The Orlando Magic didn’t tender a qualifying supply to Mo Bamba by Wednesday, which is able to make him an unrestricted free agent when free company formally opens at 12:01 a.m. Friday, an individual with information of the scenario instructed the Orlando Sentinel.
The Magic not extending the qualifying supply doesn’t imply Bamba gained’t return. They nonetheless have an curiosity in bringing him again and are anticipated to work on negotiating a brand new deal when the interval opens.
Bamba, the No. 6 choose within the 2018 draft, completed the ultimate season of his 4-year, $24.1 million rookie scale contract in 2021-22.
He averaged career-highs throughout the board, together with minutes (25.7), factors (10.6), rebounds (8.1), blocks (1.7) and assists (1.2) in 71 video games (69 begins).
The Magic had till the shut of enterprise Wednesday to tender a 1-year, $10.1 million qualifying supply to Bamba to make him a restricted free agent.
The transfer didn’t come as a shock. Early Wednesday, it was clear that the Magic had been “unlikely” to make the qualifier, an individual with information of the scenario instructed the Sentinel.
Orlando would have risked diminishing the worth of Bamba’s contract on the commerce market if it prolonged the qualifying supply and he opted into it. Players who return to a workforce on the qualifying supply are now not extension eligible and change into unrestricted free brokers the next season. They even have a no-trade clause for that season they’re on the qualifying supply, that means the workforce would wish the participant’s consent for a commerce.
If the Magic and Bamba comply with a brand new deal, it’d permit Orlando to retain his Bird rights and have extra contract flexibility.
Restricted free brokers can signal a suggestion sheet with any workforce, however the participant’s authentic workforce can retain him by matching the phrases of that provide. As an unrestricted free agent, Bamba can signal with any workforce.
There’s additionally the chance the Magic signal and commerce Bamba.
The Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves are anticipated to be interested by Bamba, an individual instructed the Sentinel.
Teams could talk with free brokers beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday earlier than agreeing to phrases six hours later.
The free company moratorium is a negotiation interval from Friday by way of July 6 through which groups can come to phrases on contracts and different offers whereas the brand new wage cap numbers are adjusted after an audit of league funds. Those offers can change into official at 12:01 p.m. on July 6.
The Magic had three different gamers who had been eligible for 1-year qualifying presents — Bol Bol ($2.7 million) and two-way gamers Ignas Brazdeikis ($50,000) and Admiral Schofield ($50,000).
The Magic prolonged a two-way qualifying supply to Schofield, an individual with information of the scenario instructed the Orlando Sentinel, making him a restricted free agent.
The Magic didn’t publicly touch upon any of those gamers.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com