Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic will decline Joe Ingles' $11 million option for the 2024-25 season, making him a free agent.

Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Magic and Ingles will continue to have dialogue about a reunion when he hits the open market.

Ingles inked a two-year, $22 million contract with the Magic last July. He averaged 4.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists as Orlando made the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20.

The veteran guard is clearly well past his prime and averaged just 17.2 minutes per game last season, but he remained a steady hand when on the floor. He hit 43.5 percent of his threes last season, and long-range shots accounted for 161 of his 227 shot attempts overall.

"He's absolutely great for this group," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley told reporters of Ingles. "He keeps it real with these guys about the things that we're doing, the things that they're seeing, what he's seen throughout the league. And, all jokes aside, he is all about winning. And whatever that means, if he plays eight minutes or he plays 18 minutes, he's preached the same message to this group about what we need to do to become successful."

It's not out of the realm of possibility that Ingles returns to Orlando on a deal with a lower salary. He's been overwhelmingly positive about his experience with the organization, and his family targeted the Orlando area in part because the area has a school where they felt comfortable sending their son, Jacob, who is autistic.

Ingles turns 37 in August, so it would make sense for him to prioritize his family's long-term comfort over salary at this point. Perhaps the two sides could find a compromise where Ingles signs a two-year deal worth the same $11 million to help finish out his career.

As the Orlando Magic try to upgrade their offense for the 2024-25 season, their interest in Klay Thompson could depend on what type of deal the five-time All-Star is looking for in free agency.

Per The Action Network's Matt Moore, the Magic are willing to offer Thompson a short-term contract with a higher average annual salary starting in the range of two years and $50 million total.

The relationship between Thompson and the Golden State Warriors is difficult to figure out at this point.

General manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. told reporters earlier this week they want Thompson back, but the business side of things has to be factored into their decision-making process this offseason:

"I think, look, I think I'm reasonable, I'm rational. That's how I'm always going to operate. But to say a guy like Klay Thompson who has meant so much to this franchise, to completely strip the emotion away from it, I think that's almost impossible. But this is a business. We'll talk through things and continue to talk through things. Like I said, we are hopeful but you know, we'll see. We've got to figure things out."

The Warriors are in a position to merely be over the cap this summer, as opposed to over the first or second apron that would restrict their ability to add talent to the roster. It would require them to let Thompson leave in free agency to stay in that position.

It's unclear what kind of deal Thompson can expect to receive when free agency begins on Sunday.

ESPN's Bobby Marks noted he would offer Thompson a two-year, $70 million contract, but he did note teams like the Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder could try to entice him by offering a third year.

The Magic are projected to have $35 million in cap space to use in free agency. They could also use a point guard to help facilitate, but Moore wrote the team is "comfortable" going into the season with Jalen Suggs as the starter.

Thompson would solve Orlando's need for three-point shooting. The Magic finished tied for the fewest three-pointers made (11.0) and tied for 23rd in three-point percentage (35.2) last season.

Even though Thompson is no longer at his peak, he is still an effective three-point shooter. He connected on 38.7 percent of his attempts from behind the arc last season.

A team like the Magic, which is loaded with defensive talent at the wing position, would take some of the pressure off Thompson on that end of the court and allow him to focus primarily on upgrading their offense.

Isaiah Hartenstein's free agency market appears to be heating up.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported that the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder appear to be the front-runners to land the former New York Knicks center.

"Orlando and Oklahoma City continue to be teams cited most often by rival executives when forecasting Hartenstein's likely suitors in free agency," Stein wrote.

The 25-year-old averaged 7.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 75 games for the Knicks in 2023-24. He accumulated those statistics in 49 starts and averaged 25.3 minutes.

This was the most starts and minutes he has played in his NBA career, and much of this came due to injuries to Mitchell Robinson. With Robinson set to resume his role as the starter and with the Knicks bringing in Mikal Bridges and hoping to still sign OG Anunoby in free agency, Hartenstein looks like a luxury it can't afford.

