The Orlando Magic disappointed fans once again. Even though many did not expect them to make the playoffs, most did not expect the Magic to be the worst team in the NBA. Now, they prepare for another summer with a lottery pick, some cap space, and uncertainty over what to expect out of next season.
Still, their roster is full of young guys who could be well-utilized, if the rest of the roster is filled with the correct players. To help them find those players, let's look at three early targets for the Magic in the 2022 NBA free agency.
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Early Magic targets in 2022 free agency
Possibly the most unexpected thing to think about, when it comes to this season of the Orlando Magic, is that their defense was actually fairly close to being average. They currently have the 18th best-rated defense in the league, which is very surprising, since they are the rock bottom team. What dragged them down is their abysmal offense, which ranked absolute worst in the entire NBA. If they want help in that regard, they need scorers and one such scorer will be available this summer. After a turbulent and short Lakers sting, Montrezl Harrell was traded to the Washington Wizards and then flipped to the Charlotte Hornets. He remained a steady offensive weapon for both teams, averaging 13.2 points per contest this season.
His production did dip when he joined the Hornets and he is generally far away from the season in which he won the Sixth Man of the Year award, playing for the Clippers. Still, he is an efficient scorer that can put up a ton of easy points using his athleticism, so the Magic should really consider getting him in free agency. Harrell will get them at least 15 points per night if he can get back to being comfortable on the court, and when you have the worst offense in the NBA, that can be considered a major boost. Additionally, he can play as a starter, next to Wendell Carter Jr, or even be a bench player, as he was for the past few years in the NBA. Harrell is a no-brainer for a team that is struggling so mightly in the offensive department.
If Nunn and the Lakers decide to part ways this offseason, the Magic should not be dissuaded by his knee issues. Obviously, Nunn missing the entire season will be something that many teams around the NBA will note and possibly use as a reason not to sign him. However, he is the perfect guy for what the Magic needs. Nunn is a versatile, two-way guard that can put up a ton of points, but also keep up the defensive identity of the team, as that was their only positive from this season, apart from the development of some young guys. Nunn might have some issues adjusting to playing the two, as the point guard position is firmly held by Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony, but he can pull that off without any issues.
In his two Miami Heat seasons, Nunn averaged 15 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals. He also shot 45.8% from the field, 36.4% from three, and 88.1% from the charity stripe. He is a talented offensive player that plays with a ton of energy on the defensive end as well, so he would be perfect for this team. The Magic had the 10th fastest pace out of the entire league, therefore having an energetic player like Nunn is surely going to do them a ton of good. Of course, the question remains about his health and whether the Lakers will decide to offer him a deal, but if he is available, Nunn would be the perfect player for the Magic.
If the Orlando Magic believe enough in Warren bouncing back from basically two missed seasons, they should go all-in on him. Currently a part of the Indiana Pacers, Warren has always been a steady wing scorer that can put up a ton of points in a small amount of time. He spent some time in Phoenix playing for the Suns before their rebuild was finished and then impressed in the 2020 NBA Bubble for the Pacers. During their time in Orlando, Warren put up an incredible 31 points, 6.3 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.8% from the field and 52.4% from three-point range on 7.0 attempts per contest. Of course, it is a very small, six-game example, but he has potential that the Magic can utilize.
Upon returning from the bubble, Warren suffered a season-ending injury in just the fourth game of the season. That injury has kept him from competing in the 2021-22 season as well, and while there were rumblings about his potential return, the Pacers losing any chances of coming into the play-in killed his comeback. Yet, Warren should enter next season completely healthy and if he can replicate half of what he was able to do in the bubble, any team would be happy to take him. The Magic should be first in the sweepstakes, as they have the cap space and time to make a risky move. If it does not work out, they can always stretch his contract and potentially make a play-in push next season.
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