The Magic began a former Nuggets defensive stopper within the playoffs. They added an upgraded model in free company.
Orlando returned to the playoffs final season for the primary time in 4 years, dropping its opening-round collection to the Cavaliers in seven video games. The Magic have set themselves up with a number of cap house this summer time due to a plethora of low cost younger stars mixed with the expiring contracts of Markelle Fultz, Joe Ingles and Gary Harris.
Harris is the previous Nuggets three-and-D wing who came visiting from Denver in a commerce for Aaron Gordon. Orlando has now exchanged his expiring $13M contract for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets beginning guard, on a three-year, $66M deal.
It is a wonderful addition for the Magic, who had an apparent want for an improve on the wing. They particularly wanted an improve of their three-point capturing as they made the second-fewest threes within the NBA final season. Caldwell-Pope’s tenacious protection suits Orlando’s crew identification, however his exterior capturing is exclusive amongst his new teammates. His 40.6 p.c capturing from deep and his 125 threes would have ranked second on final 12 months’s Magic crew.
Ingles and Harris are free brokers, although both or each may return on smaller offers. But it surely does imply that Orlando is nearly definitely out of the Paul George sweepstakes, which is encouraging information for the opposite cap-space groups pursuing the veteran All-Star.
Denver’s loss is Orlando’s acquire, however the final winner of the Caldwell-Pope signing could be one other Jap Convention Paul George contender: the Philadelphia 76ers.