The Magic guaranteed Caleb Houstan‘s $2.01 million salary for the 2024-25 season.
Orlando had until Sunday to either guarantee or decline the third year of Houstan’s rookie-scale contract. Had the Magic decided to not guarantee, Houstan would have become an unrestricted free agent.
The move to guarantee and keep the 2022 second-round pick in Orlando another season was expected and already included into the calculations for the franchise’s projected cap space this summer.
The same day, the Magic agreed to a 3-year, $66 million deal with two-time NBA champion Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. That move left Orlando with roughly $28 million in remaining cap room.
Houstan is one of the few second-round picks (No. 32 overall in ’22) the Magic have used in recent years. Including this year, Orlando has traded its second-round pick in five of the last six drafts to acquire future draft assets.
The Michigan product averaged 4.3 points and 1.4 rebounds during 13.8 minutes in 59 games, which included 13 starts. He shot a career-high 37.3% from 3-point range on 3.3 attempts — an improvement from his rookie mark of 33.8% on 2.7 tries.
He occasionally came off the bench with Orlando’s second unit under Jamahl Mosley and was a spot starter when the team dealt with injuries to guards Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris.
A 3-and-D wing, Houstan often would be ready to pull up in catch-and-shoot situations, and that’s what the Magic needed in him this season to help spread the floor. He also notched at least one steal 11 times and two or more steals twice.
Houstan is entering the third year of a 4-year $8.2 million contract. The Magic have a club option ($2.1 million) for the final year of Houstan’s contract (2025-26).
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
