The Wagner funding (a projected $224MM+ over 5 years, starting in 2025/26) is a little bit of a tricky tablet to swallow for a participant who has by no means averaged 20 factors per sport, made 28.1% of his three-pointers final season, and put up a dud in Recreation 7 of the first-round playoff loss to Cleveland (six factors on 1-of-15 capturing). That deal is extra about what the Magic imagine the 23-year-old will change into than what he’s proper now. Nonetheless, I’d really feel somewhat higher about it if Orlando may have gotten Wagner to conform to even a Desmond Bane-type contract, somewhat under the max.
The Isaac renegotiation and extension ($84MM in whole cash over the subsequent 5 seasons) truly is perhaps the higher worth of the 2 offers. That will sound odd on the floor, provided that the ahead averaged simply 15.8 minutes per sport in 58 appearances final season. But it surely was his first full yr again after lacking most of three seasons as a consequence of knee points, and when he’s wholesome, Isaac is without doubt one of the league’s most impactful defensive gamers.
The Magic had a +10.9 internet ranking when Isaac was on the courtroom final season, in comparison with a -0.3 mark when he sat. Plus, his new contract – which dips to round $15MM yearly starting in 2025 – is simply absolutely assured for the subsequent two years, with a partial assure in 2026/27 and non-guaranteed salaries within the closing two seasons.
In addition to re-signing their very own gamers, the Magic continued so as to add younger expertise to their roster within the draft. This yr’s No. 18 choice was Orlando’s lowest high decide since 2012, so the group probably received’t depend on Tristan Da Silva to play a major position as a rookie. Nonetheless, the previous Colorado ahead, who made 39.5% of his three-pointers over his final two school seasons, is smart on a roster that completed dead-last amongst 30 NBA groups in three-pointers made in 2023/24.
The summer time of 2024 deviated from the Magic’s latest offseasons in a single essential means. After successful 47 video games, the group was able to take a much bigger swing by including a high veteran free agent to its younger core. Orlando made use of its cap room to land Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a three-and-D wing who has been a starter for 2 separate champions groups (the 2020 Lakers and 2023 Nuggets) previously 5 seasons.
A 40.6% three-point shooter over the previous 4 years, Caldwell-Pope ought to present much-needed ground spacing for the Magic whereas additional fortifying a protection that ranked third within the NBA final season. Maybe simply as importantly, he and fellow newcomer Cory Joseph will be a part of Harris as the one gamers on Orlando’s roster who’ve received an NBA postseason collection.
The Magic’s assured cope with Joseph was somewhat shocking, provided that he was waived by Golden State midway by means of the 2023/24 season and didn’t discover a job down the stretch. However like Caldwell-Pope, he has championship expertise – having received a title with the Spurs in 2014 – and can present veteran management within the locker room.
I had thought Orlando would possibly goal a degree guard able to enjoying a bigger on-court position, particularly with Markelle Fultz and secondary play-maker Joe Ingles departing in free company. However the Magic seem set to depend on former No. 6 total decide Anthony Black to tackle elevated obligations alongside ball-handlers like Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony, Wagner, and rising star ahead Paolo Banchero.
Up subsequent
The Magic’s projected 15-man common season roster seems to be full, however the group does have a pair of two-way spots open, with Trevelin Queen the one participant at the moment on a two-way deal in Orlando. Non-guaranteed signees like Mac McClung, Jalen Slawson, Tre Scott, and Myron Gardner may find yourself competing for these spots; the membership may additionally control the waiver wire to see if any intriguing targets shake free earlier than opening night time.
It’s price noting that the Magic are working about $20MM under the posh tax line. Few NBA groups have that type of monetary flexibility at this level — solely the Pistons, Jazz, and Spurs have smaller group salaries for 2024/25. That might make Orlando a preferred commerce associate for golf equipment seeking to shed somewhat wage, although a deal alongside these strains is extra more likely to materialize through the season than within the preseason.
Two Magic rotation gamers are eligible for extensions up till October 21 and each are fascinating circumstances. We’ll begin with Jalen Suggs, a former No. 5 total decide who’s up for a rookie scale extension.
Not like Wagner, Suggs received’t obtain a maximum-salary provide, however after a season during which he knocked down 39.7% of his three-pointers and earned All-Defensive second group honors, the 23-year-old’s inventory is on the rise and an extension received’t come low cost.
Within the yr earlier than he signed a five-year, $131MM rookie scale extension with Minnesota, Jaden McDaniels averaged 12.1 PPG with a .398 3PT% and wonderful protection. It’s secure to imagine Suggs’ representatives will carry up that deal in negotiations with Orlando and make the case that Suggs (12.6 PPG, .397 3PT%, wonderful protection) deserves an identical payday, or perhaps a bigger one, given his further offensive obligations.
Carter will change into eligible for a veteran extension on October 1, giving Orlando a three-week window to get one thing completed. He nonetheless has a pair years left on his present contract, so if the 2 sides don’t work one thing out this offseason, they’ll have one other probability in 2025.
As outlined above, Orlando has no scarcity of choices at middle, however Carter – a strong defender who can stretch the ground – is the very best of the bunch and has been a coveted goal for groups in want of a giant man (together with the Pelicans). If the Magic can lock him up at a good value, I count on they’ll achieve this, however it would probably take a major bump on his present contract, which can pay him $22.8MM over the subsequent two seasons. The Magic could be restricted to providing him a beginning wage price as much as 140% of subsequent season’s estimated common wage.
