Jason Smith Drawn by opportunity to the Orlando Magic
By Carson Ingle
The Orlando Magic signed journeyman Jason Smith, who might end up being just the big man the team needs.
The Orlando Magic unveiled a new addition to the roster Tuesday morning they hope will get them that much closer to the playoffs. Seven-year veteran Jason Smith comes to Orlando after one of the better seasons of his career with the New York Knicks.
Sometimes it is a role player who completes the picture. The Magic are hoping Jason Smith can be one of those final pieces next season.
The 7-foot Jason Smith started a career-high 31 games for the Knicks last season and also shot 35.7 percent from three, his best percentage from deep to date. As a stretch big, he could see time in the Magic lineup at both frontcourt spots and gives the team a different look then the recently departed Kyle O’Quinn.
As excited as Orlando might be to work with Smith’s unique skill set, the player is equally optimistic to be with a team he feels is on the rise.
“I think that we have a great group of bigs with Nik (Vucevic), Channing Frye, Dewayne Dedmon,” Smith said. “It’s a good group of guys that are going to go out there and compete for that spot. No matter who’s out there, it’s going to be a great fit for us.
“I think with Coach Skiles coming in, I think he’s going to point the ship in the right direction.” –Jason Smith
“A young core group of guys,” said Smith on reasons to play for the Magic. “Lots of talent. I think with Coach Skiles coming in, I think he’s going to point the ship in the right direction. Get a lot of organization, discipline. I think that’s kind of what his track record has been is really hard-nosed.”
General manager Rob Hennigan may have been able to sell Skiles on Smith by recalling some of his performances against Orlando last season. In a February loss to the Magic, he had a season-high 25 points on 10-for-16 shooting.
Smith also had a 19-point showing in a January win at Madison Square Garden and a stat line of 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists in a surprising 80-79 victory back at Amway Center toward the end of the season. It was that February showing however he opined might at least have something to do with him finding his new home.
“I was on fire,” Smith said. “That was a great game, for me at least. Twenty-one points at half, kind of cooled off in the second half. I think Coach (James) Borrego at the time, he was an old coach of mine down in New Orleans, and he changed up the strategy against me. He said, ‘Don’t let him shoot it anymore.’ It was a fun game for me.”
If Smith can flash the same skills for the Magic he did against them in 2015, he will be a bargain. USA Today’s Sam Amick reported last week he signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with Orlando.
Entering his eighth year in the league, Smith may be even shooting for greater heights. With the power forward spot as the biggest question in the starting lineup, he may have an opportunity to be more than a spot starter.
When asked if a wide-open race to start alongside Nikola Vucevic influenced his decision, Smith simply answered, “Yes, I would lie if I said no.”
He went on to highlight what should be the most interesting roster battle of Magic training camp come October.
“I think that we have a great group of bigs with Nik (Vucevic), Channing Frye [and] Dewayne Dedmon. It’s a good group of guys that are going to go out there and compete for that spot. No matter who’s out there, it’s going to be a great fit for us.”
The Magic have a wealth of options now in the frontcourt. Putting it together in the best combinations possible for each game situation will prove to be the name of the game for head coach Scott Skiles.