The Magic announced in a press release (via Twitter) that they have opted to pick up their third-year team options on second-year players Cole Anthony, Chuma Okeke and R.J. Hampton. This move will keep them under contract through the 2022/23 season.
The conclusion of October serves as the deadline for rookie scale option decisions for 2022/23. The salaries for all three young Magic players through the ’22/23 season are now guaranteed. That year, Anthony will earn $3.6MM, Okeke will make $3.4MM, and Hampton will pull in $2.4MM.
When healthy, the 6’2″ Anthony, showed plenty of promise at the point. The No. 15 pick in the 2020 draft averaged 12.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 4.1 APG across 47 games.
Okeke, the No. 16 selection in the 2019 draft out of Auburn, only made his NBA debut during the 2020/21 season. The 6’6″ power forward averaged 7.8 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 2.2 APG in 45 appearances.
Hampton was drafted with the No. 24 pick and kicked off his NBA career with the Nuggets. After failing to carve out meaningful rotation minutes across 25 games with Denver, Hampton was sent to the Magic. In Orlando, the 6’4″ guard averaged 11.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 2.8 APG over 26 games.
You can track all of the rookie scale team option decisions for 2022/23 right here.
The tandem of Anthony & Fultz at PG looks very exciting moving ahead & if you add RJ at the SG… I would say ORL has a very exciting & intriguing trio of guards, the position is very well covered… now they need to fill the wings, as the C seems good as well with WJC & Bamba!