JULY 14TH: The deal is official, the team announced via press release
“Channing’s character, competiveness, veteran experience, and leadership ability are valuable additions to our developing team,” Magic GM Rob Hennigan said in the team’s statement. “His ability to stretch the floor and play sound team defense are also ways in which we envision Channing helping our team moving forward.”
JULY 9TH, 9:35pm Frye’s deal will be front-loaded and team-friendly in its latter years, a source with knowledge of the agreement tells Joshua Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. The deal will see decreases of 4.5% each season–the most allowable under the CBA–which projects to salaries of $8,560,707, $8,175,476, $7,807,579, and $7,456,238 for each year.
JULY 7TH, 5:04pm: The Magic have reached agreement on a deal with Channing Frye, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). The deal will be for four years and $32MM (link).
While Frye has been garnering interest from around the league, the Magic weren’t seen as a likely destination and weren’t really mentioned as a possibility. The incumbent Suns wanted to re-sign him, the Warriors and Cavs were ready and waiting when Frye opted out of his deal with Phoenix, and there was mutual interest between the big man and the Blazers.
The 31-year-old missed all of 2012/13 with an enlarged heart but wound up playing and starting in all 82 of the Suns’ regular season games last season. Frye averaged 11.1 PPG with 5.1 RPG and 0.8 BPG in 28.2 minutes per contest. He’s had slightly better marks in those categories and in PER, but he was nonetheless a bright spot for the Suns last season.
In a league that is falling more and more in love with the idea of a stretch four every day, Frye is a hot commodity. The 6-foot-11 can consistently connect from the outside and owns a career 38.5% mark on three-pointers.
Orlando has upgraded their power forward situation in a big way this offseason. Frye will presumably be the starter with No. 4 overall pick Aaron Gordon in reserve.
wow, meeks is sounding more and more like a bargain
Frye is underrated and far better than Meeks. Also harder to find a player with his skillset, Meeks not so much
Darn. Was hoping the Suns would resign him. Oh well. Good luck in Orlando Frye.
Harris is then the starting SF.
or 6th man.
Great signing for the Magic. Yes, it’s a bit more than I wanted them to pay him, but vet leadership and 3pt shooting on a guy who can play is what we need. Will spread the floor perfectly for drivers like Payton/Dipo/Gordon.
wow nice deal for Frye. Wonder if it’s all guaranteed. If so, then like I said, a hefty four-yeal deal for a 31-year-old with past heart conditions means Frye did well for himself
I like Frye but that seems like a steep price to pay. The market’s been crazy enough that maybe his price would be this high regardless of who he signed with.
I like Frye, but thats about 2-4 million more per year than I thought he’d get. I feel like I’ve said that a lot so far.
i guess when teams really want someone they will pay anything to get them. fair price or not some times you got to pay to get talent
So they didn’t want to re-sign Anderson 2 years ago for 4 years, $34MM but give Frye this deal. Makes sense.
They didn’t want Anderson at the time because they wanted to tank.