Seth Curry is tearing up the D-League as the top-rated prospect, gaining interest around the league. Should the Magic make the move to bring him up?
Seth Curry continues to impress in the D-League as he drained a walk-off buzzer beater last night to give the BayHawks a much needed win over the Red Claws. Curry has been nothing short of electrifying on offense for the BayHawks this season, but does he have enough “magic” in him to warrant a spot on an NBA roster?
Curry’s season averages speak for themselves.
According to NBDLeague.com, he is currently ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the league. But how would his game translate to the NBA? According to the site, he is projected to average 13 points, three assists and three rebounds per 36 minutes. He likely would not come close to achieving those minutes, but could still be a formidable role player for the team.
Here is a look at his shot chart from the D-League:
It is clear that Curry can flat out shoot the ball. So, what could Curry bring to the Magic?
This shooting ability would be very beneficial to the Magic who are known for struggling on offense at times. It would also fit their new strategy of playing in an up-tempo system.
Seth could be a spark off of the bench and provide instant offense. His role would be similar to Nate Robinson‘s.
Both players are under-sized, but both can get extremely hot on offense. Seth is no where near as athletic as Robinson or as good of a ball-handler, but he does not necessarily need to be with the talent that would be around him.
During Curry’s minutes, he would have to be paired up with either Elfrid Payton or Victor Oladipo. This would allow for Curry to defend the lesser-skilled, smaller offensive player from the other team’s guard positions. Both Payton and Oladipo posses great athletic ability and are known for taking care of business on the defensive end of the floor.
If Curry were to come into the games when the whole second unit is on the floor, then this plan might not be as successful. Luke Ridnour and Evan Fournier would not be able to make up for Curry’s deficiencies on defense. Curry might also be taking minutes away from Ben Gordon if this were to happen. However, this should not be a problem if Orlando is not contending for a playoff spot.
After going through some pros and cons, Curry definitely deserves a shot with an NBA team. Several are reportedly interested. He is extremely gifted on offense and can help keep players honest on defense. If he can find a way to be at least somewhat effective on defense, then the decision should be an easy one to make.
It is important to note that the Magic are currently at capacity when it comes to their roster. So, in order to bring Seth Curry up from the BayHawks, they would have to waive a player or take part in a trade to make the necessary room. The most logical player to waive would be NBA veteran, Willie Green.
Green is needed more in the locker room than on the court. This season he has appeared in only 24 games with limited minutes. Also, he is only averaging four points per game and shooting 22 percent from behind the arc and 32 percent overall. If the team decided to waive Green, the Magic would still have Channing Frye, Luke Ridnour, and Ben Gordon to act as mentors for the younger players.
Willie Green is a good role model for the players, but he is not providing the team with a great deal of production off the bench. The gamble is definitely worth it to try and see if Seth has what it takes to bea solid role player in the NBA.
What do you guys think? Would Curry be a good pickup? Let me know in the comments below.