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Al-Farouq Aminu sure does seem to fit the Jeff Weltman/John Hammond mold.
A defensive-minded power forward with a lengthy wingspan and some range. Aminu, who spent the last four seasons with the Portland Trailblazers, will now join a crowded Orlando frontcourt after agreeing to a three-year, $29 million deal with the Magic.
Free agent Al-Farouq Aminu has agreed to a three-year, $29M deal with the Orlando Magic, league sources tell ESPN. Player option on third year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
The 28-year-old Aminu was drafted with the eighth overall pick in the 2010 by the Los Angeles Clippers. Last season as a starter for the Western Conference runner-up Blazers, he averaged 9.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season while shooting 43.3 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three.
The 6-9 Aminu, who has a wingspan of over seven-feet, is expected to be back-up power forward in Orlando.
Who looks at a team with Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, Mo Bamba, Jonathan Isaac and says "you know what we need? AL-FAROUQ AMINU"
— Fastbreak Breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) June 30, 2019
I’m pretty baffled by the signing. The logjam in the Magic frontcourt obviously begs the question of if the money, which eats up the Magic’s mid-level exception, would have been better spent elsewhere. Already with Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac, the Magic this offseason opted to draft forward Chuma Okeke, who will be out with while recovering from an ACL tear until at least early 2020, and have now spent a bulk of their limited funds on yet another forward. Now with nothing but minimum deals available, the Magic still have not addresses their point guard depth and shooting needs. Seems the Magic are either putting a lot of faith in Markelle Fultz, or they have a trade in the making.
Plenty of free agents that would have filled some voids, and been more useful than Aminu, went for similar money today:
Free agent guard JJ Redick has agreed to a two-year, $26.5M deal to join the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Free agent Jeremy Lamb has agreed to a three-year, $31.5M deal with the Indiana Pacers, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 30, 2019
Free agent F Rodney Hood has agreed to a two-year, $16M deal to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, CAA agents Ty Sullivan and Austin Brown tell ESPN. Deal includes a player option.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Free agent guard Derrick Rose has agreed to a two-year, $15M deal to join the Detroit Pistons, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Danuel House has agreed to a three-year, $11.1M deal to return to the Houston Rockets, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 30, 2019
Your thoughts?