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The Orlando Magic surprised just about everyone on draft night by selecting Paolo Banchero first overall. The Duke product was expected to go third for most of the pre-draft process. But, a late change of heart from Orlando caused him to leapfrog to the top spot on their board. His passing ability and the well-rounded nature of his game will be a terrific addition to the young Magic core.
The focus must now shift from the draft to free agency. The Magic currently have 11 rostered players excluding Paolo Banchero and Caleb Houston. Banchero is certain to be inked to a deal soon and their second-round pick also has a good chance of sticking around. The Magic are still focused on developing their young talent and have several intriguing players in place. Regardless they will look to the free-agent market to fill out the remainder of their roster and here are three names to keep an eye on.
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3 players Magic must sign in 2022 NBA free agency
3)Ricky Rubio
The 31-year-old veteran was having a terrific season last year with the Cavs prior to tearing his ACL. Through 34 games, Rubio was averaging 13.1 points, 6.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. The Spaniard is expected to come back fully healthy next season and is likely to be a desired name on the market. He is a high-level playmaker who plays with an impactful craftiness. Even the Cavs are rumored to interested in bringing him back after trading him to Indiana.
The Cavs could use Ricky Rubio's veteran floor leadership 👀 pic.twitter.com/TW25edHQ24
— Cavs Nation (@CavsNationCP) June 27, 2022
Adding Rubio to the youthful Magic roster would provide a positive veteran presence to help steer them in the right direction. He played a similar role with the Cavs last season and was a key reason for their impressive year. While his injury held him out down the stretch, the veteran set the tone for the team. Rubio’s playmaking ability can help unlock some of the young players on the Magic as well. Rubio has done an excellent job reinventing himself over the course of his career. He can be an impactful player on just about any NBA team. The Magic should be beginning to flip into more of a win-now mode and adding the veteran point guard would be a positive step in this direction.
2)Mo Bamba
The 24-year-old center had a slow start to his NBA career, but the Magic should not give up on him just yet. The Texas product is coming off his best year in the pros where he averaged 10.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks. Bamba also shot a career-high 38.1% on three-point attempts while attempting four per game. The improved perimeter shooting raises Bamba’s ceiling a great deal. He may not have made an immediate impact in the way that it was desired. But he has shown steady improvement. There is still plenty of room for Bamba to grow and the steps he has taken are encouraging.
⚪️🎥 Mo Bamba x Henry Woo Jr (player development) 💪💪 pic.twitter.com/H5MFRNLDKq
— Actu Magic FR (@ActuMagicFR) June 25, 2022
The big man said he would like to stay with the Magic and believes in what they are building. However, it is unclear if there is a monetary hurdle that could cause an issue. As intriguing as Bamba is, it is difficult to put a value on his play. The 7’1” frame and 7’10” wingspan of Bamba would be tough to replace if he does leave. The Magic should be sure to do everything possible to bring back the former 6th overall pick. Bamba is a nice piece in their core and his potential is too high to allow him to develop elsewhere.
1)Tyus Jones
Similar to Ricky Rubio, Tyus Jones would be a terrific addition as a veteran point guard. The former Grizzlies guard is set to demand some attention across the NBA this offseason. While it is unclear what his price range will be, Jones would elevate this Magic roster in a major way. The 26-year-old plays with a high IQ and is mature beyond his years. He is just entering his prime and would be able to grow with this youthful Orlando roster. Jones has fallen into the rare category of player with starter-level talent but filling a backup role. His strong play was a major reason for the Grizzlies' 21-6 record without Ja Morant last season.
While Markelle Fultz is set to take a great deal of the point guard reps, it is still unclear what his best positional fit is. Tyus Jones is also versatile enough to take off-ball reps with the team. He averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 2.4 rebounds this season, but his impact went far beyond this. The Duke product’s leadership and ability should make him their top free agency target. While the roster currently has several guys that can playmaker, adding a guy who excels at it would open things up greatly.
