Orlando Magic Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Clippers Waive Devyn Marble

July 15th, 2016 at 3:42pm CST by Arthur Hill

3:42pm: The Clippers have officially waived Marble, the team confirmed this afternoon in a press release.

12:53pm: The Clippers will waive shooting guard Devyn Marble, whom they acquired in a trade with the Magic, tweets Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times. The deal, which was completed earlier today, was viewed as a way for L.A. to reduce salary before signing free agent point guard Raymond Felton.

Marble’s contract was non-guaranteed unless he was on a roster past 5 pm Eastern time today, and the Magic were planning to waive him before they found a trading partner in the Clippers. L.A. gave up C.J. Wilcox in the deal and received a 2020 second-round draft pick in return, along with Marble.

A second-round choice in 2014, Marble was traded from the Nuggets to Orlando shortly after the draft. He spent two years with the Magic, but appeared in just 44 games, including 28 this season. He would have made $980,431 next season if he had been retained.

Magic, Clippers Swap Marble, Wilcox

July 15th, 2016 at 11:14am CST by Eddie Scarito

JULY 15th, 11:14pm: The trade is official, the Magic announced.

JULY 14th, 7:44pm: The Magic and the Clippers are finalizing a trade that would send Devyn Marble and a 2020 second round pick to the Clippers for C.J. Wilcox and cash considerations, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel reports (via Twitter). It’s unclear if any protections will be attached to the second-rounder.

Orlando was reportedly set to waive Marble today, but the opportunity to work out a swap with Los Angeles popped up, and the Magic will be able to extract some value for the player. Marble appeared in 28 games for the Magic this past season and averaged 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 8.9 minutes per outing. His shooting line was .296/.250/.417. He will earn $980,431 if he remains on the Clippers roster past Friday.

Wilcox, 25, recently underwent surgery to repair a broken right hand and he is expected to be out of action for four-to-six weeks. He is set to earn $1,209,600 next season and has a team option worth $2,183,328 for 2017/18. The guard appeared in 23 games for the Clippers this past season, averaging 3.0 points in 7.3 minutes of action per outing, while shooting .394/.391/.750 from the field.

Magic To Waive Devyn Marble

July 13th, 2016 at 6:22pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Magic plan to waive Devyn Marble prior to his 2016/17 salary becoming fully guaranteed, Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel reports. Orlando has until Friday to part ways with the swingman, or else the team will be on the hook for the $980,431 he is due for next season.

Orlando currently has 13 players under contract, including Marble, two under the regular season maximum and seven beneath the preseason limit. The team could still re-sign Marble at a later date, if it desired, provided he clears waivers.

Marble appeared in 28 games for the Magic this past season and averaged 2.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 8.9 minutes per outing. His shooting line was .296/.250/.417.

Community Shootaround: Most Improved Lottery Team In East?

July 13th, 2016 at 2:46pm CST by Luke Adams

This past spring, the Bulls, Wizards, Magic, Bucks, Knicks, Nets, and 76ers all failed to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, finishing in the lottery. All seven of those teams have been very active so far this offseason, signing free agents and adding players to their roster via trades and/or the draft.

The Bulls and Knicks have perhaps been the most visible of the Eastern lottery teams in recent weeks, beginning with the five-player trade they completed that sent Derrick Rose to New York and Robin Lopez to Chicago. Since then, the Bulls have added Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo in free agency, while the Knicks have signed Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, and Brandon Jennings, among others.

The two lottery teams from the Southeast – the Wizards and Magic – have also undergone some roster upheaval this summer. Washington re-upped restricted free agent Bradley Beal and made changes elsewhere, bringing in Ian Mahinmi, Andrew Nicholson, and Jason Smith, while letting go of Nene, Jared Dudley, and Ramon Sessions. Orlando was even more active, re-signing Evan Fournier, trading for Serge Ibaka, and adding D.J. Augustin, Jeff Green, and Bismack Biyombo.

The Bucks have been a little quieter, but they secured a pair of solid role players in free agency, signing Matthew Dellavedova and Mirza Teletovic. They also drafted Thon Maker, adding another athletic prospect with upside to a promising young core.

