Orlando Magic Decline Daniel Orton's Contract Option, Will Let Rookie Center Become Unrestricted Free Agent

by Evan Dunlap on Jan 25, 2012 3:04 AM EST in News

The Orlando Magic will allow reserve center Daniel Orton, who has yet to play at the NBA level since they made him the 29th pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, to become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2012, as they will not exercise their option on Orton's contract for the 2012/13 season by Wednesday's deadline. This news comes via Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, who quotes Orton and Ara Vartanian, his agent, as being surprised with the decision.

Though Orton says "I understand" the team's decision, the 21-year-old admits confusion about other aspects of Orlando's handling of his situation. "But I don't understand a lot of things, such as why I didn't get a chance maybe to showcase what I have."

Orton missed the entire 2010/11 season due to a knee injury, a nagging one which contributed to his struggles during the Orlando Pro Summer League. Playing against fellow rookies, castoffs, and other folks vying for training-camp invitations, Orton averaged 3.2 points and 1.8 boards in 17.2 minutes per game, shooting 14.8 percent from the field. He joined the New Mexico Thunderbirds for two games in the NBA D-League that winter, averaging 10 points and eight rebounds, but re-injured his knee in his second game.

He made one appearance in the Magic's 2011/12 preseason finale, scoring four points with a pair of long two-point jumpers in the game's waning moments.

In his lone season with the Kentucky Wildcats, Orton averaged 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game, serving as the backup to DeMarcus Cousins. He rated highly on Orlando's draft board due to his "live body, good hands, [and] good feet," Otis Smith, the Magic's President of Basketball Operations, said on Draft night.

Smith also said Orton is "a big guy you don't necessarily have to use right away." He could not have been more serious, as Orton has yet to play nearly two years after his selection.

To be clear, the Magic could still elect to re-sign Orton over the summer. However, they will not have the right to match any offer another team makes for him, as he will be an unrestricted free agent.

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So is he just going to wear suits for the rest of the season?

Or will he get some D-League time when the Magic have a home stretch?

by RL Magic on Jan 25, 2012 3:25 AM EST reply actions

So do we count this as another wasted pick?

So much for grooming.

by Lil J on Jan 25, 2012 3:38 AM EST reply actions

This is my take on it. And I am probably wrong because this is 100% speculation on my part. But...

I think that this is a “trade” decision signifying a deal rather than a straight up Daniel Orton decision.

Because if the Magic pick up his option and then include him in a mid-season trade whichever team he is traded to is on the hook for his contract next year.

I think that the Magic either already have a deal in place (most likely involving a recently re-signed player causing the deal to be delayed until after March 1st).
OR the Magic believe that Orton has more value as a combination young big with good upside and expiring contract (which he probably does).
Kind of reminiscent of what the Magic did with Milicic years back, you get a rental to look at the young guy for free, get some small cap relief, and you have Bird rights (plus Orton is not a big flight risk) if you like what you see; low risk high reward.

The same basic principles apply to the Magic as well. Even if an Orton trade never materializes the Magic can always re-sign him in the off-season. So this is probably a good move, it gives the Magic the highest flexibility / mobility while turning Orton into the most valuable asset he can possibly be at this time and at negligible risk.

If anything, in this scenario I feel a little bad for Daniel Orton who is being turned into a pawn in this Devil’s game.

RAWR! (╯°□°）╯︵ ƃuıuɹnqǝʞı˥ǝʇsɐ┴ɐ

by aTasteLikeBurning on Jan 25, 2012 5:06 AM EST reply actions 2 recs

I feel for him too.

and to think we’re not even gonna give him a chance to see what he can give us.

by Lil J on Jan 25, 2012 5:27 AM EST up reply actions

Nice analysis

Definitely could be an option.

"A man has got to have a code." -Bunk, Season 1; Omar, Season 4.

by L Magico on Jan 25, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Dude was crazy to leave uk

Stay in school fool

by dukenilnil on Jan 25, 2012 9:29 AM EST via Android app reply actions

For a split second, I thought you meant the country UK

I was thinking, “I didn’t know Orton was British. That’s cool.”

If the Magic must trade Dwight, Hedo better stay. He needs to retire a Magic.

by funny80sguy on Jan 25, 2012 11:14 AM EST up reply actions

Was he crazy for leaving school early or were the Magic crazy for drafting him in the first round?

