Magic pick up options on Vucevic, Harris, Harkless and Nicholson
The Orlando Magic exercised player options on four players on Saturday, keeping many of their young pieces in the fold through 2014-15.
#Magic will pick up fourth year options on Nik Vucevic and Tobias Harris and third year options on Mo Harkless and Andrew Nicholson today.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) October 26, 2013
As usual, these moves are not surprising. NBA rookie contracts are structured such that only the most disappointing young players do not have their cap-friendly options picked up by their team.
Nikola Vucevic is the highlight here - the Swiss big man will not earn $2.75 million for 2014-15, his final season before restricted free agency. Vucevic had a breakout 2012-13, averaging 13.1 points and 11.9 rebounds as a sophomore.
Tobias Harris, originally a Milwaukee Bucks draft pick by way of Charlotte, was acquired in last year's J.J. Redick trade. He averaged 17.3 points and 8.5 rebounds in 27 games after joining the Magic, making his $2.38 million 2014-15 salary a likely bargain.
Andrew Nicholson will earn $1.55 million next year, a slight raise on his $1.48 salary for this year. He averaged 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds as a rookie and flashed potential as a floor spacing big.
Mo Harkless averaged 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds as a rookie. His 2014-15 salary will also be a slight raise from this year, bumping him from $1.81 million to $1.89 million.
The options on Vucevic and Harris are fourth-year options while Nicholson and Harkless had their third-year options picked up.
The Magic figure to be substantially below the salary cap this summer with plenty of young talent on the roster.