Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Free Agency Preview: The Small Forwards

By Philip Rossman-Reich

May 3, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) during the first quarter in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll (5) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) during the first quarter in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 7
Next
Corey Brewer, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dion Waiters
Apr 5, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Houston Rockets guard Corey Brewer (33) shoots the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dion Waiters (23) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Corey Brewer, Houston Rockets

Corey Brewer has had such a strange and interesting career.

His college pedigree was great coming out of Florida, but he struggled to find a place in the NBA. He bounced around the league for a while. He tore his ACL. And bounced around.

This past season, he finally got a featured role on a championship-caliber team and really thrived. His move to the Rockets to be more of a sixth man really bolstered his profile and gave him space to make shots and attack the basket. It seemed like his role in Houston was the more natural role for his career.

Live Feed

Whatever happened to these 30 college basketball stars who flamed out in the NBA?
Whatever happened to these 30 college basketball stars who flamed out in the NBA? /

FanSided

  • Corey Brewer provides list of potential coaches for Rockets Space City Scoop
  • Corey Brewer says Rockets deserve blame for Mike D'Antoni exit Space City Scoop
  • Rockets: Corey Brewer shares thoughts on Danuel House fiasco Space City Scoop
  • Sacramento Kings: Corey Brewer gives the team much-needed flexibility Golden Gate Sports
  • The Whiteboard: Latest buzz on J.R. Smith, Tyler Johnson and other NBA pickups FanSided

    • Brewer has always been a gifted defender and a streaky shooter. We are only a season removed from Brewer dropping 50 points in a game for the Timberwolves.

    No one should expect that kind of production from Brewer consistently. And no one should rely on Brewer as a primary offensive option. He is another of those players who can fit into an offense. But more importantly he contributes with his defense.

    Brewer’s shooting is not particularly strong though. He is a career 29.0 percent 3-point shooter and, even with the Rockets, shot 28.4 percent from beyond the arc. A player who shoots worse than a 50 percent effective field goal percentage is typically not a great option off the bench.

    Brewer has been a solid player throughout his career. But never a great one. He is a guy you want to bring off the bench and try to mix things up, hoping you roll the dice and hit the jackpot on his offense more often than not, knowing his defense will be there.

    Is this the kind of player the Magic would look for to add to their small forward depth? Is he the kind of player that completes the puzzle?

    In some ways, he is exactly the kind of player the Magic have favored — long, rangy athletes who focus on defense. In many ways, they already have enough of those and Brewer does not improve that much over any of them other than by his experience.

    Next: Mike Dunleavy, Chicago Bulls