Five players the Orlando Magic should target this offseason

Orlando, FL— After an impressive 2023-24 campaign where the Magic had a first-time All-Star in Paolo Banchero, finished as a top five-seed in the Eastern Conference, and nearly won their first-round matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers they will now be looking to build upon that with a strong offseason. 

The Magic are projected to have nearly $50-60 million in cap space this summer and they should be aggressive this offseason via free agency or the trade market. Let’s look at some notable names on the Magic roster that will affect the cap this offseason. 

All four players Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Chuma Okeke, and Goga Bitadze will enter unrestricted free agency this summer. Players who have bounced back and forth between Osceola and Orlando like Admiral Schofield, Trevlin Queen, and Kevon Harris will all be restricted free agents. Joe Ingles ($11 million) and Mo Wagner ($8 million) both have club options. And lastly, Jonathan Isaac’s ($17.4 million) contract is not guaranteed and the Magic could free up more cap space by not bringing him back, or using him in a trade package.

Here are the notable dates this offseason for the Magic to take a look at.

Day After Last Game of NBA Finals (TBD): 

Each NBA team may begin negotiating with upcoming free agents who finished the just-completed season on its roster.

June 26-27th (8 p.m. ET): 2024 NBA Draft

First time in NBA history the draft will take place on two separate nights. The first round will begin on June 26, and the second round on June 27.

June 30 (6 p.m. ET): 

Each NBA team may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents.

July 1 (12:01 a.m. ET): Free agency moratorium 

The Free Agency Moratorium is a negotiation period from July 1-6 in which teams may not sign most free agents or make trades. Any deals struck during the moratorium period are characterized as agreements, but do not count toward team salary and are not binding for the player or team. Either side can back out in this situation.

July 6 (12:01 p.m. ET): 

Each NBA team may begin signing free agents to contracts.

Head Coach Jamahl Mosley spoke about the idea behind making transactions in the offseason and what the Magic look for in potential acquisitions.

“Well, it’s got to be the right person to join this group,” Mosley said. “You know, you don’t want to make moves for the sake of making moves. You have a group of young men, again, that we’ve talked about that pull for one another, that strive for one another, that lift each other up and empower each other to do the right thing and play the right way and defend at a high level and share the basketball — all of those things. And when you put pieces into that, you want to make sure it’s the piece that fits both on and off the court.”

Now let’s take a look at five players the Magic should target this offseason.

5. Nic Claxton

There are a handful of very talented centers in free agency with players like Jonas Valanciunas and Isaiah Hartenstein, still Nicolas Claxton is head-and-shoulders the most desirable big man on the open market. 

Claxton, who just turned 25 years old in April, per Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, will be expected to get a big payday anywhere from the range of $80-100 million this summer. Claxton is one of the best and most versatile young big men in the game and could come in and make an immediate impact for this Orlando squad.

In the last two seasons Claxton has appeared in 147 games for the Brooklyn Nets and has averaged 12.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks. Claxton in the 2022-23 season finished fifth in Most Improved Player and ninth in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Orlando is already a team that prides itself on the defensive side of the ball with size, length, and versatility. Claxton would help tremendously on both sides of the floor and I believe be a seamless fit onto this roster if the Magic are willing to open up the checkbook. 

4. Dejounte Murray 

After the Atlanta Hawks landed the number one overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the rumors continued to heat up that they may move on from either Trae Young or Dejounte Murray this offseason. 

Despite Dejounte Murray not being the same defensive player that he was in San Antonio where he made the All-NBA Defensive Second Team in 2017-18, was an All-Star, and the NBA’s Steals champ in 2021-22 for the Spurs, he is still a very good player. Let’s give Murray the benefit of the doubt by saying that the backcourt pairing wasn’t a great fit, and being affected by two different head coaches in both Nate McMillan and Quin Snyder.

Murray has appeared in 152 games the last two seasons for the Atlanta Hawks and averaged 21.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, and a solid 35.5% from three-point range. Murray is in the first year of a four-year $114 million dollar contract so the Magic would not only have to trade assets to acquire him, but also be willing to take on that contract.

