Magic agree to 4-year deal with stretch forward Channing Frye
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Refuting the notion that they weren't going to be actively pursuing free agents this offseason, the Orlando Magic have agreed to terms on a four-year, $32 million deal with forward Channing Frye.
Although he stands 6-foot-11, the 31-year-old Frye would address the lack of reliable 3-point shooting on the Magic following the trading of Arron Afflalo and the waiving of Jameer Nelson. He knocked down at least 160 3-pointers in three of his past four seasons with the Phoenix Suns.
Frye is also a first cousin of Magic forward Tobias Harris. While their styles of play are similar, Harris was not as dependable of an outside shooter as when the Magic acquired him in February 2013 from the Milwaukee Bucks.
Wow @tobias31 @Channing_Frye on the same team looks like a family affair just waiting on one more ?☺️
— Tyler Harris (@Tyler25Harris) July 7, 2014
The contract cannot become official until Thursday because of the moratorium imposed by the NBA on all teams from completing free-agent signings.
Frye is an eight-year veteran who spent two seasons each in New York and Portland before going to Phoenix. He had to sit out the entire 2012-13 season after a regular physical screening by the Suns revealed he had an enlarged heart. But he did not miss a single game this past season while averaging 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds for a team which exceeded almost all expectations in coming within a few games of making the playoffs.
Neither Magic general manager Rob Hennigan nor coach Jacque Vaughn were at the Orlando Pro Summer League on Monday, a sign that something might have been up before the lifting of the moratorium.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.