NBA Free Agency: Magic re-sign Nikola Vucevic, Terrence Ross

The Orlando Magic have re-signed their two biggest free agents, Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross, both on four-year deals.

Re-signing Nikola Vucevic and Terrence Ross were the primary goal for the Orlando Magic as soon as free agency opened for business on Sunday. After the market bell rang, the front office quickly got it done.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Vucevic agreed to a  four-year, $100 million deal to remain the cornerstone of the up-and-coming Magic. It was a complete 180-degree turn for the Magic front office on Vucevic, who was heavily featured in trade rumors over the past few seasons.

Thanks to the coaching of Steve Clifford, who knew what he had and decided to run the offense through Vucevic, the big man turned in a career-year, going to the All-Star game and leading the Magic to their first playoff appearance seven seasons.

Considering the rawness of Mohamad Bamba, the Magic’s first-round pick last year, the need to bring back Vucevic became urgent. Also, an urgency for Orlando was to bring back 3-and-D sharpshooter Terrence Ross, and he’ll be around for the resurgence of the Magic as well. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Ross quickly agreed to a four-year, $54 million deal to remain the sixth man in Orlando.

After getting dealt to the Magic from the Toronto Raptors two years ago, Ross turned in a career season in 2018-19, averaging a career-high in points (15.1) and rebounds (3.5) while connecting on 38 percent from the deep.

Re-signing Vucevic and Ross shows that the Magic front office believed the group who went to the playoffs last season has tremendous upside and with the addition of Al-Farouq Aminu on a three-year, $29 million deal, Orlando seems poised to finally break out and become a force to be reckoned with in the East.