12:01pm: The Magic have made it official, announcing that they’ve exercised Iwundu’s option.
11:35am: The Magic are exercising their 2019/20 team option to retain Wesley Iwundu, reports Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The move will lock in Iwundu’s salary for next season, which is worth $1,618,520, per Basketball Insiders.
Iwundu, the 33rd overall pick in the 2017 draft, played a regular rotation role for Orlando in his second NBA season, averaging 5.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 1.1 APG with a .412/.367/.816 shooting line in 68 games (18.1 MPG).
[RELATED: NBA Team Option Decisions For 2019/20]
The 24-year-old small forward is also one of Orlando’s top perimeter defenders. The team’s defensive rating with Iwundu on the court last season was 102.4, compared to 107.5 when he sat. The Magic even managed to post a 93.8 defensive rating during Iwundu’s 60 postseason minutes vs. the eventual-champion Raptors.
With his option exercised, Iwundu is now on track to reach restricted free agency during the summer of 2020.
They gave up just over 10 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor? HOLY S***
Haha, the misplaced decimal has now been fixed, thanks.