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jan 25, 2012 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

Both

Magic should have passed
If he’d stated in school even 1 more year he’d have better experience to contribute at NBA level

by dukenilnil on Jan 25, 2012 4:31 PM EST via Android app up reply actions

Another draft choice going bust ... go figure ... was there any deadline to make such decision?

by Matt1325 on Jan 25, 2012 10:28 AM EST reply actions

I believe they had to decide by the end of today whether to offer extensions and pick up options.

by Justin85 on Jan 25, 2012 11:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

I dont consider this a bust

He was a late 1st round pick and if you look who was drafted after him, there really isn’t much to choose from. Landry Fields was probably the best pick #39.

But this is in no way defending Otis. He still sucks.

"A man has got to have a code." -Bunk, Season 1; Omar, Season 4.

by L Magico on Jan 25, 2012 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I do agree that late 1st/2nd rd picks RARELY work out in the NBA

I’m not really too surprised or angered by this. It is what it is

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jan 25, 2012 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

Meh, I didn't really have high hopes for Orton in the first place

At the time of the draft, I was hoping the Magic would trade him for a decent veteran. Anyway, like Burning said, If the Magic are deciding to go all in trying to retain Dwight, maybe this decision was only to make Orton appealing as a young expiring contract in a trade.

If the Magic must trade Dwight, Hedo better stay. He needs to retire a Magic.

by funny80sguy on Jan 25, 2012 11:17 AM EST reply actions

If nothing else...

He becomes a free agent and maybe the Magic can re-sign him to a minimum contract and save about $600,000 a year for him, vs. a contract extension that would be over $1mil a year.

by Justin85 on Jan 25, 2012 11:43 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Bust.

Another smashing success for Otis.

I like to watch.

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 25, 2012 12:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

He was the 29th pick of the draft, what do you want?

Outside of Landry Fields (who was picked 39th and is no more than a serviceable player at best which by the way, a bunch of other teams passed on as well), who else would you have picked with convenient 20/20 hindsight?

Stanley Robinson was pick 59th that year and didn’t make the team. I guess he was a bust as well that can be pinned on Otis.

If the Magic must trade Dwight, Hedo better stay. He needs to retire a Magic.

by funny80sguy on Jan 25, 2012 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

No kidding...

He was # 29.

A few people are getting a tad too worked up over Daniel Orton.

Orlando can still use him in games and see what he has to offer.

Not like they are waiving the guy, just not guaranteeing him a paycheck for next year.

by mdg999 on Jan 25, 2012 1:16 PM EST up reply actions

I should have read more of the thread

I just said the same thing. Agreed!

"A man has got to have a code." -Bunk, Season 1; Omar, Season 4.

by L Magico on Jan 25, 2012 2:04 PM EST up reply actions

If it were the only thing Otis has ever gotten wrong, that'd be one thing.

But it’s just part of a pattern. And Otis probably would have more misses on 1st round picks if he didn’t keep trading them away.

I like to watch.

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 25, 2012 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

REC'd

"...sometimes your eyes lie to you..." ~SVG | I'm on Twitter

by magicfaninTN on Jan 25, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Otis is not good, yes; no argument here

But claiming that the Orton draft is part of any kind of pattern or that Orton was a bust because you want to complain about something is just reaching.

If the Magic must trade Dwight, Hedo better stay. He needs to retire a Magic.

by funny80sguy on Jan 25, 2012 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

The funny part of this is Otis thought he was smarter than most in thinking he was going to get a talented big with the 29th pick in the draft. Good bigs never last that long unless they're European

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jan 25, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions

Otis doesn't necessarily draft poorly, on the whole.

He’s actually made some decent choices vis-a-vis the draft.

But he is awful at overpaying/evaluating veteran players.

I think he’d be much better back in some kind of scouting job. Cuz he aint setting the world on fire as a GM.

I don't get the whole 'pop-tart cats pooping rainbows thing,' but then, I'm old. So, there it is.

by Redfield on Jan 25, 2012 4:11 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Uhh...

Here is Otis’s entire draft history:
2005: Fran Vazquez
2006: J.J. Redick
2008: Courtney Lee
2010: Daniel Orton
plus seven 2nd round picks, not a single one of which has panned out so far (still waiting on Liggins)

Redick looks pretty good now, Lee will never be better than mediocre, and Vazquez and Orton are flat-out awful picks. Otis also had no opportunity to make a terrible pick in 2007, 2009, and 2011 because he traded those picks away.

So, to review, Otis has been in charge of the past seven Orlando Magic drafts, and he’s picked exactly one guy that’s doing anything right today, and he’s a backup shooting guard. So, yes, Otis is awful at overpaying/evaluating veteran players. But he’s also awful at evaluating players, period. Which is a scout’s entire job, so he needs to not be doing that either.

