Report: Magic to sign E’Twaun Moore

The already complete and overdrawn Magic roster is nearing final completion. Looking for a third point guard and some more talent to develop, the Magic are set to sign second-year player E’Twaun Moore, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday.

Moore latched on with the Celtics last year as a second round pick in the 2011 Draft. He averaged 2.9 points per game in 38 games. He shot 38.1 percent from the floor and 37.8 percent from beyond the arc for Boston. His time with the Celtics included a 16-point performance on 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc in that comeback win over the Magic in Orlando on Jan. 26. It was a low-point for the Magic, but a career day for Moore. It was the only time he scored more than 10 points all season.

Boston traded him to Houston during free agency in exchange for Courtney Lee. According to several reports, Moore will sign a two-year deal with part of the first year guaranteed.

“There’s an opportunity there in Orlando, and I think he wanted to seize the opportunity,” Moore’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, told Robbins. “Both [Magic GM] Rob Hennigan and [Magic assistant GM] Matt Lloyd did a great job of recruiting him, making their pitch and explaining why it’ll be a great fit.”

Moore obviously has a lot of development to do. And that is something the Magic are willing to wait through right now. Orlando has a ton of young players and plenty of patience in the wake of the Dwight Howard trade. That is the kind of environment Moore can come in and succeed in. Or at least have an opportunity to succeed in. That is what the next few seasons will be about.

Of course, there is one problem. Orlando has 17 contracts with some type of guarantee. The team will only be allowed to carry 15 when the season begins. That undoubtedly means two will go. Which two and how will the Magic move them is still up to Rob Hennigan. The decision will likely come with training camp.

Larry Ridley of WESH Channel 2 reports the Magic are likely done with their manuevering for the summer:

Twitter / mrlarryridley: #Magic source tells me they’re … via kwout

The offseason seems about done.

So what are Moore’s chances to make the roster?

Orlando definitely was looking for a third point guard to complete its roster. Moore is not exactly that, although he can play point guard in a bind. Moore was a scorer and defender in college at Purdue. He averaged 18.0 points per game and 3.2 assists per game as the Boilermakers small forward his senior year in 2011. He shot 44.7 percent from the floor which is pretty good for a high-usage star player in a conference well known for its defense.

Moore was a bit undersized to play the three full time and he is more of a shooting guard than a point guard. He had some consistency problems in college and was never quite a consistent scorer. But his defense and his effort were always pretty solid.

Those skills tend to translate to the NBA. All Moore needs is an opportunity. That might be tough in Orlando with the problem with the roster spots beginning to build. But the Magic need some help at guard with just Jameer Nelson, Ish Smith, Arron Afflalo and J.J. Redick best suited for the guard spots. Moore gives Orlando some flexibility since he could potentially play both positions, giving Orlando some much needed depth.

While the Magic are probably done making moves for now. This will not be the last thing the Magic do before the season officially beings in November.

Image: celticsgreen.blogspot.com