According to ESPN, the Magic officially declined to exercise Big Wagner's $8 million team option, which would go straight to free agency. Big Wagner is 210cm tall, fierce in grabbing boards, and can shoot three-pointers, but the Magic's high-quality spatial interior line, in an average of 17.7 minutes per game this season, can score 10.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and shoot 60.1% from the field, and the price is less than 10 million.
George has officially made the decision to decline to exercise his final year's $47.8 million player option and become a full free agent. The way to execute the contract deal no longer exists, the Warriors have failed in their wishes, and there is no way to make an offer. George has no initiative at the moment, just waiting for another team to make an offer, since he chooses to leave, there must be a team that wants and is still the highest salary. There are currently no more than two playoff-caliber teams that have space and are willing to sign George, and the 76ers and Magic are officially in the battle for George.
The current situation shows that the Magic has the greatest advantage, first of all, the Magic has made room for George, and after refusing to execute Dawa's contract, they just made up 50 million salary space. In addition, the Magic's personnel mix is more reasonable than that of the 76ers, there are no big-name stars vying for power, and the team's current roster is dominated by young rookies and no veterans. Banchero, Wagner Jr., Suggs, Carter, Fultz, Anthony, and Isaac are all some players with strong immediate combat power, and the lineup is both internal and external. On the contrary, the 76ers are different, the star Embiid has a serious hip pull attribute in the playoffs, Maxey has a nervous knife attribute, the offense is extremely unstable, and it also needs a lot of ball possession, and the other positions are some players who lack aggression. If George goes to the 76ers, the team may not be as good as the Clippers.
Go to Magic and be the boss
Due to many factors, the Magic provided George with a higher status, which he wanted the most, so the Magic had a great chance of signing George naked. Since George is still at his peak, both offensive and defensive, there is no problem at all to go to the Magic to be the boss for a few years. This season, he averaged 22.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 47.1% from the field, 41.3% from three-point range, and 90.7% from the free throw line. Driving young players to the playoffs, George can maximize the remaining peaks.