The Orlando Magic will continue their reformation when free agency begins Friday morning. They had a little bit of business to take care of Thursday though. Their future was already here.
Serge Ibaka arrived Wednesday and met with general manager Rob Hennigan and Magic brass for the first time since the trade. He was then introduced to the media Thursday.
This one-year experiment is a big opportunity for Ibaka. The beginning of what many hope is a long relationship between one of the most unique and best defenders in the league and this Magic franchise searching for an identity.
There were several first impressions from Ibaka in this first meeting. I shared those with Tuck and O’Neill on 1080 AM Sports Talk Florida along with some free agency thoughts:
There still remains a lot of questions about Ibaka and this Magic team. A whole lot.
Much of Orlando’s free agency hopes now rest on whether Ibaka can take a step up into a new, more featured role. He has never had a usage rate greater than 20 percent. Essentially he is not even getting an equal share of possessions.
The Magic plan to use him in a more featured role. Frank Vogel said he intends to take advantage of all the skills Ibaka has. The big mystery of this deal is whether Ibaka can be more than what he was in Oklahoma City.
That opportunity excites Ibaka alone, as he said in his introductory press conference (h/t Orlando Magic Daily):
“I’ve been working for the last seven years for today,” Ibaka said. “Sometimes, it was hard. In life sometimes we go somewhere, it is hard. I’m working for myself, my family, my future. I’ve been working already. I’m ready.”
That will be the big question for Ibaka. And for the Magic. Can he increase his offensive production and return to his defensive ability.
It is beginning to appear the Magic will not get one of the big fish in this free agency and so much of their improvement will have to come from internal improvement. Improvement from players like Elfrid Payton, Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja.
It will also be dependent on whether a player like Serge Ibaka can take on a bigger role. That may have been the kind of free agent the Magic were looking for anyway.
Ibaka may end up being the biggest acquisition the Magic get this offseason. The team could certainly claim some form of improvement. Of course, all that really will matter is the record.
As Ibaka sat at the table, opportunity certainly is in front of him. He will be given every chance to earn the max contract the Magic would seem willing to give him (at least right now, assuming everything turns out OK). The question is whether he will take advantage of this opportunity.
And whether the Magic’s gamble will pay off is something that is in his hands. Thus his introduction Thursday was perhaps the biggest move of the offseason.
Orlando Solar Bears re-sign Eric Baier
The Orlando Solar Bears announced they have re-signed team captain Eric Baier, the first roster move of the Solar Bears’ offseason.
“Eric Baier represents everything we want the Orlando Solar Bears to be about,” SOLAR BEARS HEAD COACH ANTHONY NOREEN SAID IN A PRESS RELEASE. “He possesses elite character, he’s a great player, is always willing to help in the community and he makes the people around him better.”
Baier recorded 10 goals and 28 assists, completing his third season with the Solar Bears. He was a constant for the team as it dealt with constant call ups and needed some stability. Baier quickly emerged as a team leader and one of its best contributors.
Having that familiar face back next year will be critical for the Solar Bears as they forge their way forward.
