By all accounts, Terrence Ross offered the rebuilding Orlando Magic with the perfect veteran presence through the 2021-22 season. But Ross has made one factor clear: He’d wish to proceed his profession elsewhere.
Before the season ended, Ross informed the Orlando Sentinel he anticipated to be traded in March 2021 when the Magic traded former franchise mainstays Nikola Vučević, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier forward of the commerce deadline to launch a rebuild centered round youthful expertise.
A deal for Ross didn’t materialize and he completed the 2020-21 season in Orlando.
“They kind of were making that move already when they started trading the other guys,” Ross informed the Orlando Sentinel. “They just didn’t get around to me. They told me that’s what they were planning to do with me.”
Ross, 31, entered the 2021-22 season as one in every of Orlando’s few veterans — together with Gary Harris and Robin Lopez — whereas many of the roster was composed of gamers 24 years outdated or youthful.
Early within the season, he had a outstanding position within the rotation coming off the bench, averaging 10.6 factors in 24.2 minutes in 51 of 60 video games earlier than the All-Star break.
Ross was among the many few Magic gamers who was anticipated to be out there for a commerce forward of the Feb. 10 commerce deadline. It was reported by The Athletic, citing unnamed sources, that Orlando wished draft capital — resembling a first-round decide — for Ross.
When requested what he wished heading into the deadline, Ross responded, “Maybe, just like, a new beginning.”
Ross wasn’t traded and his position diminished after the break in mild of the Magic prioritizing giving their youthful gamers extra alternatives to develop.
He performed in 12 of the ultimate 22 video games, averaging 7.4 factors in 17.9 minutes. Ross stated he was informed of the plan to reduce his taking part in time, together with that of Harris, in early March.
Ross completed the season averaging 10 factors in 23 minutes — each of which have been his lowest marks because the 2017-18 season when he was restricted to 24 video games due to a sprained medial collateral ligament in his proper knee and a non-displaced fracture of his proper tibial plateau.
His subject purpose share (39.7%) and 3-point share (29.2%) have been profession lows. Ross completed with a career-high 15.6 factors in 29.3 minutes (46 video games) in 2020-21.
Despite the diminished position, gamers and coaches stated Ross continued to have a optimistic affect for the Magic.
“The great part about Terrence is he’s a pro,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley stated. “That’s the beauty of him. He understands exactly [what’s happening], allowing some of these young guys to get the playing time and moving in and out of lineups, but he’s always kept himself ready. He always does a good job of communicating with myself, our staff and our players. He’s just been a pro. That’s what we’ve asked of him and he’s done that.”
Although he’s made it clear he’d wish to be in a special scenario, Ross stated he hasn’t explicitly requested a commerce.
He’s getting into the final season of a 4-year, $54 million contract ($50 million assured) he signed with the Magic through the 2019 offseason. Ross, who’s the longest-tenured Magic participant in having been in Orlando since February 2017, has an $11.5 million wage for 2022-23 — about $1 million greater than the projected commonplace mid-level exception ($10.3 million).
Unless he indicators an extension — which is seemingly unlikely because it’d put a six-month commerce maintain on Ross — he’ll be an unrestricted free agent within the 2023 offseason.
“We’re definitely in different spots,” Ross stated. “I feel like I’m a part of that old regime, and they’re going in a different direction. I don’t know what they’ve got in store for me. It’s hard to say. They don’t really let me know too much about what they’re doing. I’m kind of here just along for the ride.”
When requested if he deliberate on having conversations with the Magic’s entrance workplace about eager to be traded, Ross responded: “They know that. They’re well aware of that, so there’s no point. They’re going to do what they want to do regardless.”
Ross reiterated his need to be in a special scenario throughout a current look on the Buckets podcast.
“They’re in a rebuild and I’m kind of past that stage,” Ross stated. “If I used to be youthful or on the contract earlier than this, it’d be a special story. But I’ve form of already completed that. I’m 10 years in. Time is form of going in opposition to me at this level. I don’t need to keep in one other rebuild.
“It’s been great here. I’ve had fun. I’ve had my chance to be a part of something where it was me and a couple of other guys to take it as far as we could. We had some good runs. We had fun. But I’m ready to transition to something else.”
What form of scenario would Ross need to be in?
“At least being on a contender and just helping a team and bringing some of the knowledge I have of being a vet,” Ross stated on the Buckets podcast. “Coming off the bench and get buckets.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com