Orlando Magic Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Magic Acquire Shabazz Napier

July 27th, 2015 at 11:46am CST by ChrisCrouse

NBA: Preseason-Orlando Magic at Miami Heat

Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

MONDAY, 11:46am: The trade is official, both teams announced via press release. It’s a 2016 second-rounder going to Miami. Orlando receives cash in addition to Napier.

2:52pm: The deal is expected to be formally announced Monday, tweets Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The second-round pick is heavily protected, according to Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). The Magic will keep the pick unless they have a top five record next season.

SUNDAY, 12:23pm: The Magic will acquire Shabazz Napier from the Heat, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports tweets. The Heat will receive a protected future second-round pick, Wojnarowski adds (Twitter link).

Miami was aggressively trying to deal Napier in addition to Mario Chalmers because of luxury tax concerns, according to previous reports. Napier set to make roughly $1.3MM this season and has a team option on his salary for the 2016/17 season. Thus, the deal as reported will allow the Heat to create a trade exception worth $1,294,440, the precise value of Napier’s salary this season.

Orlando will now have 10 players on its roster who were drafted since 2011 with four players coming via trade, as former Nets executive Bobby Marks notes (Twitter link). Napier will presumably be the team’s third string point guard behind 2015 rookie of the year candidate Elfrid Payton and new addition C.J. Watson.

Napier was reportedly a favorite of LeBron James, and his addition to the Heat last summer seemed like a play to retain the four-time MVP, who instead returned to Cleveland. Miami came away with Napier’s rights in a 2014 draft-night deal with Charlotte, which used the No. 24 pick to take the point guard last year. Miami gave Napier 10 starts, and he averaged 19.8 minutes per game, but he played in only one game after March 9th as he battled a sports hernia that ultimately ended his season prematurely.

Reactions To Shabazz Napier Trade

July 26th, 2015 at 7:13pm CST by Will Joseph

Earlier today, the Magic agreed to acquire Shabazz Napier from the Heat in exchange for a protected future second-round pick. The only way the Heat will get the Magic’s second-round pick in 2016 will be if Orlando finishes with one of the NBA’s five best records during the 2015-16 regular season. If the Magic’s second-round pick falls anywhere from 31st overall through 55th overall, the Magic would keep the pick. Miami wanted to deal Napier because of luxury tax concerns, according to previous reports. Napier is set to make about $1.3MM this season and has a team option on his salary for the 2016/17 season. Therefore, the reported deal will allow the Heat to create a trade exception worth $1,294,440, the precise value of Napier’s salary this season.

Here are some reactions from around the industry to the move:

Dealing Napier could be a sign that the Heat is keeping guard Mario Chalmers, who Miami has reportedly been shopping, Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald writes. It’s still very possible Miami trades Chalmers, however, Goodman adds, because he is owed $4.3MM next season.
With Napier gone, Heat fans will have one less reminder of LeBron James, Goodman adds in the same piece. James pushed for the team to draft Napier, who mostly struggled as a rookie. The fact Miami was willing to trade Napier to a division rival means that the team does not view the guard as much of a threat, Goodman concludes.
From the Magic’s point of view, the deal is a good one because there is no risk involved, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes. The Magic benefit because they will acquire a young player with upside, Robbins adds.
In the same piece, Robbins points out that Napier’s arrival might very well be bad news for Keith Appling, who the Magic agreed to sign last week to a two-year deal that includes a small guarantee. The contract will give Appling a chance to participate in the Magic’s training camp, but Napier’s presence likely will make it difficult for Appling to make the regular-season roster, Robbins writes.
The trade has a lot to do with the Heat’s depth chart, considering Miami also has Josh Richardson and Tyler Johnson as guards, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). The Heat could save more than $4MM with the deal, but that only would be the case if the team chooses to carry only 14 players, Winderman tweets.