Like Milwaukee, the Sixers didn’t make a huge splash, but with Gerald Henderson, Jerryd Bayless, and Sergio Rodriguez entering the mix, the rebuilding franchise has more of a veteran presence. And if Dario Saric finalizes a deal with Philadelphia, the club feels it has three players – Saric, Joel Embiid, and No. 1 pick Ben Simmons – capable of competing for the Rookie of the Year award.

Finally, the Nets missed out on two RFA targets, when their offer sheets for Tyler Johnson and Allen Crabbe were matched. Their other free agent signings, including Jeremy Lin, Greivis Vasquez, Trevor Booker, Luis Scola, and Justin Hamilton – have been modest.

Today’s discussion question focuses on these seven teams, and their offseason transactions. Which team do you think improved the most? Which series of moves do you like best? Which of these non-playoff teams do you think is most likely to end up qualifying for the postseason next spring?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the Bulls, Wizards, Magic, Bucks, Knicks, Nets, and Sixers. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Bianchi: Club Couldn't Stand Pat Any Longer

July 11th, 2016 at 9:10pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Magic did the right thing by bringing in defensive-minded big men rather than standing pat this offseason, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel argues. While Orlando has been criticized in some circles for its offseason moves, the additions of Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo and Jeff Green gives new coach Frank Vogel an opportunity to play a more physical style, Bianchi notes. The Magic have floundered for four years with their young core and couldn’t wait any longer for it to blossom on its own, Bianchi adds, pointing out that coach Scott Skiles quit after one season because he didn’t like the roster.

Magic Sign Second-Rounder Stephen Zimmerman

July 7th, 2016 at 2:43pm CST by Luke Adams

The Magic formally announced four free agent signings today, and didn’t stop there, moving on to locking up their lone draft pick. The team announced this afternoon in a press release that second-rounder Stephen Zimmerman has officially signed his first NBA contract. The terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Zimmerman, a center out of UNLV, was the 41st overall pick in last month’s draft. Because the Magic sent their first-round pick to Oklahoma City in the trade that landed Serge Ibaka, Zimmerman was Orlando’s only draftee of 2016.

In his lone season at UNLV, Zimmerman averaged 10.5 PPG, 8.7 RPG, and 2.0 BPG in 26 contests (26.2 MPG). The seven-footer was ranked 40th overall by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com, which was nearly right in line with his draft slot. On the night of the draft, Givony noted (via Twitter) that Zimmerman, who turns 20 in September, may have been selected higher if not for medical concerns about his right elbow.

With deals for Bismack Biyombo, Evan Fournier, Jeff Green, and D.J. Augustin now finalized, the Magic don’t appear to have any cap room left. It’s possible the team uses some of its room exception to sign Zimmerman, but his deal is more likely to be a two-year, minimum-salary pact.

Magic Re-Sign Evan Fournier

July 7th, 2016 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

JULY 7, 1:25pm: The Magic have now confirmed all their previously-reported free agent signings, wrapping up their series of announcements by tweeting that they’ve re-signed Fournier.

JULY 1, 3:19pm: Fournier’s new contract will include a player option in the fifth year that would allow him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2020, tweets Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel.

2:27pm: The Magic have reached an agreement with restricted free agent Evan Fournier on a five-year contract that will be worth about $85MM, reports Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (via Twitter). Both sides had been interested in finding common ground on an extension, with Fournier indicating as free agency opened that he wasn’t sure if he’d even take any meetings with rival suitors.

Fournier, 23, enjoyed a breakout season for the Magic in 2015/16, starting a career-high 71 of 79 games for the team and establishing new career-best marks in several other categories as well, including PPG (15.4), APG (2.7), RPG (2.8), and 3P (2.0). He also had a very solid shooting line of .462/.400/.836.

With his rookie contract having expired, Fournier received a qualifying offer from the Magic earlier this week, making him a restricted free agent and giving the team the right of first refusal. Given the numbers we’ve seen on many of the early free agent agreements today, it seems possible that Fournier could’ve found a maximum-salary offer sheet – which would have been worth closer to $95MM over four years – from another team. Instead, he’ll take slightly less than that to remain with the Magic on a five-year pact.

Since sending Victor Oladipo to the Thunder as part of the trade package that landed Serge Ibaka in Orlando, the Magic have been very active in fortifying their backcourt. The club acquired Jodie Meeks in a trade with the Pistons, then agreed to sign D.J. Augustin earlier today, before reaching an extension agreement with Fournier.

