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Orlando Magic: Three best free agent signings in team history

By Luke Duffy

AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 23: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic sits on the bench late in the game against the Detroit Pistons in Game two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 23, 2003 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Pistons won 89-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 23: Tracy McGrady #1 of the Orlando Magic sits on the bench late in the game against the Detroit Pistons in Game two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2003 NBA Playoffs at The Palace of Auburn Hills on April 23, 2003 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Pistons won 89-77. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2003 NBAE (Photo by Tom Pidgeon/Getty Images) /
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Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /

1. Tracy McGrady

The phrase “the streets will never forget” has never been more true in the case of the legendary Tracy McGrady. Throughout the entirety of the Magic’s existence, no free agent signing ever meant more or worked out better for them. That says a lot about their ability to sign players too because McGrady far from had everything go his way in Orlando.

Injuries derailed a guy who was a legitimate superstar, and it was injuries that stopped Grant Hill from making this list at all, even though when he got to the Magic he looked like he might go on to become the best player in the league. Penny Hardaway was amazing when he was healthy, but there’s only one McGrady.

Six years, $67.5 million was a lot of money in 2000, but McGrady would be an All-Star every season he was with the Magic, and had an ability to create his own shot that would be more than useful if he was around to help today. In 2002-03 he averaged an absurd 32.1 points per contest, although at only four years spent with the organization, fans can only wish it lasted longer.

Those aforementioned injuries where why they Magic traded him to the Houston Rockets, but even that had a positive impact for them. It cleared the decks and allowed them to draft Howard in 2004, and set them on a path to making the finals five years later. McGrady doesn’t deserve all the credit for that, but let’s give some to him anyway because, well he’s Tracy McGrady.

The failure to lead the Magic on any meaningful postseason runs are what goes against him here, but no player ever signed by the team ever has to this point. Certainly, if Grant or Turkoglu where the best players in any given season, the Magic would have gone nowhere. All other major stars were drafted by the franchise.

But McGrady kept fans coming to games, and did something that has proven really hard down through the years. Made the Orlando Magic relevant to the casual fan. Despite being the only team to beat the Bulls during the 90s when Jordan was around, they are still overlooked. When McGrady was coming at you in that classic blue uni though, you knew it was over before it even started.

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