Murray has proven to not only be a legit 3-D guard in his career, but he can help the Magic have a floor general and somebody who can help space the floor. Dejounte Murray is 27 years old and I believe with the right coaching and personnel around him, some of his basketball is still ahead of him.

Orlando receives:

Dejounte Murray

Atlanta receives:

Anthony Black, Orlando’s 2024 First Round Pick (#18), Orlando’s 2025 Second Round Pick

3. Anfernee Simons

A popular name that has been linked to the Orlando Magic in potential trade packages is Anfernee Simons and this summer may be the perfect time to make that move.

After drafting Scoot Henderson last year and Shaedon Sharpe continuing to grow into a rising star for the Blazers, the question arises where Simons fits into their rebuilding timeline. Despite a slight frame at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, Simons is 24 years old with 334 games under his belt and just put together a career-high in points (22.6), rebounds (3.6), and assists (5.5).

Last season was supposed to be the year where Simons proved to be “the guy” after no longer having to share a backcourt with Damian Lillard, and that never fully came to fruition. Simons appeared in just 46 games for the Trail Blazers last year due to multiple injuries he sustained last season, including a thumb surgery that sidelined him for the first six weeks of the season.

If the Magic want to acquire Simons from Portland they will have to make an offer since he is under contract and is due to make $25.8 million this upcoming season and $27.6 million in 2025-26 before he is due for another contract extension. Simons is not only an Orlando native and played high school ball at Edgewater, but his skill set would provide a big boost to this Magic team. Simons has shown that when he is upright and healthy he is a career 38.6% shooter from deep, he will help run the offense, and can help alleviate a lot of ball pressure from guys like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Orlando receives:

Anfernee Simons

Portland receives:

Jett Howard, Orlando’s 2024 First Round Pick (#18), Denver’s 2025 First Round Pick (Top 5 Protected)

2. Malik Monk

After impressive back-to-back seasons with the Sacramento Kings and having finished second in the Sixth Man of the Year Award race this season, Malik Monk is due for a big payday.

Monk is another fan favorite by the Magic fan base that would boost the team’s bench and offensive production immediately. When the Kings came to Orlando this season I asked Jamhal Mosley about Malik Monk and what he brought to the table for that Sacramento team and he stated:

“His ability to score, to generate quick offense, whether that’s pushing the pace, stepping into his three, attacking the basket— He opens up for a lot of those other guys on the floor when he’s out there as well.”

Monk averaged a career-high in points (15.4) and assists (5.1) off the bench for the Kings this past season and will be a highly recruited player this offseason. At 26 years old the Kings can offer Monk a four-year $77.9 million max contract extension. But a team like the Magic can open up their checkbooks and offer him a similar-length deal around the $100 million range if they so choose. A bench that features scorers like Cole Anthony and potentially Malik Monk will do wonders for this team’s offensive production. 

“It’s big because I can go somewhere else with a lot more money and be in a worse situation. So, you never know,” Monk said at his end-of-season exit interview. “I have a great agent that’s going to do his job. I think my job is done. I did what I needed to do this year, and it’s going to play out. I think it’s going to play out in the right way.”

1. Paul George

Outside of LeBron James who has a player option entering the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, Paul George is arguably the biggest name and best player in this free agency class. 

After another disappointing end to the season for the Los Angeles Clippers, having lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of this year’s playoffs, the team may be moving in a different direction surrounding Kawhi Leonard. George, who just turned 34 years old in May is still playing basketball at a very high level and would be an absolute home run if the Magic could acquire him this offseason. 

George can become an unrestricted free agent this summer by declining his $48.8 million player option for the 2024-25 season, and that will open the floodgates for him. If George declines his player option he is set to hit the open market and the Magic could be in the mix with teams like the Philadelphia 76ers in the Paul George sweepstakes. 

Paul George could also opt into his deal and work a sign-and-trade that could land him in Orlando, but I doubt the Magic would want to give up assets and then have to extend him in this scenario. 

Orlando could offer George a long-term deal around four years and north of $200 million if they sought him out. Nonetheless, George’s talent, skillset, and experience would be a perfect pairing for both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner who are now coming into their own.