Heat Rumors: Napier, Ennis, Johnson, Outlook

July 26th, 2015 at 1:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

Shabazz Napier, who is reportedly being dealt to the Magic, was the Heat’s best player during summer league, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Summer provided the first chance for Napier to really showcase his skills after his rookie campaign was interrupted by a series of injuries, including a sports hernia that ended his season early. While Miami officials were publicly praising Napier’s performance during the summer, they were looking to trade him to provide relief from the luxury tax. He will make about $1.3MM next season, with a team option for 2016/17. Napier was the third-string point guard in Miami, and Winderman expects him to fill that same role in Orlando, being slotted behind Elfrid Payton and C.J. Watson. The columnist also examines Miami’s remaining roster and the salary status of each player.

There’s more news from Miami:

The next important deadline for the Heat will come Saturday, tweets Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. James Ennis and Tyler Johnson will have half their salaries for next season guaranteed if they are still on the roster August 1st (See the Hoops Rumors Schedule of Contract Guarantees). Both are scheduled to make $845K. Jackson also notes that luxury tax obligations are based on team payroll at the end of the season (Twitter link). The Heat will have plenty of time to move more salary if they can’t find another deal right away.
Former Nets executive Bobby Marks tweets that today’s trade helps Miami in two ways: by trimming the team’s tax obligation and opening a roster spot. He believes there is a good chance Johnson becomes the third-string point guard.
The Heat have rebuilt quickly after losing LeBron James and have the pieces in place to be a contender in the East, contends Tim Cato of SB Nation. He argues that an improved bench and a full season from Goran Dragic will make the Heat dramatically better, especially if Hassan Whiteside proves he can handle being a full-time NBA center.

Southeast Notes: Heat, Smith, Magic, Anderson

July 19th, 2015 at 6:58pm CST by Chuck Myron

The second part of summer league for No. 10 overall pick Justise Winslow was full of more challenges than he might have expected, but the performance of Josh Richardson, whom the Heat drafted with their other pick, at No. 40, was more impressive than it figured to be, as Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel examines. Winderman, in a broad look at what Miami accomplished during summer league, writes that he wouldn’t be surprised if the Heat invited undrafted center Josh Smith to camp. Smith, from Georgetown, is not to be confused with the more well-known Clippers signee of the same name. Here’s more from around the Southeast Division:

Jason Smith‘s salary on his new one-year deal with the Magic is $4.3MM, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders confirms (Twitter link). There had been conflicting reports about just how much the contract is worth.
The Magic were technically over the cap when they made the Maurice Harkless trade, so they ended up with a trade exception worth $2,894,059, equivalent to the salary that Harkless will make this coming season, Pincus also reports (Twitter link).
Alan Anderson‘s one-year, $4MM contract with the Wizards includes a 15% trade kicker, reports Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Washington facilitated the signing via the mid-level exception, and since it’s worth more than $3.376MM, the Wizards are hard-capped at $88.74MM this season, Pincus notes.

Eastern Notes: Wizards, Canaan, Nets

July 16th, 2015 at 9:53pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Wizards let the remaining $2,252,089 of their Trevor Ariza trade exception expire Wednesday. The exception, gained when Washington signed-and-traded Ariza to the Rockets, was originally worth $8,579,089. The Wizards used most of that initial amount to acquire Kris Humphries and Ramon Sessions in separate deals. Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

Markel Brown added another $50K in partially guaranteed money, now totaling $150K, to his $845,059 contract for the 2015/16 season when he remained on the Nets‘ roster through Wednesday, as the schedule of salary guarantee dates shows.
As a result of remaining on the Sixers‘ roster through Wednesday, Isaiah Canaan‘s 2015/16 salary of $947,276 became fully-guaranteed.
Quincy Miller picked up a $50K partial guarantee on his $981,348 salary this season with the Nets, courtesy of him sticking on the Nets‘ roster through Wednesday.
Forbes magazine estimated the value of the Nets to be $1.5 billion, which is a higher figure than the team’s internal valuation, which is $1.3 billion, Robert Windrem of NetsDaily relays (via Twitter).
Heat small forward James Ennis said that the combination of Miami’s packed frontcourt and his non-guaranteed deal has placed a significant amount of stress on him, Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post tweets. The 25-year-old made 62 appearances for the Heat last season, averaging 5.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 17.0 minutes per game.
Tobias Harris‘ four-year deal with the Magic will pay him $16MM this coming season, $17.2MM in 2016/17, $16MM in the third year, and $14.8MM during the 2018/19 campaign, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

