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As Orlando Magic opened the NBA's free agency period this summer on Sunday quietly, two deals elsewhere in the league have apparently dampened the prospects of the restricted free agent of magic Aaron Gordon receiving a great day on payday. Gordon allegedly had agreements with other free agents that would have reduced the flexibility of the Mavericks and Suns.
The Mavericks would have accepted a $ 24.1 million yearlong contract with the DeAndre Jordan Center. The Suns, meanwhile, have reached a one – year deal with attacker Trevor Ariza, worth $ 15 million. The two moves, which can be signed and finalized once the league moratorium ends at noon Friday in the east, will cut deep into the salary cap space of the Mavericks and Suns.
The Wizards want to keep Gordon, and the Wizards also have a natural advantage in contract negotiations because Gordon is a restricted free agent. Gordon may sign another team 's offer sheet, but the Magic would have the right to match the offer sheet and sign Gordon again according to the terms of the sheet' s. offer.
In addition, teams are reluctant to sign other clubs' restricted free agents to offer sheets. One reason, probably applicable in Gordon's case, is that an interested suitor should pay a value greater than the market value in order to deter that player's team from getting in line.
Without fault Gordon, this summer is a relatively rotten summer. become a restricted free agent. Few teams entered Sunday with a large captains room, or with the ability to carve a large captains room, to sign high level players. The Mavericks and Suns were two of those teams. The list also included the Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings.
Despite the impending decision to add Ariza, the Suns could trade Tyson Chandler and Jared Dudley, players on expiring contracts, to create
The Magic does not need to match an offer sheet for Gordon in order to sign Gordon again, Orlando and Gordon could quite agree, but with one if small number of teams with a large number of capitals, the Magic may decide Meanwhile, other franchises could deplete their money available on other players, which, in turn, would reduce the Gordon's influence.
Meanwhile, Mario Hezonja, the most unrestricted free agent in Orlando, reportedly met New York Knicks off (including former magic badistant, Scott Perry) on a potential deal. Although Hezonja loves Central Florida, his first priority is to join a team that would give him important minutes. The Knicks could offer this playing time, while the Magic have a tighter depth chart on the wings and in the frontcourt.
Orlando's biggest need for position is at the leader since outgoing starter DJ Augustin is the only point guard in the game.
A Potential Target for the Magic – Though Hard to Acquire for the Magic – Has Been removed from the board Sunday when Fred VanVleet, a free agent at the Toronto Raptors' surrender, agreed to Raptors on a two-year contract
Unless Gordon signs elsewhere, the Magic has the exception of non-taxable $ 8.6 million, semi-annual exception of $ 3.4 million and minimum wage exceptions available to them to add free agents
A possible way for Orlando to add players, of course, is through the trades. Two players that could attract attention are center Nikola Vucevic and swing player Terrence Ross, both of whom are in the final years of their contracts. The acquisition of expiring contracts would help teams get ceiling flexibility for the free agency period of next summer.
[email protected]. Read his blog on OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter @JoshuaBRobbins.
