The Orlando Magic have had their fair share of poor free agency signings, but these three players top the list of bad decisions.
Although the Orlando Magic are a relatively young franchise, they have had a big say in some key moments in the NBA since coming into the league in 1989. They drafted Shaquille O’Neal and Dwight Howard with first overall picks in the NBA Draft and have made the Finals on two occasions, losing both.
They have made some really good draft picks and free agency signings (Tracy McGrady, Horace Grant), while also having their share of disappointments in both areas as well (Mario Hezonja comes to mind).
Even when they get it right sometimes, they still end up getting it wrong, and we’ve seen this with the Magic drafting Victor Oladipo (only to let him go too soon), re-signing Nikola Vucevic (just because it is still unclear one year later who they were bidding against) and trading for a known commodity in Serge Ibaka (even if that felt wrong in the moment).
But perhaps some of the worst moves the franchise has made is with free agents. They have had a hard time convincing guys to come down to Orlando to play when they haven’t been close to contention, and then when they have been they haven’t always signed the right guy. Players like Vince Carter and Matt Barnes not landing there at the right time to help properly are just two example
What follows is a list of three such individuals who, despite some success in Orlando, have to go down as the worst free agency signings in the team’s history. Be it because of the money given to them or what it meant for the organization in their quest to be relevant, these moves just didn’t quite work out.