NBA Season Preview: 5 best asset collections
By John Buhler
4. Orlando Magic
Have the Orlando Magic gotten out of their four-year swoon post Dwight-mare? The Magic have been one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference since Howard forced a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2012. However, they have a great new head coach in Frank Vogel, an exciting collection of young players, and a better than expected future salary cap outlook.
Orlando has 13 players on guaranteed contracts with six training camp invitees. The Magic are only over the cap $10,681,360. There are teams with better cap situations, but the Magic’s is at least manageable.
The Magic have three future picks coming their way, including a 2019 first-round pick from the Los Angeles Lakers. Orlando doesn’t have to send any future picks away to another NBA franchise.
Though cap situation and being +3 in terms of future picks doesn’t really move the needle, what does for the Magic is their amount of intriguing players on expiring contracts. Orlando only has three unmovable contracts: Bismack Biyombo, Evan Fournier, and D.J. Augustin.
Nikola Vucevic is guaranteed for the next three seasons before hitting unrestricted free agency in summer 2019. However, Orlando has a log jam of high-end, young front court players. Vucevic is a near All-Star center and could be a great piece for a contending team if he is traded by general manager Rob Hennigan.
Orlando has four players hitting unrestricted free agency this summer including Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka, and Jodie Meeks. Six players hit restricted free agency, none of whom are noteworthy.
The Magic do have some big decisions to make in terms of team options. Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja, and Elfrid Payton all are awaiting if the Magic pick up their team options for 2017-18. These are all first-round picks by Orlando in recent years.
They traded away former No. 2 overall pick Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City this summer. It wouldn’t be surprising to at least one of them on the way out if they don’t grow under Vogel’s leadership in 2016-17.
Trading for Ibaka and signing Biyombo would bold moves by Hennigan. He did it because he has faith in Vogel, but he has given the Magic more cap flexibility than you think. The Magic are in position to either continue the rebuild or push for contention in the next few years, whatever the organization decides is the best course of action for this team.