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Magic Set For Start of Free Agency and Summer League

Dan Savage
Director of Digital News

By John DentonJune 30, 2015

ORLANDO – It might be the offseason in the NBA, but there is still plenty of activity league-wide, as evidenced by a flurry of moves conducted on Tuesday by the Orlando Magic.

First, the Magic extended qualifying contract tenders to forward Tobias Harris and center Kyle O’Quinn, meaning that both will become restricted free agents at midnight on July 1. Doing so gives the Magic the right to match offer sheets that Harris and/or O’Quinn sign with other teams if they so choose to do so.

The NBA’s free agency courting period begins in July 1, but no contracts or trades can be finalized until July 9. Orlando is still very much in need of shooting and interior defense – areas that the team hopes to address in free agency.

``I think rim protection is an area we still need to address, however we fully expect to be a better defensive team next year just with the players that are already on the roster,’’ Magic GM Rob Hennigan said. ``We expect to see a sizeable uptick with our defensive abilities next season.

``I think we’ll be fairly active (in free agency) and we’ll continue to search out opportunities of all sizes and all shapes and all forms,’’ Hennigan continued. ``So I think we’ll be very active.’’

The Magic drafted small forward Mario Hezonja in last week’s NBA Draft, but Hennigan said that transaction has no bearing on Orlando’s willingness to retain Harris, the squad’s third-leading scorer last season.

``We don’t see that (the pick of Hezonja) affects (Harris) because we feel like those guys can play together,’’ Hennigan said. ``We feel like Tobias and Aaron (Gordon) are (small forward/power forwards) and Mario is a (shooting guard/small forward), Victor (Oladipo) is a (shooting guard/point guard) and Evan is a (shooting guard/small forward). So there is some versatility there that fits in such a way that they can play together. So our thoughts remain the same – we have every intention to bring Tobias back.’’

In other news on Tuesday, the Magic unveiled the rosters for their squads that will be competing in the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League, which starts Saturday at the Magic’s practice facility inside the Amway Center. The 25-game, seven-day league – held primarily for NBA rookies, inexperienced veteran players and free agents – is closed to the public because of space limitations, but it will be televised in its entirety on NBA TV. Teams from Brooklyn, Charlotte, Detroit, Indiana, Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis, Miami and Oklahoma City will join Orlando’s Blue and White teams.

Elfrid Payton, who finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting this past season, will headline the Blue Magic team. He will play alongside of Aaron Gordon (the No. 4 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft), Devyn Marble (a 2014 second-round pick), Hezonja (last week’s No. 5 pick) and Tyler Harvey (last week’s second round pick).

Hezonja was released from his Spanish League contract on Monday, freeing him to sign with the Magic and participate in some Summer League action. Because Hezonja has already played in 53 games in the Spanish League and EuroLeague play this season, his playing time this week will likely be limited to just a couple of games.

Orlando’s White team will be composed of free-agent players who the Magic want to take an added look at for possible invitations to training camp in late September. Former University of Florida guard Scottie Wilbekin, Glen Rice Jr. and Keith Appling are some of the notable names on the White team’s roster.

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