The Magic’s last few months -- dumping Tobias Harris and Channing Frye; trading Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis and Ersan Ilyasova for Serge Ibaka, who’s headed into unrestricted free agency in a year; trading for Jodie Meeks; signing D.J. Augstin -- have been confounding, to say the least.
But here’s a move that’s clear and logical.
The Magic announced their desire to re-sign Evan Fournier, and they’re doing it -- at great value.
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports:
Evan Fournier gets a five-year, $85 million contract extension to stay in Orlando, source told @TheUndefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 1, 2016
I thought Fournier might have gotten a max offer sheet, which would have been worth more over four years -- projected to be $95 million -- than he’ll get in five with Orlando. This is a steal by the Magic.
Fournier is a sweet-shooting wing who can also attack the rim and has shown glimpses of doing more as a playmaker. And he’s just 23.
How Evan Turner will make more per season than Fournier, I won’t understand.
On top of it, Fournier’s cap hold is just $5,720,513. The Magic can use the rest of their cap space then exceed the cap to re-sign Fournier. You’d think by granting them such flexibility, he’d get more money.
Orlando did great here.
