The Magic Insider

What's Magic's Top Free Agency Priority?

The Orlando Magic must prioritize the solidification of their core in the 2024 NBA offseason.

Jeremy Brener

May 3, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) shoots a three point basket
May 3, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) shoots a three point basket / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic have the world as their oyster this offseason with loads of cap space and a promising core already engrained for the roster for years to come.

While it may look like the Magic need another star or veteran to help push the team forward, that may not be the top priority for Orlando's offseason.

Magic president Jeff Weltman talked about the need to keep the young core together, like Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs, and extend some players for the long haul.

"That's a huge component of the summer is we have young players who are extension eligible," Weltman said. Again, that gets layered into free agency and the draft and obviously we want to try to keep together our core and build, not subtract," Weltman said. "Cap space is great, but this is coming in all of us, especially with the new CBA, we have a lot of hard decisions to make coming up. And so that starts this summer, so we'll obviously engage with the representatives for the players that are extension eligible. We'll be hopeful that we can come to some sort of agreement."

Wagner and Suggs are extension-eligible this offseason as first-round picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. If they don't sign extensions this summer, they will become restricted free agents in a year from now. It's not really a matter of if, but when, these players get their long-term deals. Given the fact that they are coming off a playoff run, they could be in line for massive paydays very soon.

Related stories on the Orlando Magic

  • MAGIC SIGN PAUL GEORGE?: If the Los Angeles Clippers don't sign Paul George this offseason, should the Orlando Magic offer the star a contract? CLICK HERE
  • SHOULD MAGIC STEER CLEAR OF KLAY THOMPSON?: Despite having a need for 3-point shooting, the Orlando Magic should pass on legendary Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson.
     CLICK HERE
  • WENDELL CARTER JR. UNDERGOING SURGERY: Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. missed 20 games due to a broken hand. CLICK HERE
Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

Home/Free Agency