An array of options awaits
As theNBA draft and free agency loom later thisweek, the OrlandoMagic roster for the 2020-21 season will surely change. D.J. Augustin and Michael Carter-Williams will be unrestricted free agents, and the Magic will have to decide whether to extend qualifying offers toWes Iwundu and Gary Clark. Furthermore, Evan Fournier and James Ennis each has player options for next season. Plus, theMagic will need to carve out a spot for 2019 first-round pick Chuma Okeke, and likely for their 2020 draft pick (or picks) aswell.
Here is a look atwhere each player on the current stands entering a transition period:
AL-FAROUQAMINU, FORWARD Per-gameaverages: 4.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0steal, 16.3 minutes. Contract status: Aminu completed the first season of a three-year contract he signed in 2019 and is set to earn $9,720,900 in 2020-21.
The season: The Magic brought in the veteran Aminu to add defensive depth and provide some 3-point shooting to the second unit. Aknee injury sustainedNov. 29 against theRaptors (one that required surgery) cut his first season in Orlando substantially short.
NBAanalyst’s take: “At his best, he gives them a solid, veteran defender whocan make a 3 occasionally. He didn’t shoot it great but he can shoot the ball a little bit, and he’s smart and he knows howto play, but there’s serious questions about his health. ... They’ve got three guys like that at that position and none of them are quite good enough offensively.”
D.J. AUGUSTIN, GUARD
Per-gameaverages: 10.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 24.9 minutes. Contract status: Augustin completed the fourth season of the four-year contract he signed in 2016 and is set to becomean unrestricted free agent.
The season: Augustin started the first five games before givingway to Markelle Fultz andmoving into backup and mentor roles to the young point guard. Therewere times when Steve Clifford putAugustin and Fultz on the floor at the sametime as he sought to pairAugustin’s perimeter shooting with Fultz’s penetration skills. Augustin gave the Magic a veteran presence, a double-digit scorer and a 3-point shooter on the second unit, although his long-range shooting dipped a little fromthe previous season. NBAanalyst’s take: “Howmuch do they want to pay? He’s still a good player, can really run pick-and-roll, can shoot the ball. The ... problem is small guards as they get older they decline fairly rapidly at some point. Right now, I don’t thinkD.J.’s started on the decline, but I don’t think you probably want to lock him in for verymany years.”
MOBAMBA, CENTER
Per-gameaverages: 5.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, 16.3 minutes.
Contract status: Bamba completed the second season of his rookie-scale contract and is set to earn $5,969,040 in 2020-21. The season: For the second straight year, Bambawasn’t able to finish the season after the lingering effects of a bout with COVID-19 in June forced him to leave the NBArestart. While he played in15 more games than his rookie season, his overall progress continued to be limited by injuries and a lack of playing time. Bamba improved his 3-point shooting (34.6% from30.0% in 2018-19) and at times showed flashes of the perimeter presence the Magic sought. He also improved his rim protection. NBAanalyst’s take: “He can do two things: He can shoot and he can block shots, so not a bad start. ... He’ll get better, but I don’t see a big upside because the thing I don’t like about him is… well, there’s two things and they’re both important. He doesn’t have a motor. He just doesn’t play with enough energy and effort. ... [And] basketball-wise, I see people constantly having to correct him and put him in spots when they’re running sets and correct his defensive rotations and he’s two years in.”
KHEMBIRCH, CENTER
Per-gameaverages: 4.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0assist, 19.2 minutes.
Contract status: Birch completed the first season of a two-year contract he signed in 2019 and is set to earn $3,000,000in 2020-21.
The season: Birch delivered another solid season in a reserve center rolewhile also spotting the Magic 24 starts— some at power forward— because of injuries to NikolaVucevic and Jonathan Isaac. While his offense remains limited, Birch’s screening, ability to contest shots and overall energy play allowed him to contribute. NBAanalyst’s take: “I loveKhemBirch as a backup center. I think he showed that he’s a pretty versatile defender. He’s really, really limited offensively, and I just don’t knowif they can havemany more of those guys on the roster. I like him. He’s a lot better backup center thanMoBamba, at least at this point.”
MICHAEL CARTER-WILLIAMS, GUARD
Per-gameaverages: 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 18.5 minutes. Contract status: Carter-Williams completed the1-year contract he signed in 2019 and is set to becomean unrestricted free agent.
The season: Carter-Williams once again delivered energy, grittiness and elite defense off the bench, this time fromthe shooting guard position, and proved to be a key player in Steve Clifford’s rotation. Carter-Williams put together a strong three-gamestretch (17.7 ppg) before the season shut downin
mid-March, but he sat out the team’s final 10games with a foot injury. NBAanalyst’s take: “I like him. He brings great energy. He can really defend, probably their best perimeter defender, pushes the pace, all of that stuff.… To me, it’s still about offense. ... You just can’t have more guys whocan’t shoot.”
