Magic Urged To Break The Bank For Klay Thompson and Wizards Free Agent, By NBA Insider

The Cleveland ensured they would march forward when they defeated the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7. The only teams to complete the seven-game series this season, the Cavs and Magic, were truly well-matched. And well-played. Paolo Banchero has proven to be the superstar Orlando has been waiting for. Along with him, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have emerged as the three-headed hydra around which they now have to build a brilliant cast. So, while the 2023-24 season has ended, the Magic has a lot of tasks to finish.

Under such circumstances, the next step, naturally, will be to look for skilled players to join their team. But that’s not all. They will also be faced with the strained task of cutting off a few members, too. And NBA Insider for ESPN, Bobby Marks is convinced that if they don’t act fast, Banchero could very well end up stranded in 2024-25.

Bobby Marks recently dropped Orlando Magic Offseason Guide, where he said, “Your front office priorities is going out and utilizing cap space. Can you get Tyus Jones and Klay Thompson? That’s certainly a possibility”. And Marks feels that if they don’t take swift action, Banchero could find himself stranded in 2024-25.

The Warriors’ veteran guard and one lynchpin of the franchise is yet to decide on his continued stay. Not to mention, Thompson has been, for quite some time, rumored to be pursued by the Magic. Although Klay would like to end his career with GSW, current scenarios don’t look too good. The GSW doesn’t exactly have the cap space to agree to what he is asking (how much ever that is) or what he is worth, nor does he seem too favorable to the idea of agreeing to settle for less.

As for Tyus Jones, he would be a perfect fit as the lead guard. Jones has made his wish of staying with the Wizards clear. But his consistency in leading the league in assist/turnover ratio and creating plays for others would do well for the Magic. After all, it is an area that they have to improve.

Does the Orlando Magic truly have the cap space to get these potential candidates?

The Magic does have a cap space for around $35 million. Yes, they do have 11 players already under contract. And also an upcoming first-round pick. But the above-projected financial freedom comes from the team options of Joe Ingles and Moritz Wagner. Also, there is Jonathan Isaac, whose $17.4 million is non-guaranteed owing to missing the entire 2021-22 season.

Add the five tradable firsts to the list and the Magic does look like a major destination for some of the other teams looking to bring in some young blood to their team. But Orlando itself has been in the process of building a contending team. And it was quite evident in the words of the franchise’s President of Basketball Operations, Jeff Weltman. “We definitely feel we’d be able to attract players we would not have been a couple of years ago. I don’t think there is any reason we can’t be thinking about [it].”

The parties involved could no doubt reach an agreement of sorts, given the valuation of Klay Thompson at the max $25 million and Tyus Jones around $20 million. Provided, of course, all of them are willing to go ahead with the deal.