much on offense and never has been, but I like his defense and 3 point shooting percentages. Not sure how that translates on the Magic being the team needs a Point Guard first and foremost. Unless, Suggs is slotted as starting PG. I like KCP's current salary of $15 mil per so he won't command as much pay increase. Would be a scary defensive team with him on board.

Same with GTJ as I like that Trent also shoots the 3 more while being better on Offense than KCP. Either could be solid pieces for the Magic. GTJ could even come off the bench.

Apparently, reports are he may not garner much salary increase due to Monks contract.

Monk had a better season than Trent, averaging 15.4 points off the bench for the Kings while finishing second in Sixth Man of the Year voting. He didn't quite shoot threes as well as but the 6-foot-3 guard outperformed Trent in almost every other statistical category.

What's notable is Monk will earn just $17.4 million next season or roughly 12.34% of the salary cap. That would mark a pay cut for Trent who picked up his $18.6 million player option (13.65% of the salary cap) for last season.

If Toronto is going to pick up Bruce Brown's team option as is expected at some point this month, it still makes sense for the Raptors to re-sign Trent to avoid losing the 25-year-old in free agency for nothing. But the chances of Trent getting a pay increase next season seem to be unlikely.

[eyriq]

Read on Twitter

?t=VjO3qYB10DtMBk975d6c-Q&s=19

Read on Twitter

?t=dT_5okl2uBHFAh5WAvO0rQ&s=19

[eyriq]

Klay to Orlando confirmed

Read on Twitter

?t=imya7na7L1T4rZGE62e2Bg&s=19

[basketballRob]

Klay to Orlando confirmed

Read on Twitter

?t=imya7na7L1T4rZGE62e2Bg&s=19

I knew those rumors coming out of Hoop Collective was BS.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[3ddman23]

Klay to Orlando confirmed

Read on Twitter

?t=imya7na7L1T4rZGE62e2Bg&s=19

I would have no problem with
Klay as long as he buys in and comes at the right price.

Championship experience, still average nearly 18 ppg shooting 39% from 3 on 9 attempts per game. How much worse can he be then ingles on defensive??? Can't be any worse. Bring him on.

[Rainwater]

Klay to Orlando confirmed

Read on Twitter

?t=imya7na7L1T4rZGE62e2Bg&s=19

There is no mention of Orlando in this post. If anything, there are more articles stating that the Magic's interest in Klay has stagnated or was overstated.

From the wiretap:

Despite some initial mutual interest, there is no traction between Thompson and the Orlando Magic. The rest of Thompson's market is unclear at this point.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/276194/Warriors-Want-To-Pursue-Trade-Market-Before-Engaging-Klay-Thompson-On-Contract

Another article

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2024/06/magics-interest-in-klay-thompson-overstated.html

I know the Magic have money to spend but I just don't see it happening with Klay. Don't think he would like the contract he will receive especially since the warriors may give something similar it looks like. I don't think he even wants to play for the Magic especially since they are so young. I think he would rather play in Philly. I don't think Klay would start. The difference he would make for the magic would be marginal. He is past his prime. And just think there are younger better options.

[Knightro]

I don't think the Magic's interest in Klay is overstated necessarily. I just don't think they're willing to go 2 fully guaranteed years, much less 3, whereas some other teams *might* be willing to go there.

I think the Magic have made it clear to Klay they are willing to do a 1+1 with the year 1 salary being pretty large. But I don't think he's interested... yet.

[RichCollab]

I don't think the Magic's interest in Klay is overstated necessarily. I just don't think they're willing to go 2 fully guaranteed years, much less 3, whereas some other teams *might* be willing to go there.

I think the Magic have made it clear to Klay they are willing to do a 1+1 with the year 1 salary being pretty large. But I don't think he's interested... yet.

They can’t even talk to him yet.

[Knightro]

I don't think the Magic's interest in Klay is overstated necessarily. I just don't think they're willing to go 2 fully guaranteed years, much less 3, whereas some other teams *might* be willing to go there.

I think the Magic have made it clear to Klay they are willing to do a 1+1 with the year 1 salary being pretty large. But I don't think he's interested... yet.

They can’t even talk to him yet.

Not trying to be disrespectful here, but if you don't think that every single NBA team has talked to every single NBA agent at this point...