GARYCLARK, FORWARD
Per-gameaverages: 3.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 14.8 minutes.
Contract status: Clark signed two10-day contracts in January before the Magic signed him in February for the remainder of the season. He will becomea restricted free agent if the Magic do notmake him a qualifying offer.
The season: Clark joined the Magic on Jan. 14 andmadehis debut a day later with10 points and four rebounds in a119-118 overtime win against the Lakers. He provided reserve minutes until the shutdown, then wasmoved into a starting role during the restart followingAaron Gordon’s injury. Clark got open looks and his shootingwas effective to a degree.
NBAanalyst’s take: “I like what Gary Clark did for them. I like the fact that he’ll shoot the ball willingly. ... He just doesn’tmake enough [shots], so that will have to change, but it looks tome like at the very least he could be a roster guy.”
JAMES ENNIS, FORWARD
Per-gameaverages: 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists. 24.5minutes.
Contract status: Enniswas acquired by the Magic in a trade-deadline deal with the 76ers and completed the first season of a two-year contract he signed in 2019. He has a player option of $2,130,023 for 2020-21. The season: The Magic brought in Ennis to give them defensive toughness and 3-point shooting depth but he quickly found himself in the starting rotation given the injuries to Jonathan Isaac and Al-Farouq Aminu. Ennis showed off his defensive skill and bulldog mentality during the team’s first-round playoff series in hounding Bucks guard Khris Middleton.
NBAanalyst’s take: “He’s a great competitor, he’s afraid of no one, he’s a great defender, [and] he canmake a 3. I think there’s two thingswith James if theywant to bring him back. He’s never been in really great physical condition and that’s something that’s within his power to change. And one of the things I noticed in the Milwaukee series is hewas trying to doway too much. Whenhe starts putting the ball on the floor and trying tomake plays it’s going to be a disaster. That’s not his game. He’s not good enough to do that.”
EVANFOURNIER, GUARD
Per-gameaverages: 18.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1steals, 31.5 minutes. Contract status: Fournier completed the fourth season of a five-year contract he
signed in 2016. He has a player option of $17,150,000for 2020-21.
The season: Fournier enjoyed one of the best offensive seasons of his career. His18.5 points per gamewere a career-high and his .560 effective field goal percentagewas easily the best of his six seasons in Orlando. Fournier carried large chunks of the offensive load early in the seasonwhenVucevic was out with an ankle injury. Fournier sat out the Magic’s three games prior to the shutdownwith an elbowinjury, thenwas slowed by a non-COVID illness during the restart. He missed the final three seeding games and never regained his form during the playoffs when he shot 35.7% fromthe field compared to 44.9% during the regular season. NBAanalyst’s take: “Last summer, he played great in theWorldGames and then he had a good year and then hewas beyond awful in the [playoff] series. Not even just the numbers, like doesn’t assert himself. Here they are downall of these guys and he’s not trying to do more. If that’s going to be your second-best player, he needs to be better than that.”
MELVIN FRAZIER JR., GUARD
Per-gameaverages: 2.1points, 0.5 rebounds, 0.5 steals, 6.6 minutes. Contract status: Frazier completed the second season of a three-year contract he signed in 2018. The Magic have a teamoption of $1,663,861 for 2020-21.
The season: Frazier sawminimal playing time in his second season as he continued to build his gamewhile serving as a fringe reserve.
NBAanalyst’s take: “He’s not good enough right now. Maybe he’ll get there; maybe hemakes your roster.”
MARKELLE FULTZ, GUARD
Per-gameaverages: 12.1points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 27.7 minutes. Contract status: Fultz completed the third season of his rookie-scale contract and is set to earn $12,288,697 in 2020-21.
The season: TheNo. 1pick of the 2017 draft enjoyed a resurgence as he played in all but one of the Magic’s 78 games. While Fultz still has roomto grow, particularly when it comes to his perimeter game, his ability to break down a defense and get teammates involved showed, in part, why the Magic are so high on him. His shiningmomentwas in Los Angeles when he registered his second career triple-double that included clutch baskets down the stretch during a119-118 win over the Lakers.
NBAanalyst’s take: “I like that he can get in the paint. I like his size, but again, for him to take a step beyond being a low-level point guard in the league, then he’s going to have to be able tomake shots. ... I thought he shot the ball better when he cameback in the bubble. ... He’s not helping [Nikola] Vucevic because everybody goes under him on his pick-and-rolls, so until they can stop doing that, inmy mind, he’s not helping your best player.
“... But I like him. He can defend, I think. The way he played inGame5 [against Milwaukee], Iwas really impressed with him because that’s by far the hardest I’ve ever seen him play.”
