Orlando Magic: 5 offseason roster moves they must make

5. Decline Melvin Fraser’s team option

The Orlando Magic have $122 million worth of guaranteed contracts next season. Therefore it might seem fiscally responsible to exercise Melvin Fraser’s $1.6 million team option. This however is not the case.

Fraser is a 6’5″ shooting guard with just two years of NBA experience. His production last season was poor, averaging 2.1 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.5 steals per game. These numbers are all up on his rookie season.

There are obviously reasons for this. He played behind Fournier, Terrance Ross and Carter-Williams in the rotation. He averaged 6.6 minutes in the 19 games that he played for the franchise last season.

However, the Magic will be able to get a player who fits their needs a lot better than Frazier in any number of ways. If they draft a player in the second round, he will not cost them a great deal. The could also sign a free agent to the veterans minimum.

The Magic have such a relatively high payroll for a team who is only just scraping into the playoffs in the East every year. This means they are either going to have to trade well to improve their stocks or use every single roster spot to it’s full advantage.

While it is unlikely that the Magic will contend in the upcoming season, they are going to be vying for a playoff spot again. These roster moves will keep them competitive, potentially moving them a little higher in the standings.