Grade the deal: Magic address need, give C.J. Watson a three-year deal
The Orlando Magic and guard C.J. Watson have agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract, reports Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears.
Watson spent the last two seasons with the Indiana Pacers. He averaged 10.0 points, 3.6 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 2014–15, starting 21 games.
The 31-year-old is an eight-year NBA veteran who has also played for the Golden State Warriors, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.
On Friday, the Magic agreed to a reported four-year, $64 million deal with restricted free-agent forward Tobias Harris. You can read SI.com's grade of that deal here.
• MORE NBA: Free agent tracker | Grading every deal | Position rankings
NBA free agent deals can't officially be signed until July 9.
Orlando finished 25–57 last season, its third straight year with a winning percentage below .500.
Analysis: Watson is a prescription for Orlando’s most obvious need (perimeter shooting) and should work well in conjunction with its young, developing core. That the eight-year veteran has ample experience on and off the ball will serve him well with the Magic. Manning the backcourt with any combination of Victor Oladipo, Elfrid Payton, or Mario Hezonja will come with its own unique responsibilities, most of which Watson’s flexible game should be able to accommodate. This is a substantial upgrade over Luke Ridnour, to say the least, and a prudent addition for a team that already has plenty of talent to work with. Let the prospects grow and blend in veterans like Watson to help them along. — Rob Mahoney
Grade: B+
- Molly Geary