This brings Oklahoma City and Orlando into the mix, and Hartenstein could be a solid addition to both squads. Oklahoma City went 57-25 and earned the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder would advance to the second round of the playoffs, falling to the Dallas Mavericks.

While this was a big season for Oklahoma City, it was the team's return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019-20 and adding a veteran like Hartenstein could benefit a young star like Chet Holmgren and also provide some stability to the bench.

Orlando is in a similar situation. The Magic earned the No. 5 seed with a 47-35 record and fell in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Orlando had also not qualified since the 2019-20 season, and Hartenstein could serve as a solid depth piece to aid Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero.

NBA free agency is set to begin June 30.

The Orlando Magic are reportedly debating a possible attempt to draw Denver Nuggets shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency amid interest from the Philadelphia 76ers, per NBA insider Marc Stein.

"Sources say Philadelphia and Orlando are weighing runs at Caldwell-Pope with their cap space if, as increasingly expected, he declines his $15.4 million player option with the Nuggets to enter free agency and field richer offers," Stein wrote.

Caldwell-Pope, an 11-year veteran, averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season and was integral to the Nuggets' championship run a year ago.

Caldwell-Pope could be a solid fit in Orlando as the Magic look to continue building around young star Paolo Banchero. Behind Banchero, Orlando took the Cleveland Cavaliers to seven games in the first round of the playoffs and is clearly on its way to being a force in the East.

But the team lacks much of a veteran presence, and Caldwell-Pope could be exactly that. He has a pair of championships under his belt with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020 and the Nuggets in 2023, so he could come in and help the young team learn how to take the next step.

The Magic were also seen as a potential suitor for Golden State Warriors veteran shooting guard Klay Thompson, but there has reportedly been "no traction" ahead of free agency. Thompson would have been a strong option for Orlando, but Caldwell-Pope could still help the team improve.

A future in Orlando does not appear likely for Klay Thompson.

Anthony Slater of The Athletic reported that Thompson and the Orlando Magic have had "no traction" in terms of a potential free agent contract and that some believe Thompson returning to the Golden State Warriors may be "inevitable."

"There has been no traction between Thompson and the Orlando Magic, according to league sources, despite some initial mutual interest," Slater wrote. "Other cap space teams like the Philadelphia 76ers and Oklahoma City Thunder could theoretically enter the mix. But Thompson's best offers may end up smaller in money and shorter in years than many predicted or expected, leading some to presume that'll lead back to an inevitable reunion with the Warriors at a rate both sides are comfortable."

Thompson has spent his entire career with the Warriors, winning four NBA Championships and earning five All-Star selections and two All-NBA designations.

While a return to Golden State would likely be preferable for Thompson, it may be difficult to execute. He is set to hit free agency, and the Warriors currently have negative cap space, per Spotrac.

There were rumors that Golden State had offered Thompson a two-year contract, although Slater reported that there wasn't currently an official offer on the table.

If he hits free agency, Orlando could be an intriguing option. Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 77 games in 2023-24. While he may not be producing as well as he did in his prime, he could be a strong veteran scoring presence for a youthful Magic team.

Orlando went 47-35 this past season and reached the postseason for the first time since 2019-20. The young core centers around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, and adding a player like Thompson could be exactly what the Magic need to take a step forward.

While there is currently no traction on the contract front, it could be something to look for during the early days of free agency.

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark has been all over national television since making her WNBA debut, and Orlando Magic All-Star forward Paolo Banchero is in full support of the push.

In response to a post on X about the fact that Clark's games have already been featured more times on ESPN than Banchero's games over the course of his two seasons in the NBA, Banchero posted the following:

Clark's WNBA career is just four games old, but given her status as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and the fact that she was one of the biggest stars in women's college basketball history at Iowa, the league and ESPN are understandably giving her as much exposure as possible.

While every indication is that Clark will be a superstar for many years to come, her WNBA career is off to a rough start from an overall team perspective.