There's a reason why most free agency contracts are "agreed" to within a a few minutes to a couple of hours of free agency beginning. They've all been negotiating for weeks and weeks at that point, even though that's technically tampering.

[jonbob17]

If the Magic are going to become a title contender we need Paolo to become one of the top 10 players in the world. Is that even possible? I think so. He has shown glimpses of taking over. I thought the playoffs showed what he is capable of and what he needs to get to the next level.

Paolo becoming one of the best players in the world is really the only thing that should matter to the Magic. We need players that fit around him and help him reach that level. Who is the last title winner that didn’t have a top 10 player? The Pistons 20 years ago? Can’t imagine we could possibly acquire this player….so it’s all about Paolo.

Franz is pretty nice complement. The shooting has to come around. It should open up his driving even more. I’d like to see him get to the line a bit more, I feel like there are a lot of fouls against him that get missed, but maybe that’s just a homer take. I think he will continue to improve on defense as he gets more experience. If the shooting doesn’t come around, he still a really nice player I am just not sure in that scenario he would be the perfect Robin to our Batman, and should carry a lot of value if we did want to find that guy…I do think Franz will become a volume 38-40% 3pt shooter, sometimes it just takes guys with long levers more time to dial it in.

Suggs - perfect complementary guard. I felt alone on Suggs Island last summer, and even I didn’t think he would have such an efficient year (60% TS). I want to believe he will he be good enough as a lead ball handler with our forwards sharing iniation duties but I don’t know we would need the other guard to also be a really good iniatitor too.

WCJ I never know what to make of WCJ, he’s constantly proving me wrong one way or the other. He’ll never be the rim protector I crave next to Paolo, but he has improved and at least is in the right place. He’s got two cheap years left so we’ll see.

JI - 20-24 minutes a night at what he does we be perfection. If he could up his volume and keep his percentage 36-39% even better. All of this while staying healthy which I am still skeptical. Of course if he does stay healthy and keeps ahooting, he might get expensive as he’d fit in on just about every team.

Center I also kind of like the idea of drafting Filipowski-dribble, pass, and shoot at 7’ or kelel ware 43% from 3 with 1.9 blocks a game, even though the Bamba scar tissue is still there.

We need to add guys that can help make Paulo better. In the playoffs it was clearly a lack of creation in the half court. Seems clear currently we need to add the best iniatior and shooter possible. One player. That’s what’s going to help. That And our current shooters making open shots.

The good news is the Magic are already a good team. Including the non tanking games from 2023 the Magic are 76-59 over their last 135 games, 56.3%. Adding any competent lead guard is going to add wins. I like the idea of adding the player through free agency, but there are only a couple/few out there.
Trading I think we’d have to give up one of Suggs or Wagner to bring back a true difference maker.
One other option is adding tradable contracts through free agency either for a future trade at deadline or next offseason, or to open up space for next years free agency…even though it seems like most players are extended ahead of free agency. At any rate we need the money on the books ahead of Wagner and Suggs extensions kicking in 2025.

[Rainwater]

I don't think the Magic's interest in Klay is overstated necessarily. I just don't think they're willing to go 2 fully guaranteed years, much less 3, whereas some other teams *might* be willing to go there.

I think the Magic have made it clear to Klay they are willing to do a 1+1 with the year 1 salary being pretty large. But I don't think he's interested... yet.

I just feel like he will work something out with GSW. From reports it seems like the Warriors are offering a very similar deal to the magic if not a little bit more. Apparently, GSW offered him a 2 year-48 extension which he turned down and magic are only offering 2 year 45 million deal similar to what Brown got in Tor. If that is the case, he might as well stay. And really, I don't think he wants to leave GS.

And correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't it not be better for the Magic to sign a guy like Gray Trent Jr. and others to longer contracts this year rather than Klay to a 1+1 as it would make it more difficult to sign free agents in the future with Franz and Suggs' new deals kicking in?

[Rainwater]

I don't think the Magic's interest in Klay is overstated necessarily. I just don't think they're willing to go 2 fully guaranteed years, much less 3, whereas some other teams *might* be willing to go there.

I think the Magic have made it clear to Klay they are willing to do a 1+1 with the year 1 salary being pretty large. But I don't think he's interested... yet.

They can’t even talk to him yet.

Man, they are definitely talking lol. For years these free agents have been agreeing to contracts within mins the free agency period begin. Do you really think they agreed to these contracts within mins without talking?