The Orlando Magic are suddenly a respectful franchise with playoff aspirations. I know that it has been a long, dark, and lonely road for most Magic fans the last three seasons and the vast majority of us are suddenly embracing a winning culture! We are all simultaneously wrapping ourselves in clokes of exuberant satisfaction! Even with the Magic's sudden shift in culture from tanking to that of playoff contenders, we shouldn't be content until the Magic have a roster that's able to go blow for blow with powerhouse teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Next summers free agency is shaking up to be both very exciting and unpredictable. The impending explosion in cap space as well as the premeditated planning of players and agents has set the stage for a volatile free agency period. There is a possibility for a major shakeup in the balance of power throughout the league. The majority of experts and pundits agree that the Magic as presently constructed cannot contend for a championship. My opinion is that next year's free agency will be the key to the Magic opening a serious window of contention. By most accounts the Magic should have somewhere between 20-30 million in cap space next summer. Here are some of the players I think could be targets for the Magic's front office.
Harrison Barnes will be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2016 and the Warriors will have the right to match any offer. It is by no means a lock that the Warriors will match a max offer for Barnes. The variable in the Barnes equation is primarily financial. Even with the salary cap exploding signing Barnes would seriously handcuff the Warriors financial flexibility moving forward. I'm a big fan of Harrison Barnes and apparently Rob Hennigan is as well. It's been confirmed that the Magic dangled Aaron Afflalo in an attempt to aquire Barnes. Unfortunately for the Magic the Warriors wouldn't bite!!!
Terrence Jones is another player I'm extremely high on. In the evolving NBA he's a perfect fit. His ability to Stretch the floor as well as protect the rim is what makes him so valuable. His flexibility reminds me of Draymond Green. His name has surfaced recently in trade talks surrounding Markieff Morris, so there is a possibility that Magic could enter the fray there "Channing Frye"?????????
Below I copied and pasted part of an article referencing Terrence Jones from bleacher Report
The authors name is Dan Favale
He is one of just 10 players this season to log a minimum of 400 minutes and average 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and one block per 36 minutes. And of those 10 players, only four are shooting 35 percent or better from downtown: Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Kristaps Porzingis and Jones.
Through each of his first four seasons, Jones has seen his three-point success rate climb, so his efficiency is not to be dismissed. And although he's only listed at 6'9", the Rockets have liberally used him at the 5.
Outside-shooting forward-centers are quickly becoming all the rage. VeteransLaMarcus Aldridge and Serge Ibakahave both reinvented their shot selections; Davis is now journeying beyond the arc; and two of the first five picks in this year's draft—Porzingis and Karl-Anthony Towns—are touted for their ability to stroke perimeter missiles.
In many ways, then, Jones is the future of NBA big men. Not only is he fully capable of hitting threes, but he can protect the house. Opponents are shooting 9.1 percentage points below their season average when challenging him inside six feet of the hoop.
I look forward to discussing this topic in the comment section below. I would love to discuss the merits of these players as well as any players your rooting for the Magic to aquire.
