Reasoning Behind Orlando Magic's Low Offseason Grade

So far, the Orlando Magic have used the offseason to bring in Sean Sweeney, their new head coach, and make moves on the margins in free agency.

The free agent market opened on June 30, and the Magic kicked off the month of July by reuniting with former big man Nikola Vucevic on a veteran-minimum deal while also re-signing Jevon Carter and bringing back Jonathan Isaac after waiving the latter just days before.

The Magic entered the offseason with financial limitations due to their standing in the first apron. Therefore, no seismic deal was made when free agency opened, and fans of the team should not expect one. 

Because of Orlando’s free agent decisions, ESPN NBA writer Zach Kram assigned them a D-plus grade for the offseason. Kram’s reasoning was short and sweet, essentially calling out the organization for hoping for better health to elevate the team.

The deal for Vucevic was a good one. He probably could have commanded a bit more money than he signed to return to Orlando, despite being an aging center.

Despite that, Vucevic can still provide solid production, and he is undoubtedly an upgrade for a bench unit that was very weak last season. However, the decisions to keep Jevon Carter and Jonathan Isaac in the building are not so great.

Carter was Orlando’s pickup in last season’s buyout market following another quiet Trade Deadline for the team. As a 30-year-old guard with eight years of NBA experience, he proved to be a solid veteran presence inside the locker room.

Beyond intangibles, Carter had his moments on the floor where he was productive, and he increased his scoring average from 5.4 to 7.2 points per game between his time with the Chicago Bulls and the Magic. However, Carter's 3-point shooting fell drastically from 41% to 33.6% after arriving in The City Beautiful.

At only 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, Carter is an undersized guard. Additionally, he has never been one to facilitate offense, averaging just 1.6 assists during his career. 

He is also not much of a defender. Therefore, if Carter’s shot is not falling, he can become a liability fast. Perhaps a full offseason and training camp with the Magic will help, and it's not as if Carter was handed an albatross contract, but hopefully the team will not have to rely on him too much on the floor.

In Isaac’s case, the decision for a fast reunion is a real head-scratcher. The Magic waived Isaac on June 27 to avoid paying him a guaranteed salary of $14.5 million. Last season, when Isaac was not injured, he was nearly unplayable. 

In 52 games, Isaac averaged 2.6 points while shooting 18.4% from the perimeter, which were the lowest marks of his career. Like Carter, it’s not as if Isaac is making a large sum of money, and it was right to waive him instead of paying him over $14 million. However, why Orlando's front office chose to prioritize a quick reunion with him is bizarre.

Join the Community! Don't miss out on our ROUNDTABLE community and the latest news! It's completely free to join, simply by clicking the yellow button at the top of the homepage. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members. Download the free Roundtable APP and stay even more connected!