2015/16 Roster Counts: Orlando Magic

July 15th, 2015 at 8:29pm CST by Eddie Scarito

During the offseason it’s OK for teams to carry as many as 20 players, but clubs must trim their rosters down to a maximum of 15 by opening night. In the meantime, some teams will hang around that 15-man line, while others will max out their roster counts. Some clubs may actually have more than 15 contracts that are at least partially guaranteed on the books. That means they’ll end up paying players who won’t be on the regular season roster, unless they can find trade partners.

With plenty more movement still to come, here’s the latest look at the Magic’s roster size, the contract guarantee status of each player, and how each player came to be on Orlando’s roster.

(Last Updated 2-22-16, 3:25pm)

Fully Guaranteed (14)

Dewayne Dedmon (C) — 7’0″/25 years old. Free agent signing.
Evan Fournier (G/F) — 6’7″/22 years old. Acquired via trade from Nuggets.
Aaron Gordon (F) — 6’9″/19 years old. Drafted with No. 4 overall pick in 2014.
Mario Hezonja (G/F) — 6’6″/20 years old. Drafted with No. 5 overall pick in 2015.
Ersan Ilyasova (F) — 6’10″/28 years old. Acquired via trade with Pistons.
Brandon Jennings (G) — 6’1″/25 years old. Acquired via trade from Pistons.
Devyn Marble (G/F) — 6’6″/22 years old. Draft rights acquired via Nuggets.
Shabazz Napier (G) — 6’1″/23 years old. Acquired via trade from Heat.
Andrew Nicholson (F) — 6’9″/25 years old. Drafted with No. 19 overall pick in 2012.
Victor Oladipo (G) — 6’4″/23 years old. Drafted with No. 2 overall pick in 2013.
Elfrid Payton (G) — 6’4″/21 years old. Draft rights acquired via Sixers.
Jason Smith (F/C) — 7’0″/29 years old. Free agent signing.
Nikola Vucevic (C) — 7’0″/24 years old. Acquired via trade from Sixers.
C.J. Watson (G) — 6’2″/31 years old. Free agent signing.

10-Day Contracts (0)

None

TOTAL ROSTER COUNT (14)

Blazers Acquire Maurice Harkless From Magic

July 14th, 2015 at 3:58pm CST by Will Joseph

Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

3:58pm: The Blazers have followed with a press release of their own, identifying the pick going to Orlando as a 2020 second-rounder. That pick is top-55 protected, according to Casey Holdahl of Trailblazers.com. It’s Portland’s own pick, and if it doesn’t convey to Orlando that year, the Blazers don’t have to give the Magic anything, as RealGM notes.

TUESDAY, 3:46pm: The deal is official, the Magic announced via press release. Orlando refers to its acquisition as a conditional second-round pick, suggesting that the protection on it is such that it may never convey to the Magic.

SUNDAY, 5:27pm: The Magic are trading forward Maurice Harkless to the Blazers for a future second-round pick, reports Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski (on Twitter).

The move does not come across as a complete shock because Orlando was reportedly willing to deal Harkless at the deadline. However, at that time, the team was seeking a first-round pick or talented young player in return. The 22-year-old former first-rounder out of St. John’s is set to earn $2,894,059 during the 2015/16 campaign. Despite being a high draft pick, Harkless has not met his full potential. In his third year, Harkless averaged only 3.5 points per game and only received 15 minutes of playing time per game.

Both Orlando and Portland are below the cap, so it’s a move that essentially transfers a measure of cap flexibility from one team to the other. It’s another move in a busy offseason for the Blazers. With LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews gone, Portland has done a decent job of retooling with athletic young players. Portland signed Al-Farouq Aminu and signed Ed Davis.