Fournier ranked 14th on our list of this year’s top 50 free agents.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Blazers, Magic Finalize Shabazz Napier Trade

July 7th, 2016 at 10:26am CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 10:26am: The Magic announced today in a press release that they’ve acquired cash considerations from the Blazers in exchange for Napier.

TUESDAY, 12:08pm: The Magic are finalizing a trade that will send point guard Shabazz Napier to the Trail Blazers in exchange for cash considerations, reports Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. The deal can’t become official until Thursday, at the earliest.

Napier, who will turn 25 next week, was the 24th overall pick in the 2014 draft, and spent his rookie year with the Heat. He was a rotation piece for most of that season, averaging nearly 20 minutes per contest. However, Miami sent him to the Magic last summer for a heavily-protected second-round pick, and he saw his role reduced in Orlando, averaging just 10.9 minutes per game in 55 appearances.

[RELATED: Magic and Trail Blazers depth charts at RosterResource.com]

With Elfrid Payton penciled in as the Magic’ starting point guard, C.J. Watson still in the mix, and D.J. Augustin set to sign with the team as a free agent, there was no room left in the rotation for Napier heading into next season, making him expendable.

The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, have utilized primary shooting guard C.J. McCollum as a alternative to Damian Lillard at the point, but the team doesn’t really have another backup point guard on the roster with Brian Roberts eligible for free agency. Napier will add depth at the position.

Magic Rescind Dedmon’s Qualifying Offer

July 4th, 2016 at 5:16pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Magic will rescind their qualifying offer to Dewayne Dedmon, making the 7-foot center an unrestricted free agent, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel tweets. Dedmon had gone into the free agent market as a restricted free agent after the Magic made a qualifying offer of $1,215,696.

Dedmon, who will be entering his fourth season in the league, has received some interest from the Warriors, who are seeking a rim protector to round out their roster, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Removing Dedmon from their roster gives the Magic more wiggle room to sign Raptors free agent center Bismack Biyombo, who committed to Orlando for four years and $72MM.

The pending acquisition of Biyombo, along with the presence of Nikola Vucevic, made Dedmon expendable. Recently-acquired Serge Ibaka can also slide over to the middle, if necessary.

Dedmon appeared in 58 games with the Magic last season, including 20 starts. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 17.2 minutes.

Free Agent Rumors: Hornets, Blazers, Pachulia

July 4th, 2016 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Having tried to move Spencer Hawes‘ contract in a trade prior to the draft, the Hornets continue to explore a possible deal involving Hawes, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter links). According to Wojnarowski, Charlotte would like to create the cap room to add a center in free agency. Roy Hibbert and Zaza Pachulia are at the top of the Hornets’ wish list, with Festus Ezeli and Jordan Hill among the other players the team is eyeing, says Wojnarowski.

Here are several more free agent rumors and updates from around the NBA:

The Trail Blazers kicked the tires on Ezeli and Nene, but won’t pursue those players, instead focusing their attention on Pachulia, reports Jason Quick of CSNNW.com (Twitter links). According to Quick, the Blazers were concerned they’d have to renounce one or two of their restricted free agents to go after Ezeli, and they aren’t willing to do that for Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard, or Maurice Harkless at this point.
Quick also has an update on veteran free agent Gerald Henderson, tweeting that the Trail Blazers are one of “seven to eight teams” to show interest in Henderson so far.
A reunion between Lance Stephenson and the Pacers isn’t out of the question, according to Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star, who reports that Stephenson has discussed the possibility of agreeing to a multiyear contract with Indiana. The veteran free agent is considering a few teams, but a source tells Taylor that Stephenson “absolutely loves the town and the [Pacers] organization.”
Before Cole Aldrich agreed to sign with the Timberwolves, he was receiving interest from the Magic and the Suns, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (via Twitter). Orlando struck a deal with Bismack Biyombo, but Phoenix could still be in the market for a free agent big man.
Portland reportedly offered Pau Gasol a higher salary than he ultimately accepted from the Spurs, and it sounds like the Timberwolves did too. Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press reports (via Twitter) that Minnesota’s first offer was $36MM for two years, and the team may have increased that offer within the last day or so.