According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, NBA executives believe the Orlando Magic are a team to monitor this offseason to make a notable upgrade and improve their shooting.
The Magic could potentially have $50-60 million in cap space this summer.
“With Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Jalen Suggs on rookie-scale contracts and Wendell Carter on a team-friendly deal, rival executives believe the Magic are a team to monitor this offseason to make a notable upgrade and improve their shooting,” Scotto wrote.
The Magic are 30th in the NBA this season in 3-point field goals and 23rd in 3-point field goal percentage. They need more shooters around Banchero and Wagner.
Orlando could be considered a potential landing spot for D’Angelo Russell, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer if he declines his 2024-25 player option with the Los Angeles Lakers worth $18.7 million.
“Should Orlando have interest in Russell during free agency, he could play on or off the ball alongside Banchero, Wagner, and Suggs,” Scotto wrote. “Russell is shooting 44.5 percent on catch-and-shoot threes and is averaging 1.25 points per possession on spot-up shots. The 28-year-old guard has also been efficient beyond the arc from either corner spot at 44.4 percent from the left corner and 41.7 percent from the right corner as a floor spacer. Such shooting efficiency could open the lanes for Banchero and Wagner as playmakers.”
Russell is averaging 18.2 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists this season for the Lakers while shooting 46.3% from the field, 42.3% from beyond the arc and 82.0% from the free-throw line.
The Lakers almost traded Russell at this year’s NBA trade deadline, but the front office decided not to make any moves.
“It’s definitely pressure,” Russell said when asked what it’s like playing in a potential contract season. “It’s something that can eat a lot of people up in the league. A lot of people can be too high at times and too low at times, which causes an emotional roller coaster through the ups and downs of the season. For me, I wanted to control that. I wanted to stay sane and stay even-keeled through the ups and the downs.”
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