The Orlando Magic have bought out the remaining season-and-a-half on forward “Big Baby” Glen Davis’ contract, rendering the veteran frontcourt player a free agent and potentially able to catch on with any playoff bound squad.
The Magic tried in vain to deal Davis prior to Thursday’s trade deadline, allowing them to rid their books of the remainder of the $6.4 million he is due this season and the $6.6 million he was set to earn next year. Terms of the buyout were not revealed.
“It became apparent that they felt it was necessary to try to allow their younger players more time on the court and were in a full rebuild mode,” said Davis’ agent, John Hamilton. “That also meant that would probably impact Glen’s time on the floor. So this is probably the best thing for both the Magic and for Glen. It gives him the opportunity to start anew with a new club that’s in the playoff hunt.”
The 28-year-old, six-year veteran is expected to clear waivers as early as Friday and thus be free to wheel-and-deal with the L.A. Clippers and former Boston coach Doc Rivers thought to be leading the chase for the career 8.5 points, 4.6 rebounds performer. The Brooklyn Nets are also rumored to have interest.
Besides getting Davis’ lucrative salary off their books, the Magic had the added motivation of removing the volatile veteran from their locker room equation. With a core that includes youngsters Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo, Kyle O’Quinn and Andrew Nicholson, management thought it wise to distance themselves from the temperamental forward.
Big Baby’s bad-boy antics in Orlando date all the way back to 2012 when he engaged in a shoot-a-round screaming match with then-coach Stan Van Gundy. After being kicked out of practice, Davis damaged a wall as he stormed into the Magic locker room. Later that same season, he suffered a meltdown in Portland and engaged in a verbal altercation with a fan.
Earlier this season, while still rehabbing from a foot injury, Davis had an off-court incident at a downtown Orlando motel where he threw one of the facility’s keyboards against a wall after he was told there were no rooms available. In all, Davis played in 140 regular-season games for the Magic, averaging 12 points and six rebounds.
