Orlando Magic Salary Cap History
Largest Guarantees
The Orlando Magic have a long history of signing players to large contracts. In fact, they have the distinction of having given out the largest guaranteed contract in NBA history. In 2016, the Magic signed Nikola Vucevic to a five-year, $100 million contract. This contract was the largest ever given to a player who was not a superstar. However, Vucevic has proven to be worth the investment, as he has been a key part of the Magic's success in recent years.
Other notable large guarantees given out by the Magic include:
- Dwight Howard: Six-year, $120 million contract (2006)
- Jameer Nelson: Four-year, $37 million contract (2008)
- Tobias Harris: Four-year, $94 million contract (2017)
Player Options
Player options are a type of contract that gives the player the option to opt out of their contract after a certain number of years. This can be a valuable tool for players who are looking to maximize their earning potential. The Magic have had a number of players who have exercised their player options, including:
- Nikola Vucevic: Opted out of his contract in 2019 to sign a larger deal with the Magic
- Aaron Gordon: Opted out of his contract in 2020 to sign a larger deal with the Denver Nuggets
- Evan Fournier: Opted out of his contract in 2021 to sign a larger deal with the New York Knicks
Qualifying Offers
Qualifying offers are a type of contract that teams can offer to their own players who are set to become free agents. If a player accepts a qualifying offer, they will remain with their current team for one year at a salary that is set by the league. The Magic have made a number of qualifying offers to their players over the years, including:
- Mo Bamba: Qualified in 2022
- Gary Harris: Qualified in 2023
- Jalen Suggs: Qualified in 2024
Conclusion
The Orlando Magic have a long and storied history of salary cap management. They have made some big splashes in free agency, and they have also been smart about their spending. As a result, the Magic have been able to build a competitive team that is always in contention for the playoffs.
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