Orlando Magic: Complete 2017 offseason grades
By Luke Duffy
Magic bring the Payne
The Magic welcomed Adreian Payne into the fold by signing him to one of the league’s new two-way deals.
This means the former Minnesota Timberwolves big man can spend up to 45 days during the season with the Magic, with the rest of his time spent in the G League with their Lakeland affiliate.
At 25 years old, however, the move is a puzzling one. Why did the team decide to sign a player who hasn’t done much in his three years in the league to one of these two-way deals? After all, the team only gets two.
Wouldn’t that contract have been better served going to a younger player with more upside? A guy who may not pan out and who is a bigger risk, but who could provide them with a larger return in the future?
Birch already figures to be a project center for the team, and Speights isn’t going anywhere this season. Why then did they use this deal to bring in Payne? Especially when these deals can be turned into minimum contracts the following season?
After such a strong summer where the team was proactive and realistic, it seems a strange move by the front office. It will be some time before we see if it has any positive impact on this team.
Grade: D