The good news is that the team will reportedly have quite a few good players who are willing to take less to join a title contender in Los Angeles.
The team is expected to have the $5.9 million, mini mid-level exception to use in free agency, and can exceed the cap to re-sign their own free agents like Talen Horton-Tucker and Alex Caruso, but beyond that will mostly be adding to the roster with veteran’s minimum contracts. The Magic would also benefit from no longer having the inconsistency problems with Oladipo and having a more balanced offensive attack.Īccording to Hollinger, the Kings would improve their projected win total by two games and the Magic’s projected win total would decrease by two wins.With Russell Westbrook returning home to play with Anthony Davis and LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers don’t have a ton of cap flexibility to add players around their three stars.
This is a blockbuster-type trade that could help the Kings make and compete in the playoffs this season and for years to come. This deal shakes out fairly for both teams. The Magic could get great value out of two players on expiring contracts and Oladipo, who has had some inconsistencies through position changes to production over the course of a season. The offensive capability and attack could easily change from an inside-out approach to an outside-in approach within each game. He would force opposing defenses to collapse and crowd the paint, which would open up the three-point shooting barrage for Hezonja and Payton. Ultimately, Gay would provide a great pair with Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic. The sophomore point guard has improved his three-point shot by 9.2 percentage points, but his field goal percentage continues to hover around 42 percent. He’s already proven to be a triple-double threat as a good passer and rebounder, but his scoring continues to be in question.
It would also allow for the development of Elfrid Payton as a scoring point guard. With Gay in his prime, they’d be getting a proven scorer on the wing that would make a great pair with rookie three-point specialist Mario Hezonja. The Magic would get a lot of value from this deal and could possibly win the trade. Going forward, the Kings could have a premier player at the shooting guard position in a couple of years. Though the Kings would have a short-term gain from using these two, they are both on expiring contracts and probably wouldn’t be retained. Oladipo can focus on scoring on the perimeter with his three-point range or as a slasher.Īdding Andrew Nicholson and Evan Fournier give the Kings added depth in both the front court and on the wing. That wouldn’t be a problem with the Kings with Rondo at point guard. Since he has been used at the point guard position and as a primary ball handler with the Magic, his turnovers have been somewhat of a problem.