The Orlando Magic didn’t train R.J. Hampton’s rookie scale fourth-year workforce choice for the 2023-24 season, a number of sources informed the Orlando Sentinel Friday night.
The Magic exercised the third-year workforce choices on Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner and the fourth-year workforce choices on Cole Anthony and Chuma Okeke for subsequent season, a number of sources stated.
The group confirmed the Sentinel’s reporting, asserting they exercised the 2023-24 choices for Anthony, Okeke, Suggs and Wagner.
Monday is the league-wide deadline for groups to choose up rookie scale choices.
With the Magic not selecting up his workforce choice, Hampton will turn into an unrestricted free agent in July, which means he’s free to signal with any workforce.
The Magic can nonetheless re-sign Hampton as a free agent. In the event that they re-signed him, the Magic could be capped at paying Hampton $4.2 million within the first 12 months of his new contract in line with Spotrac — the quantity of his declined choice.
Hampton’s fourth-year choice not being picked up was barely stunning. Most former first-round picks have their third- and fourth-year workforce choices as a part of their rookie scale contracts exercised.
What made the choice much less stunning is Hampton hasn’t been a constant a part of the rotation.
Earlier than Friday’s win over the Charlotte Hornets, Hampton was averaging 11 minutes, enjoying in 4 of the Magic’s 5 video games.
He performed 9 minutes within the Oct. 22 loss to the Boston Celtics and seven minutes in Monday’s loss to the New York Knicks. Hampton was a wholesome scratch in Wednesday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the primary time that’s occurred because the Magic acquired him from the Denver Nuggets in March 2021.
Hampton was a constant a part of final season’s rotation, averaging 21.9 minutes and enjoying in all 64 video games he was accessible for, together with 14 begins. He averaged 21.9 minutes within the Magic’s 5 preseason video games, suggesting
“I actually can’t say there have been issues I’ve been informed which have been pinpointed so far as why I’m not getting constant minutes or the minutes aren’t the identical as preseason,” Hampton informed the Orlando Sentinel forward of Friday’s recreation, earlier than the Magic introduced their selections on the choices.
“Loads of it’s simply staying prepared. It sounds cliché however it’s the reality. You by no means know when your alternatives going to return. When it does, you must be prepared for it. Once I get that chance, I’ll be prepared.”
With Anthony (proper inner indirect muscle damage), Markelle Fultz (fractured left massive toe), Gary Harris (left knee damage restoration) and Jalen Suggs (sprained proper ankle) sidelined, Hampton had 9 factors (2-of-7), 4 assists, 4 rebounds and a pair of steals in a season-high 25 minutes Friday.
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Electronic mail Khobi Worth at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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