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Orlando Magic Free Agency Preview: The Power Forwards

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Paul Millsap (4) drives to the basket against the Orlando Magic during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ed Davis, Portland Trail Blazers, Los Angeles Lakers
Jan 5, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward Ed Davis (21) shoots the ball over Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) during the first quarter of the game at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

Ed Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Ed Davis is just one of those players.

That is not necessarily a bad thing. He does a lot of the nitty gritty work and has some rim protection ability — 1.2 blocks per game, but a 53.9 percent field goal percentage allowed at the rim, similar to Nikola Vucevic’s — and enough youth and athleticism to continue to intrigue.

For sure though, Davis is a cheap option with little downside. Of course, he has little upside too. He is just a grinder.

Not a whole lot of one. He did not get the offer he expected in free agency last summer and signed a two-year deal at the veteran minimum. With a solid enough season, he seems like he would be able to cash in a little bit.

But not too much. This is still a guy who has not fulfilled his high athleticism and potential in five years in the NBA. He never quite found his place.

Davis is not a guy to sign as a starter in the NBA. That is not who he is. He is an energy guy and defender to bring off the bench at a low, low salary. That is how the Lakers viewed him at the end of the day.

And that is probably his role. Davis is a better backup option than a starter. He probably is not going to fill that potential at this point — he is 26 years old.

Davis is more a cheap option than an actual solution to anyone’s power forward issues.

Next: Andrea Bargnani, New York Knicks