Orlando Magic Free Agency Preview: The Point Guards

The Orlando Magic should be in the market for a backup point guard this summer. There are several reliable options — and some wild cards — to explore.

There are several steps the Orlando Magic need to get to before July’s free agency period begins.

There is a coach to hire. There is the Draft to prepare for. The Playoffs have to finish.

Just like every piece of the Magic’s rebuild this summer, it is all equally important. Free agency is vital to the Magic’s rebuilding efforts this summer.

There have already been plenty of speculation and wish lists written on this site and others about where the Magic should go and what they should do in free agency. There has to be a plan in place to fill specific needs going from the Draft to free agency. And it all has to fit into their new coach’s vision for the team, at least theoretically.

Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders is starting his free agency previews with the point guards. It is really worth a read as it gives a good picture of which players are available this summer.

The Magic realistically are not in the market for a starting point guard, so end those dreams for Goran Dragic or anyone big. Orlando is not about to spend big money — or possibly their draft pick on Emmanuel Mudiay or D’Angelo Russell — on a starting point guard.

But the Magic need a backup point guard — bad.

This past year, Payton played 2,414 minutes at point guard according to Basketball-Reference. Of the remaining, 1,522 minutes at point guard left in the season, Victor Oladipo played 746 minutes at point guard and Luke Ridnour played all 683 minutes at point guard. That is 1,429 of those minutes.

To say the least, a backup point guard plan of a mix of Oladipo, Ridnour and Willie Green is not going to work long term if you want to eventually compete in the Playoffs.

The Magic will be in the market for a backup point guard this summer. So here are some point guard suggestions.

Next: C.J. Watson

C.J. Watson, Indiana Pacers
2015 Salary: $2,106,720

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Generated 5/5/2015.

Watson is not a particularly flashy player. Not in the least, actually. He has always just been solid. You hardly notice him most nights out.

He is not a particularly great shooter. He is not a great scorer. He is not even a flashy passer. He just comes in and does his job, doing whatever his team needs him to do.

You would not expect C.J. Watson to take over a game. He just comes in and holds the ship steady, taking advantage of the opportunity to score when it comes around.

This past season in Indiana was perhaps his best. He scored 10.0 points per game or more for the second time in his career and had his third highest assist rate of his career too. It was a solid all-around season for Watson. In a career that is, frankly, all about consistency and lacking any kind of flash.

This is not your home run pick. Watson comes in and does his thing without making too many waves. Teams have to respect his 3-point shot, which helps spread the floor, but he is not creating offense for anyone. You can start him in a pinch, but you probably are not winning a title with him as a point guard.

He is… a backup point guard. A solid one.

Next: Beno Udrih

Beno Udrih, Memphis Grizzlies
2015 Salary: $2,077,000 (team option)

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Generated 5/6/2015.

The Magic had Beno Udrih a few years ago as a remnant of the Tobias Harris trade. Since then, he has made a name for himself as Memphis’ backup point guard. And they will have their option to keep him. After the way he has played this postseason — 9.7 points per game and 2.5 assists per game with solid play in Mike Conley‘s stead through Game Two of the Grizzlies’ series with the Warriors — Udrih should be seen as a solid part of Memphis’ rotation.

He is nothing more than a backup point guard at this point and he still is not a particularly good shooter either — Udrih shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc and 40.8 percent total in his half season in Orlando.

At the time, the Magic did not have much need for a veteran point guard. They had Jameer Nelson and drafted Victor Oladipo with the crazy idea of playing him at the point. Another veteran point guard would all but keep that experiment from going forward.

But now, it seems like a veteran backup point guard behind Elfrid Payton is exactly what the Magic would want.

Udrih is good for a big game every once in a while, but he is largely just there to be consistent and provide veteran poise. That is what he has done for the Grizzlies these past few years.

Next: Jameer Nelson

Jameer Nelson, Denver Nuggets
2015 Salary: $2,732,000 (player option)

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Generated 5/6/2015.

It seems weird that we are talking about the Magic potentially re-acquiring Nelson after they cut him just a summer ago. At that point, Nelson wanted to move on and away from a rebuilding team and start for a team with championship aspirations.

He signed with Dallas, but was then traded twice. He left two Playoff teams for the struggling Nuggets.

It seems like if Nelson wants to be part of a contender, he will have to do so as a backup now. Really Nelson’s future is up to him.

What was clear when the Magic parted ways was that they wanted younger players like Elfrid Payton or Victor Oladipo to lead the way. Nelson starting obviously would not do that.

If Nelson is open to being a bench player, it is an idea that could be worth exploring. There is obviously a comfort here and the Magic could use the veteran voice in the locker room.

Really, this suggestion is a fan pipe dream more than anything else though.

Next: Mo Williams

Mo Williams, Charlotte Hornets
2015 Salary: $3,750,000

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Generated 5/5/2015.

Mo Williams is a former All Star. Yes, we cannot avoid that. And yes, we know he replaced an injured Jameer Nelson for his lone All Star spot.

Williams has had a lot of bad baggage on him. Both for perception and deserved. That 46 percent effective field goal percentage and sub-40 percent field goal percentage seems in line with this guard. His reputation is not as a true point guard, but more as a gunner.

That is never a good sign if you are relying on him to be a starter. But coming off the bench?

Williams had a strong end to the season for the disappointing Hornets, and that could help him get one more contract. He cannot be expecting to start though. At least, not if he wants to play for a winning team.

Williams is the kind of player the Magic might be looking for coming off the bench — someone who can provide instant offense. But Williams is likely not capable of filling that role any more.

Next: Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin, Los Angeles Lakers
2015 Salary: $8,374,646

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Generated 5/4/2015.

Jeremy Lin is going to be a polarizing name no matter where you mention him. He is a long way from the “Linsanity” days in New York and is nothing more than a backup point guard. So keep you expectations low here.

Lin though has that “Linsanity” potential and he can create off the dribble, scoring when he has the freedom to do so. His field goal shooting is low though which is the biggest concern with him. That is even in limited minutes.

This is probably not the guy at the top of anybody’s list. Expect Lin’s salary to be cut in half at minimum — a 2-year, $8 million — but he could be a bargain guy. A few 20-point games off the bench, or at least the potential for them, would be worth something.

The Magic probably want some more consistency in their lineup off the bench from the point guard position. Lin is probably not that in the long term.

Signing Lin would be a big swing. He would bring some notice from the public and a national audience because he is Jeremy Lin. Whether that works, who knows.

Next: Orlando Magic failed to hit salary floor in 2015