NBA Free Agency: Magic an 'Ideal' Landing Spot for Lakers' Austin Reaves
The NBA free agency period is among us, and this leaves plenty of teams ready to make moves to provide support to their current iteration of their team. For the Orlando Magic, the team has a chance to put more talent around their young core of players led by former No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero.
According to Spotrac, the Magic are projected to have around $23.9 million in cap space to work with for the offseason. This leaves them with room to add a proven player worth a solid chunk of money.
Bleacher Report suggests the Magic to be an ideal landing spot for Austin Reaves.
The Magic could afford to offer Reaves just under a $100 million contract, the highest any team can offer Reaves outright. Of course, being a restricted free agent, the Los Angeles Lakers would be able to match the offer and sign Reaves to the agreed upon contract.
If the Magic were able to land Reaves without the Lakers matching the offer, it would be a good fit for both sides. The Magic have solid guard play in Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Cole Anthony and, now, Anthony Black.
Reaves, a 6-5 wing, could realistically play the small forward role, but would provide value at any wing-play position. He would be the perfect player alongside Banchero, as he's capable of operating an offense.
A lineup including Black, or another young guard, Reaves, Franz Wagner, Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. would be an incredibly strong young core. The Magic would have potential to slide into playoff contention with that potential starting lineup, considering they'll have a good bench behind them.
In his second year, Reaves averaged 13 points per game, shot just under 40 percent from beyond the arc, and made a name for himself as a connector and initiator in the playoffs. He played alongside LeBron James, Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell, yet he was the name making plays from scratch and stepping up in the clutch.
Overall, the Magic could provide the role Reaves wants and can offer the contract he wants, and Reaves could do his part in making the Magic a better squad than they were last season.
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