2017 NBA Free Agent Wrap-up

Dyna Interactive
Jul 20, 2017 · 3 min read

Free Agency is starting to wrap up. The only thing left are aging vets like Gasol, Rose, Affalo, Tony Allen and restricted free agents like Noel and JaMychal Green. The Magic took the wait and see approach which was the right decision. We entered FA with about $15 million dollars in cap space if we renounced all cap holds and released some of our non guaranteed contracts. We took advantage of that by waiving CJ Watson ($1 million guarantee) and renounced the rights to Rudez.

Our first “big” move was signing Shelvin Mack to a 2 yr $12 million dollar deal. The second year has only a $1million guarantee, essentially making him a one year player. Mack continues our search for a backup point guard. It is comical how long the Magic have searched for a quality backup PG. Anthony Johnson, Jason Williams, Chris Duhon, E’twan Moore, CJ Watson, DJ Augustine…..have all either failed or been disappointing. I’m not sure Mack is any better than the names before him but he’s different. He’s better defensively than DJ Augustine so that is one plus. He also is coming from a team that has been to the playoffs and showed some grit and toughness, another plus. I never want much out of my backup PG. Just do the job you’re capable of doing. DJ was suppose to be shoot 3s and struggled. Mack just has to defend and make the right pass. If he stays within himself, I’ll enjoy his 1 year tenure.

I’ll give this move a C. The commitment level is low but this is why I would have preferred to simply draft a PG with one of our other 3 picks. Mack has little chance of staying long term….so why not take a flyer on a 2nd round PG that we can have at a descent price and with a 3 year commitment. If Mack lights it up we have him for one more year. If he’s dismal, we’ll be searching again next offseason for another bandaid.

Our second, probable last, “big” move of the offseason was signing Jonathan Simmons to a 3 year $18 million dollar deal. The 3rd year also only has a $1million guarantee, essentially making this a 2 year deal. This is great value for a bench player in today’s NBA. Simmons really shined in this years playoffs when Pop unleashed smaller lineups and even more when Kawhi went down during the Western Conference finals. Simmons is that golden story in the NBA. He paid $150 to do a D-League tryout 4 years ago and worked his way into the Spurs rotation. He’s a solid defender that plays with relentless energy. His offense is a mixed bag. He can finish strong at the rim but doesn’t really have any on ball offense outside of a post up fade away jumper. His 3pt shooting was up and down all year. If he can get to the league average, 35%. He will be a great 3 & D option for us.

I give this move an A. Simmons isn’t a savor. He won’t change the course of the franchise but he could easily help us. What I like most about the deal is the value. The new regime did the right thing. They waited out the market and got a guy with potential on a low price, low risk contract. Both Mack and Simmons are making less than DJ Augustine and both are slated to have much higher impact. We are a small market team with little resources, so we have to be smart in free agency. We weren’t smart last year. Luckily that has changed.

One move that hasn’t been finalized and still is just rumored is the signing of Khem Birch. He’s a 6’9 PF/C that played overseas last year. He reminds me of Kenneth Faried. Plays super aggressive but doesn’t have much of an offensive game. This is still just rumored but he turned down a “big” contract from Olympiacos which started the rumors the Magic contract is imminent. He would be nothing other than front court depth that would get little playing time outside of injuries.

A guess at our 12 man depth chart:

PG: Elfrid, Mack, DJ

SG: Ross, Simmons

SF: Fournier, Mario

PF: AG, Isaac, Birch

C: Vuc, Biz

Last spot on the team will likely be a battle between Iwundu and Georges-Hunt.

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Dyna Interactive

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simple life of web design, orlando magic, & ucf knights

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