2015 Orlando Magic

Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
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Orlando Magic (Last Year: 23-59)

2015-16 Projected Depth Chart:

C: Nikola Vucevic/*Kyle O’Quinn/^DeWayne Dedmon

PF: Channing Frye/Andrew Nicholson

SF: *Tobias Harris/Aaron Gordon/Moe Harkless

SG: Victor Oladipo/Evan Fournier/^Ben Gordon/^Devyn Marble

PG: Elfrid Payton/^Luke Ridnour

NBA Free Agents:

*SF-Tobias Harris (RFA)

*C-Kyle O’Quinn (RFA)

^PG-Luke Ridnour (TO)

^SG-Ben Gordon (TO)

^C-DeWayne Dedmon (TO)

^SG-Devyn Marble (TO)

SG-Willie Green (UFA)

2015-16 Team Salary: Approximately $35.6 million

NBA Offseason Team Needs:

1. What to Do With Tobias: A restricted free agent, Tobias Harris is deserving of a significant pay raise this offseason. The Magic have the right to match any offer sheet that Harris signs with another team, but how high is Orlando willing to go? Cap space is not an issue for the Magic, so they can afford to open up their wallets to keep one of the cornerstones of their rebuilding effort.

2. Rim Protector: As talented as Nikola Vucevic is offensively and as solid he is cleaning up the glass, neither he nor Channing Frye are especially effective rim protectors. The Magic finished second to last in the NBA in blocked shots this season, so they need to add a defensive-minded big man inside.

3. Guard Depth: Orlando holds a $4.5 million team option on the final year of Ben Gordon’s contract and a $2.75 million for Luke Ridnour, plus Willie Green is also a free agent. Since none of that trio is a long-term piece of the Magic’s future and any of them might be cut loose this summer, the team should be on the lookout for affordable guard depth, especially at point guard, since they have a capable backup two in Evan Fournier.