AARONGORDON, FORWARD
Per-gameaverages: 14.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 32.5 minutes. Contract status: Gordon completed the second season of a four-year contract he signed in 2018. He is set to earn $18,136,364 in 2020-21.
The season: Amove to power forward helped boost Gordon’s offensive production. Ahamstring strain forced him to miss the Magic’s final four seeding games and the playoff series against the Bucks. NBAanalyst’s take: “Aaron Gordon seems like a guy tomethat thinks he should have a bigger offensive role than his skills suggest that he can and so he’s always sort of fighting you a little bit. ... The guy’s an outstanding defender when he puts his mind to it. I think if hewould do that and then becomea better cutter, offensive rebounder, screener, occasional spot-up 3, a little post-up here and there, but not try to put the ball on the floor andmake plays.”
JONATHANISAAC, FORWARD
Per-gameaverages: 11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 2.3 blocks, 28.8 minutes.
Contract status: Isaac completed the third season of his rookie-scale contract and is set to earn $7,362,565 in 2020-21.
The season: Aserious knee injury Jan. 1 in Washington ended what had the makings of a special defensive season for Isaac. At one point, Isaac and then-Pistons center Andre Drummondwere the only two players to rank in the top10in blocks and steals. Isaac posted a blocked shot in 25 straight games. Isaac used the pandemic shutdownto recover and just got back in the playing rotation when he sustained a season-endingACL tear to his previously injured knee. NBAanalyst’s take: “Only the Magic really knowwhat his physical situation is to have some prediction on whether this guy’s going to get hurt every single year.
“But I love him defensively. I think he’s tremendous. But I don’t knowif he’s ever going to be healthy and while I sawgood offensive improvement, I have a hard time seeing him becomea really good offensive player. I think he’ll be decent. I think his shooting will improve and he’ll be decent. I think he’s a valuable guy.”
WES IWUNDU, FORWARD
Per-gameaverages: 5.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 18.3 minutes.
Contract status: Iwundu completed the third season of a three-year contract he signed in 2017. He will becomea restricted free agent if the Magic do notmake him a qualifying offer.
The season: Iwundu showed his roster versatility, giving the Magic quality minutes as a starter and reserve.
NBAanalyst’s take: “Iwouldn’t mind havingWes Iwundu onmy roster, but if he’s playing in your top eight in the rotation, then again you’re struggling because he’s another guywhohas very limited offensive skills.”
TERRENCE ROSS, GUARD
Per-gameaverages: 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1steals, 27.4 minutes. Contract status: Ross completed the first season of a four-year contract he signed in 2019 and is set to earn $13,500,000in 2020-21.
The season: Ross didn’t shoot and score at quite the samelevel as last season when he was among the SixthManof theYear candidates, but theHumanTorch still showed some sizzle. Slowed early in the season by injuries, Ross began to find his groove in late February. In the10games before the season shut down, Ross averaged a team-best 22.2 points while shooting 48.7% overall and 50.6% fromthe 3-point line. NBAanalyst’s take: “Love him. I think that he needs to play more. I understand that he’s in a perfect role coming off the bench. Unless they canmake a huge jump in terms of personnel, they need to find away to get him on the floor 32 to 36 minutes a game. I don’t think he’s an awful defender by any means, so it’s not like you’re killing yourself. ... Other thanVucevic, he’s themost impactful offensive player you have. I knowhe’s got weaknesses, but he brings good energy, he puts pressure on the defense [and] he can score.”
NIKOLAVUCEVIC, CENTER
Per-gameaverages: 19.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 32.2 minutes. Contract status: Vucevic completed the first season of a four-year contract he signed in 2019 and is set to earn $26,000,000in 2020-21.
The season: Vucevic saved his best for last as he turned in a stellar postseason. Vucevic averaged 28.0points, 11.0rebounds and 3.6 3-pointers while shooting 50.5% overall and 40.0% fromthe 3-point line. The performance helped erase his previous playoff struggles against the Raptors.
NBAanalyst’s take: “He’s outstanding. He can do everything: Play inside out, shoot the 3, play at the elbow, pass the ball, play off the dribble. He’s never going to be a great, great defender but Steve’smadehim a lot better and he’s bought into that trying to be better. The problem is you don’t have a realistic option of getting better with him, unless you trade him for something in the future that’s going tomake you better. That’s the league.
“The Magic, Denver, maybe Philly to a degree, those are the rare teamstrying to play in this day and age with their center as their best player and it’s not easy. Maybe they move him for a perimeter guy, but he’s really good and the fact that he can play out on the perimeter helps him a lot. I like him. I don’t think he’s a top-20 player in theNBA, but he’s very, very good.”