ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic are poised to make a big splash for the first time in a while on the free-agent market, which begins Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.
From meeting with Paul George to what appears to be major threats to the contracts of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Isaiah Hartenstein, Orlando could have an offseason that turns around before it's all over. Here are the latest news and rumors surrounding the Magic before the free agent negotiating period begins.
Paul George meets with Orlando:
George declined his $48.7 million player option with the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday night, paving the way for free agency.
It's not out of the question for the nine-time All-Star to re-sign with Los Angeles, but he'll have to compete with the Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando, where ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic's Shams Charania reported George is scheduled to meet with three teams between Sunday night and Monday.
George, 34, is the biggest free agent on the market, and few players could be a better fit for Orlando. The 6'8″ forward has played in the playoffs 11 times in his 14-year career and remains one of the NBA's best players. George averaged 22.6 points per game last season and shot a career-best 41.3% from three-point range. Orlando boasted a top-class defense, but ranked in the bottom 10 in many offensive categories, including three-point shooting percentage per game.
George has spoken highly of Orlando in the past, particularly praising Magic All-Star forward Paolo Banchero's performance in his sophomore season and the team's first career playoff appearance.
“If the young players understand that this is the right thing to do, the game will move in a good direction.” [their] “I think that's exactly what Paolo did back then, and he's doing it with Orlando,” George said on the podcast. “Orlando definitely surprised me.”
Orlando has more than $52 million in cap space to afford George, second only to the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia, according to Spotrac. Whether the Magic give the six-time All-Star a max contract could be the difference between acquiring one of the biggest free agents in franchise history and using him three times in the regular season and possibly in the playoffs against the 76ers.
Isaiah Hartenstein and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope make magic:
George isn't the only free agent Orlando has shown interest in.
NBA source Marc Stein reported that the Magic are one of two teams most linked to Denver Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and New York Knicks center Isaiah Hertenstein.
“Denver's Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and New York's Isaiah Hartenstein are the free agents that Orlando has most frequently expressed interest in from league sources, but once again, the Magic have been put on the shortlist of potential teams for a free-agent interview with George,” Stein wrote.
Both players would fill big needs for the Magic. Caldwell-Pope, 31, has shot better than 40 percent from 3-point range in three of the past four seasons and averaged at least four per game. Orlando was tied for 23rd in 3-point shooting percentage and tied for last in 3-pointers made per game last season. The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 10.1 points per game and shot 40.6 percent from 3-point range for Denver.
Caldwell-Pope declined his $15.4 player option with the Nuggets and became a free agent.
Hartenstein has solidified himself as the Knicks' starting center. In 49 regular-season games, the 7-foot-4 center averaged 8.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 blocks. In the playoffs, the 26-year-old Hartenstein averaged 8.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and nearly one block.
Hartenstein's passing ability as a center could be especially appealing to Orlando. The Magic were 15-5 in games in which Goga Bitadze and Wendell Carter Jr. recorded at least three assists. The 7-foot center had 29 games with at least three assists.
If Orlando can't sign George, pivoting to Caldwell-Pope and Hartenstein may be the best bet for the rising franchise, as if the Magic could sign both players, which could be just as impactful for them as acquiring a star like George.
Orlando declines team options for Joe Ingles and Moe Wagner:
The Magic made several moves on Saturday, but their decision to decline the team options of Joe Ingles and Moe Wagner drew the most attention.
Ingles signed a two-year, $22 million contract as a free agent last year and was due to make $11 million next season. Wagner was due to make $8 million next season if Orlando had exercised his option.
Ingles averaged 4.4 points and 3.0 assists in 68 games off the bench, while Wagner was a driving force for Orlando's second unit, averaging 10.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 80 games.
Declining their options won't mark the end of their tenure in Orlando, however, as Wojnarowski reported that the Magic will continue negotiations with both players after free agency begins in hopes of working them into new contracts.
