A recent report by Alex Kennedy of RealGM indicates the Orlando Magic have finally relented in their efforts to acquire restricted free-agent point guard C.J. Watson. According to Kennedy, the Magic have tried to land Watson via a sign-and-trade deal with his current team, the Golden State Warriors, for weeks, but talks have reached an impasse.
UPDATE: Kennedy reports the Warriors have offered Watson $4.5 million over 3 years, for an average annual salary of $1.5 million. For comparison, the most the Magic could pay him this season is $825,497, the minimum salary for a player with two years of NBA experience.
Last Tuesday a report from a different writer, Adam Lauridsen of the Bay Area News Group, said the Magic offered the Warriors enough of the Hedo Turkoglu trade exception to cover Watson's new contract, as well as a second-round draft pick, and the draft rights to Milovan Rakovic.
Indeed, it's disappointing to read that Watson, the ideal third-string point guard for Orlando due to his age and skill-set, won't join the Magic this season. But it's at least comforting to know that this saga, which has dragged on for exactly a month, is finally ending.
Now that Watson's officially off the table, the Magic can look elsewhere to address their need for a third-string point guard. To whom should they turn their attention now?