Rueful Roundup: Orlando Magic’s Trading Ryan Anderson still makes no sense

Ryan Anderson was a consummate professional in his time with the Orlando Magic, and despite intense personal pain stemming from a personal tragedy, he could still be in Orlando thriving in the same role he did for the 2010 Finals team.

Ryan Anderson became the best power forward on the team following the rapid decline of Rashard Lewis in 2010. Anderson’s budding star made Lewis an expendable max contract and more (too bad, all the Magic could get was Gilbert Arenas, whom the team amnestied a year later).

Anderson has one of the quickest three-point shot releases in the NBA, much like the guy who started in front of him for most of his time in Orlando in Lewis. Anderson became far more than a reserve, eventually becoming a budding star the Magic did not believe they could afford to keep. Not in the face of a massive rebuild.

But the spending that came later directly contradicted that, as the team proceeded to dish out nearly as much money to Channing Frye as it would have had it retained Anderson back in 2013.

And that hurts.

Anderson is everything Frye should be, plus a lot. He hits the boards and is really good at establishing inside position to grab the caroms.

Anderson is one of the better forwards at anticipating where rebounds are going to fall, and between his effort, savvy and good footwork, he is a threat on the interior. That perfectly complements his deft shooting abilities, and to imagine how much better the Magic would have been with a power forward in the mold of what Anderson has become — to imagine that — just causes pain.

There is little reason to lament the fact former Magic players have gone on to great things. J.J. Redick, like Anderson, has gone on to thrive with a Western Conference contender in the L.A. Clippers.

But Anderson is the one that could have stuck. He would have provided even more leadership than Frye, at least ideally, and he would have been a far superior option on the court.

Most significant in this equation is the fact Anderson is hardly old, nor leaving his prime. His best years could and will intersect with the rise of this franchise to playoff contention, and it stands to reason it may have even happened if he had been in the fold with the current Magic core.

He is a guy who does make others better because he does not make many miscues nor does he play outside his role. He is certainly more mobile on defense, if still a bit deficient on that end without Dwight Howard or Anthony Davis to swat shots behind him.

Anderson can launch the triple, but when he makes his moves to the basket they are deliberate and smart. Frye does not necessarily offer that. Frye can spot up and nail threes, and that is about it.

Frye was actually better statistically this year in many shooting categories. Frye shot 37.3 percent on spot-up opportunities and 40.1 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-point field goals while Anderson shot 36.1 percent on spot-ups and 35.7 percent on catch-and-shoots this year according to NBA.com.

But, no one doubts Anderson has the better future as he is just hitting his prime and can do more on the court on both ends of the floor. Frye has become pretty one dimensional despite his still seemingly solid shooting numbers. The Magic simply could not rely on Frye on the defensive end and that cut into his playing time. Anderson can still hold his own on defense.

There is a reason the New Orleans Pelicans were able to put such a scare into the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night, pushing the game into overtime after leading the entire game before falling to the Warriors and Stephen Curry’s 40-point effort.

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Anderson had 26 points and a team-best +17 plus/minus. He knocked down 10 of 14 from the floor and 2 of 3 from 3-point range, showing a game that is by no means limited to jacking up threes, like the incumbent Magic forward.

Frye is on the downswing of a rather mediocre career, while the 26-year-old Anderson is about to enter his prime. He had been struggling coming into this postseason, and had an off-year of sorts, but he has a lot of productive years ahead of this year’s 13.7 point, 4.8 rebound per game averages. He remains the perfect complement to a budding young post player like he was in Orlando.

Anderson had his poorest shooting season since his rookie year, the only other time he was under 40 percent from the floor, but at his best he is a marksman and the type of player who could sneak on to an All-Star team or two (a la Kyle Korver) because he is the kind of integral piece that bodes well for teams with championship aspirations. All these appellations and honors bestowed to Anderson here can’t really be applied to Frye.

Channing Frye is a quality rotation player, but Anderson is a budding star.

That is worth an extra $1.5 million a year, and the Magic can only shake their collective heads that Anderson was given away for a center who would ultimately be cut (Gustavo Ayon) and a trade exception that was never even used.

Basically, he was given away because of his double-digit salary and uncertainty about his fit with a rebuilding roster rather than one centered around Dwight Howard. It was unclear whether he fits.

Ultimately his position was filled with an option nearly as expensive and nowhere near as effective.

As the Pelicans trail 0-3 it is clear Anderson is likely heading home after this series, but he is in the playoffs, and the Magic won 25 games with power forwards dominating the Magic all year (second-worst defense against opposing power forwards).

It just hurts.

Watching him put up 26 points in a playoff game is bittersweet because we like to see Anderson thrive. But the pain stems from seeing it could have all been done in blue and white.

Next: The Magic are young and aiming for defensive improvement