The Orlando Magic are just one of the many rebuilding teams hoping to lure a good player or two from the free-agent market. This would do wonders for them as they already have two picks (fifth and eighth) in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draft. It would be impossible for them to lure in a superstar right off the bat. Nonetheless, this post is about Orlando Magic free agency.
As such, the mission is to get a mid-tier player who can serve as a foundational piece in the team's quest to become a contender in the East. Let's take a look at some of the players that fit this mold.
Orlando Magic Free Agency
Talen Horton-Tucker
Los Angeles Lakers fans would love to have Talen Horton-Tucker for a few more years but the team's quest for a star guard might force the young gun out of Tinseltown. The Magic, like the rest of the league, should be very well aware of THT's potential. The mere fact that he was able to earn his minutes and excel in a contending team speaks volumes of THT's searing talent.
The 20-year-old has seems to have that scoring mentality built in him. He's very aggressive in his drives to the hoop. He shows poise whenever he has the ball. The fact that he's usually the youngest player on the court doesn't faze him at all.
The Magic should keep their eye on Horton-Tucker as he's now a restricted free agent after the Lakers tendered a qualifying offer worth just $1.9 million. Rumors reveal that the Lakers intend to match whatever offer THT receives then insert him into a trade package for a prized guard. Whatever that number is is going to be tricky. The Magic needs to evaluate how much THT is really worth.
Duncan Robinson
Duncan Robinson is bar none the best shooter in this year's free agency market. Teams — both rebuilding and contending — would stop at nothing to sign the sharpshooter. The Magic need his services for obvious reasons. They had the second-worst offensive rating last season (104.6). The presence of Robinson would give their offense a much-needed jolt. A shooter like Robinson will not only boost their 3-point makes, but his mere presence will create ample space for guards like Cole Anthony and Markelle Fultz to operate.
It would be tough for the Magic to land Robinson, given the number of teams interested in a pure shooter like him. The Magic are still in the early stages of the rebuilding process. But the front office should not be dismayed to court Robinson. Their current crop of players showed much promise last season. If the Magic can snag one or two players in this list (or those of the same caliber), then Robinson just might follow suit.
Josh Richardson
Josh Richardson has a player option for the 2020-21 NBA Season which he's due to either accept or decline in a few days. Analysts believe that given his subpar season with the Mavericks where almost all his numbers took a dive, Richardson will decline the option and move to a different team.
Richardson is a solid swingman who can both defend and provide some offense. It would be unwise to look at his numbers with the Dallas Mavericks as the man clearly struggled to co-exist in the Luka Doncic-centered offense. He thrived with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Miami Heat where he had tons of opportunities to run pick-and-rolls and run a few isolation plays here and there. He also has a knack for attacking right after the catch. Given that the Magic have no real number one option on offense at this point, Richardson will have all the chances to play his natural game and thrive.
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