Shooting is the last area left for Orlando Magic to address
The Orlando Magic’s summer is essentially done. But the team did not address one of its biggest needs — shooting. That could lead to action later on.
Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman caught himself as he discussed his team’s summer.
After adding Jonathon Simmons and Shelvin Mack, the roster stood at 13 players. He still had second-round pick Wesley Iwundu unsigned and reportedly another player in the works. The roster was . . .
Well, it is not complete. No roster is ever complete. And the Magic, still with that 29-win season haunting them, can be cautiously optimistic about its improvements but never too sure. Things can be fickle in the NBA.
The roster, though is getting full. The team can carry 15 players plus two players on a two-way contract with their G League affiliate in Lakeland. It is unclear whether the Magic will do so. And the roster stands with 13 guaranteed contracts.
It is increasingly looking like the Magic’s offseason is essentially done. And plenty would note — and rightfully so — the roster is incomplete still, missing some key elements.
"“The roster is nearing — I don’t want to say completion because it’s never complete — but we are filling up the roster spots,” Weltman told Orlando Magic Daily. “I know that an element that every team would like to add is shooting. You can never have enough shooting in the NBA. We’ll continue to seek out ways to add that as we kind of round things out. Conversations are ongoing with us and with other things as well. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and work toward that end.”"
The Magic’s shooting is definitely still a major concern.
Orlando last year had the third-worst field goal percentage in the league last season for the entire year at 44.0 percent. The team had a 32.8 percent mark from beyond the arc, the second worst mark.
The numbers after the All-Star Break were more mixed. The Magic shot 43.8 percent from the field after the break, the second-worst in the league. And they shot 32.0 percent from beyond the arc, the fifth-worst.
Orlando’s best returning 3-point shooter is Evan Fournier who made 35.6 percent of his 3-pointers last year. That is hardly inspiring confidence. The Magic did not re-sign Jodie Meeks, who hit 40.9 percent of his 3-pointers in his 36 appearances last year.
The Magic theoretically have good shooters in Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross. But both of them struggled throughout last season on the Magic. And with few changes or shifts to the roster, the team will still have a similar makeup to the struggling team of last year.
Neither Jonathon Simmons nor Shelvin Mack is a great 3-point shooter either. Simmons is a career 32.2 percent shooter from beyond the arc and hit on just 29.4 percent last year. Mack is a career 32.1 percent 3-point shooter and hit just 30.8 percent of his last year.
It is fair to say Orlando did not address one of its major needs at all in free agency. Even Jonathan Isaac is a questionable 3-point shooter — he hit just 34.8 percent of his 3-pointers last year for the Florida State Seminoles.
Neither Wesley Iwundu nor reported free agent target Khem Birch is a 3-point shooter either.
If the Magic are going to make any more moves this offseason, it likely will be to add this vital shooting element. That is an element the team desperately needs to take the next step up if it is serious about competing.
Maybe some players like Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross and Mario Hezonja will return to their means. Maybe Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton can develop into respectable 3-point threats, at least enough to keep defenses honest. Perhaps coach Frank Vogel, with a summer to plan with this playing style, can build an offense that creates more open 3-point looks.
Orlando Magic
Those are the questions and the “ifs” that are left for the Magic this offseason before training camp begins in September.
The focus for the Magic this offseason was clearly not on addressing needs. It was on adding the right people to set the foundation for the team’s future build. Players like Mack and Simmons certainly fit a tough-minded, “fighter” archetype the Magic were looking for.
Also importantly, the Magic kept some financial flexibility. The team reportedly signed Mack to a two-year, $12 million deal with just $1 million guaranteed next season. Simmons reportedly signed a three-year, $20 million deal that starts at $6.3 million this year and decreases. The final year of that deal is also unguaranteed.
"“We’ve tried to add talent, add the right kind of people and manage our flexibility,” Weltman told Orlando Magic Daily. “I think that’s an important part of developing the future for the organization. I don’t think we’ve committed to anything excessive or long range where we will have to pay the price on the back end. Those deals are not always easy to find. But we’ve tried to work that way. At the same time, while we are improving the team and letting our young guys grow up in a culture of togetherness and competitiveness and hopefully winning.”"
Considering the lack of financial flexibility the Magic had to begin the summer, it is impressive the Magic acquired two players who should fit comfortably into the rotation and fit into the team’s supposed ethos and identity so well.
That may not necessarily mean things bode well for the upcoming season.
Orlando still has glaring holes to fill. And the Magic, as somewhat expected, did not shake up a starting lineup that was largely responsible for the team’s poor record last year. Orlando is in a wait-and-see mode with the players it has and the roster it is using.
As Weltman said, no roster is ever complete. Even the Golden State Warriors look for ways to get better.
From a roster numbers standpoint, the Magic’s summer is more or less done. The roster is full. But The Magic still have some work to do.
Next: It is all about the details for Shelvin Mack
If the opportunity to add some shooting comes about, the Magic are sure to explore it. It is the one need the team has to find an answer for still.