I like to watch.

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 25, 2012 6:48 PM EST up reply actions

well let's be fair.. Courtney Lee was drafted, which then turned into Ryan Anderson.

by RL Magic on Jan 25, 2012 7:32 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Well . . .

He also traded for Gortat’s draft rights from Phoenix (kind of a draft? maybe? I mean, he obviously saw something of value there, and didn’t have the pick to get it, so he found a way).

Fran and Orton – OK, these look pretty bad.

JJ, Gortat – Pretty good.

Lee – well, mediocre, OK-but not terrible. And he did provide a valuable service to Orlando at a certain time. Granted, he’s not great.

As you point out, it hasn’t been a lot of first-round picks, and 2nd-rounders rarely pan out. But if he’s batting around 60% with first-round draft picks, that doesn’t really strike me as awful.

Has he been, as I said, decent? Yeah, I still think so. Not great, but probably still good enough to warrant a scout position-imo.

I mean, I still don’t think he should be a GM.

Just my two cents.

I don't get the whole 'pop-tart cats pooping rainbows thing,' but then, I'm old. So, there it is.

by Redfield on Jan 25, 2012 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Alright, those are some good points.

I like to watch.

by MoveThoseChains on Jan 25, 2012 9:05 PM EST up reply actions

There weren't a lot of good players drafted after most of those guys

Using a criteria of averaging 50 games per season and a 0.1 WS/48 (JJ is at 0.144, for those interested), here are the players we could have drafted instead:

2005: Danny Granger, Jason Maxiell, David Lee, Brandon Bass, Ronny Turiaf, Louis Williams, Amir Johnson (7 out of 49)
2006: Ronnie Brewer, Rajon Rondo, Kyle Lowry, Craig Smith, Paul Millsap (5 out of 49, only Millsap is better than Redick on a per-minute basis)
2008: Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, Luc Mbah a Moute (4 out of 38, none better than Anderson)
2010: Jeremy Evans (1 out of 31)

Out of all those years, at best there was a 14% chance of getting a player capable of contributing at a solid starter level. Going 1 for 4 and converting one of the less-than-stellar picks into Anderson is far better than should be expected, given the draft positions.

Bob.

by The Dark on Jan 27, 2012 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Smart GMs have found gems in 2nd and 3rd rounders ... a 1st rounder considered not worthy of extension is a bust no matter how you look at it.

… and Fields “a serviceable player”? Come on!

by Matt1325 on Jan 25, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

3rd rounders?

First off, there hasn’t been more than 2 rounds of drafts in the NBA since the Magic joined the league in 1989.

And in the 23 years since the draft went to 2 rounds, only 8 eventual all stars were selected in the 2nd round (Jeff Hornacek, Dennis Rodman, Cedric Ceballos, Antonio Davis, Michael Redd, Gilbert Arenas, Manu Ginobili and Rashard Lewis).

So, the odds of picking someone who makes the all star team even just once is 8 out of 690 (or 1.1%).

Oh, and lets look at some other players big men selected much higher that year – like #11 Cole Aldrich who is has been in the D-league for OKC. Or #17 Kevin Seraphin who can’t get on the floor for even 10 minutes a game for last place Washington.

I’m not saying Otis is perfect, but please, some perspective.

I'm torn. Is JJ Redick the White Mamba or the White Ray Allen?

by EnnBee on Jan 25, 2012 5:00 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I mentioned that "rounders" expression was in jest.

But I doubt that making to the all-star level should be a measuring stick for how good a player could be in his NBA career. My main objection was to slighting Fields to a degrading “serviceable player” since he had been repeatedly praised last year even as a rookie. Sorry for the confusing post.

by Matt1325 on Jan 25, 2012 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

Which proves the point that good bigs cannot be found late in the draft. Hell good bigs cant even be found outside the lottery

I probably know Judo! How many of you can make the same boast?

by Souwantmyname on Jan 26, 2012 2:42 AM EST up reply actions

Marcin Gortat, Anderson Varejao, and Deandre Jordan called

They want to know if they can redo their draft since there must have been some mistake with them being selected in the second round.

If the Magic must trade Dwight, Hedo better stay. He needs to retire a Magic.

by funny80sguy on Jan 26, 2012 4:18 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

this

by waleo on Jan 26, 2012 5:24 AM EST up reply actions

I’m not sure if you’re kidding or not about the “3rd rounders” considering there’s only two rounds in the NBA draft…. I hope you do know that…
And Fields is a nice serviceable role player… But nothing more.

by Justin85 on Jan 25, 2012 2:56 PM EST via mobile reply actions