Clark is averaging a solid 17.0 points, 5.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game, but the Fever are 0-4, underscoring why they had the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft in the first place.

As for Banchero, he is coming off a highly successful and somewhat surprising season with the Magic.

Banchero was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft out of Duke, and while there was much debate regarding whether the pick should have been him, Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr., he has lived up to the top billing thus far.

During his debut season in 2022-23, Banchero averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.2 three-pointers made per game, earning him NBA Rookie of the Year honors in a landslide vote.

Even so, the Magic went just 34-48 and missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Improvement was expected in 2023-24, but Banchero and Co. took a far bigger step than most thought, going 47-35 and securing the No. 5 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Banchero himself made significant strides as well, averaging 22.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 three-pointers made per game en route to his first career All-Star selection.

Since Banchero and the Magic won't be sneaking up on anyone next season, it is likely they will be featured far more in nationally televised games, but until then, Banchero clearly isn't jealous about Clark getting her flowers.

The Orlando Magic and Klay Thompson have "mutual interest" with the Golden State Warriors star entering NBA free agency, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Charania reported Monday on FanDuel TV's Run It Back that Thompson and other notable free agents are looking at Orlando as an attractive opportunity:

Paul George, who can opt out of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, has been floated as another target for Orlando.

Nothing is assured when it comes to whether the Magic actually land a marquee star, but it's a pretty safe bet they'll at least try.

Per Spotrac, they can create as much as $58.2 million in salary cap space, which is more than enough to put a max contract on the table. With the means to do something big, the front office will also be driven by a fifth-place finish in the Eastern Conference and believe an experienced vet can help to elevate a young, promising squad.

Thompson would undoubtedly help to address one of the Magic's biggest issues on offense. They averaged the fewest three-point makes per game (11.0) and ranked 24th in three-point percentage.

While he's no longer the dynamic two-way guard he was in his prime, Thompson remains an elite sharpshooter. He connected on 38.7 percent of his long-range attempts this year.

The 34-year-old would also bring the proverbial "championship DNA" after having won four titles with the Golden State Warriors.

Still, it's worth asking whether Thompson is the right free agent to pursue, assuming he'd sign for at or near the max. He hasn't been the same player since his ACL and Achilles injuries and may not age gracefully as he gets deeper into his 30s.

Smaller-market franchises such as Orlando can't afford to have gambles like these backfire. You can picture a future in which Thompson's contract becomes a burden and limits what the Magic would be able to do elsewhere on the roster.

Whether or not the five-time All-Star lands in Central Florida, it looks like he'll have some rival suitors if he wants to leverage their interest into a better deal with Golden State.

After trailing by as many as 18 points in the first half, the Cleveland Cavaliers stormed back to defeat the Orlando Magic 106-94 in Game 7 of their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

Cavs star guard Donovan Mitchell put on a show for the home fans at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and spearheaded the victory for Cleveland, putting the team on his back with 39 points, 24 of which came in the second half. No other player on the team scored more than 15 points. Mitchell added nine rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block in the win.

The Cavs needed Mitchell to be at his best to stave off a strong performance by Magic forward Paolo Banchero, who led Orlando with 38 points and 16 rebounds. The second-year star got off to a hot start with 24 points in the first half, but Cleveland stepped up its defensive effort on him over the final two quarters.

Fans on social media were delighted by the duel between Mitchell and Banchero, but it was Mitchell who earned a massive amount of praise for leading the Cavs to their first playoff series win since 2018:

Mitchell's stellar game came after he scored 50 points in a Game 6 loss to Orlando. He was clearly motivated to help Cleveland avoid another early playoff exit, and he will need to maintain that level of intensity as the postseason continues.

The Cavs will now move on to face the top-seeded Boston Celtics in the second round starting on Tuesday, which won't be an easy matchup following their tough seven-game battle with the Magic. However, if Mitchell keeps playing this way, Cleveland could pull off a shocking upset.