Magic forward James Ennis reportedly will pass on his player option for next season and enter free agency
Orlando Magic forward James Ennis III reportedly will not exercise his $2.1 million player option for the 2020-21 season and instead will become a free agent.
Ennis is one of two Magic players with a player option for next season. Evan Fournier reportedly will exercise his option and return to Orlando.
Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic first reported the news about Ennis via Twitter.
Ennis joined the Magic in a trade-deadline deal with the 76ers under a two-year deal he signed in 2019 with Philadelphia. With Jonathan Isaac lost to a knee injury, the Magic slid Aaron Gordon to the power forward spot. Ennis quickly moved into the starting rotation at small forward and gave the team valuable minutes. He started 18 of the 20 games he played for Orlando.
Acquired as a 3-and-D player, Ennis struggled from 3-point range, shooting just 28.6%, well below his career mark of 35.0%. He did, however, shoot 60.0% on 2-point field goals and was adept at scoring in transition and fast-break situations.
Ennis also showed off his defensive skill and bulldog mentality during the team’s first-round playoff series while defending Bucks guard Khris Middleton.
Ennis averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 24.5 minutes per game. One of his best games came Feb. 24 in Brooklyn when he posted 13 points and four rebounds in a 115-113 victory.
In addition to Ennis, the Magic also used Wes Iwundu in the starting small forward spot after Isaac’s knee injury. Iwundu will become a restricted free agent if he does not receive and accept a qualifying offer from Orlando.
The Magic also will have to decide whether to extend a qualifying offer to forward Gary Clark. He started each of the five playoff games against the Bucks with Gordon out with an injury.
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