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Retrospective: Where does Victor Oladipo rank in Magic all-time shooting guards?

By Brett David Roberts

Mar 12, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets center J.J. Hickson (7) and forward Darrell Arthur (00) defend during the second half at Amway Center. Denver Nuggets defeated the Orlando Magic 120-112. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) drives to the basket as Denver Nuggets center J.J. Hickson (7) and forward Darrell Arthur (00) defend during the second half at Amway Center. Denver Nuggets defeated the Orlando Magic 120-112. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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6. Courtney Lee

Courtney+Lee+Philadelphia+76ers+v+Orlando+_ZVj4NWkX5Zl
Courtney+Lee+Philadelphia+76ers+v+Orlando+_ZVj4NWkX5Zl /

It may befuddle some how a replacement-level talent like Courtney Lee could enter the annals of all-time shooting guards, but it really should be rather obvious as to why.

Prior to suffering a face injury in the 2009 playoffs, he was starting for a championship caliber team as a rookie.

Lee made a big defensive impact and was considered NBA ready after spending four years in the NCAA at Western Kentucky.

Orlando selected him with the No. 22 pick in the 2008 draft, opting to go with a player whose prospects were thought to be far less sketchy than many players selected before him. He was NBA ready.

In his first NBA season, he started 42 games in 77 appearances, averaging 8.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.2 assist and 1.0 steals.

The numbers were not so gaudy, but the eye test revealed the makings of a future contributor, as he is proving now in Memphis.

In the first four games of the playoffs against the Sixers, prior to his injury, he averaged 15.8 points and two steals per game, as the Magic split the first two games. When he returned nearly a month later against the Boston Celtics, he was rusty and his momentum was lost.

Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie were dealt for Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson, and the Magic may be entirely responsible for Lee more or less stagnating as an NBA player since leaving Orlando.

His defensive talents are still valued, but he was becoming a system player for Stan Van Gundy whose potential was revealing itself with mature play under postseason pressure.

The Magic took a step backwards at 2-guard in the long run, but the caveat was that Ryan Anderson had developed into a very solid power forward in the meantime. Anderson is more valuable than Lee in both contract and win-share, so the move would still have to be deemed a ‘win’ overall.

Now 29 and with the Memphis Grizzlies, he is serving a major role in the Playoffs with the current injuries faced by Mike Conley and Tony Allen. Lee has responded by averaging 16.5 points per game while shooting 65.7 percent from the floor and 60 percent from three. That’s one nice stretch of games.

Next: #5 Mike Miller