Magic Re-Sign Tobias Harris

July 14th, 2015 at 2:45pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

JULY 14TH, 2:45pm: The deal is official, the Magic announced via press release.

“This is an exciting and important day for our organization. Re-signing Tobias was a top priority this summer and we’re thrilled to have him back,” GM Rob Hennigan said in the team’s statement. “We value Tobias’ contributions greatly, both on the floor and in the community, and we’re excited that he’ll remain an important member of our team for many seasons to come.”

JULY 3RD, 9:48pm: The Magic have reached an agreement with restricted free agent Tobias Harris on a new contract, Shams Charania of RealGM reports (Twitter links). The deal is a four-year, $64MM arrangement, Charania notes.That would appear to be the maximum salary, though the precise value of the max won’t be known until the July Moratorium ends next week.

Orlando would have had the right to match any offer sheet that Harris signed since it extended him a qualifying offer. The Magic were reportedly not willing to match a maximum salary offer sheet, but Harris apparently didn’t secure such an offer since the free agent signing period officially commenced. The Hawks, Knicks, Pistons, and Celtics reportedly had interest in the forward.

Harris logged 68 appearances for the Magic last season, averaging 17.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 34.8 minutes per game, with a slash line of .466/.364/.788. His career numbers since being the No. 19 overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft are 12.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.3 APG, with a shooting line of .463/.321/.790.

Magic Sign Jason Smith

July 14th, 2015 at 9:17am CST by Chuck Myron

Courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

JULY 14TH, 9:17am: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.

JULY 7TH, 3:09pm: The Magic will sign Jason Smith, his agency, Priority Sports says (Twitter link). It’s a one-year, $4.3MM deal, as Shams Charania of RealGM hears (Twitter link). His agent tells Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv it’s for $4.5MM (Twitter link). Either way, the Magic appear to be using some of their cap space to exceed the $3,933,600 the Knicks could have used to retain the Mark Bartelstein client using his Non-Bird rights. The Knicks are taking in Kyle O’Quinn from the Magic via sign-and-trade, but it doesn’t look like the Smith signing will be part of that transaction.

Smith wanted to return to New York, which signed him to a one-year deal last summer, and while team president Phil Jackson reportedly liked the idea, and the sides spoke this month, but it wasn’t clear whether the Knicks would offer more than the $2.814MM room exception. The Lakers also apparently expressed interest.

The Magic have reached deals with Smith, C.J. Watson and Tobias Harris after missing out on Paul Millsap. The 7’0″ Smith swings between center and power forward and started a career-high 31 games this past season.

Free Agent Roundup: Thompson, Sloan, Datome

July 12th, 2015 at 12:36pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Cavaliers GM David Griffin remains optimistic the team will retain restricted free agent Tristan Thompson, Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio reports. “I think we’ll wind up getting something done,” Griffin told the Cleveland media. Amico opines that Thompson should take the reported five-year, $80MM contract that Cleveland has offered him, given that the club already has three max-level players in LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. It may come down to the Cavs having to match an offer sheet for the power forward, Amico adds.

In other free agent news:

Donald Sloan is discussing a contract with the Spurs, Bulls and Mavericks, league sources told RealGM’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Sloan spent the past two seasons with the Pacers and averaged 7.4 points, 3.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds in 53 games last season, including 21 starts.
The Pistons are looking to re-sign point guard John Lucas III, Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets. The Magic, Spurs, Mavericks and Clippers are also interested, Stein adds. Lucas would give the Pistons four point guards along with Reggie Jackson, Brandon Jennings and Spencer Dinwiddie.
Luigi Datome‘s Eurobasket profile has the free agent forward signing with Khimki Moscow but Eurobasket.com’s David Pick is skeptical, adding that Datome might wind up with CSKA Moscow if he plays overseas (Twitter links). Datome played for the Pistons and Celtics last season.
Fuquan Edwin drew interest from three NBA teams after he scored 16 points and made two steals for the Pelicans’ summer league team, Adam Zagoria of SNY.TV tweets. The former Seton Hall shooting guard played for Guaros de Lara in the Venezuelan league last season.