The Orlando Magic spent some money on a free agent power forward last year. They are still in need of one after Channing Frye struggled. Who is available?
Like the small forwards, the Orlando Magic have a definite need at power forward.
With Nikola Vucevic firmly entrenched at center, the Magic are searching for a complement to pair with him. That means someone who can help space the floor for Vucevic (possibly even go into the post when Vucevic pops out for jumpers). It is not an easy thing to find.
Many have turned their focus toward Kristaps Porzingis in the NBA Draft as that perfect compliment. That obviously did not come to fruition. The Magic opted to fill other needs, leaving a gaping hole at power forward they still need to fill.
And there is already the little problem that the Magic tried to fill that power forward positional need last summer with Channing Frye. That move obviously did not fill the need as Frye did not work out. His defensive shortcomings were too much for the Magic to overcome. His offense never got into complete rhythm (despite a solid shooting percentage within his own career) and the Magic had to reduce him to a reserve role.
It seems that is where Frye will be best this year. And while Dewayne Dedmon provided a nice boost defensively, his offense left a lot to be wanting. The Magic likely believe Dedmon is better suited as a center and a backup to Nikola Vucevic for the long term.
That puts them back in the market for a power forward. And should the Magic not go that way in the Draft, they will have to pick carefully to find the right guy to pair with Vucevic while still making their offense hum.
We already reviewed the point guards, shooting guards and small forwards free agent class. Once again, Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders provides a solid look at the power forward free agent class, which we will dive into more here.
Next: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors
This has been a dream scenario for many Orlando Magic fans throughout much of the season. Draymond Green seemed to be the perfect solution for the Magic. He was a power forward who could spread the floor and cut his teeth defensively.
More than that, as he proved throughout the Finals, Green was absolutely key to the Warriors’ title run. He might have been THE key, truthfully.
Green seems to be the sort of evolution in the stretch-4 that has to happen. He has defensive and positional versatility that turned the Warriors from a good team to a great team. His transformation in the 2015 season really pushed them over the top — among other factors.
Blue Man Hoop
It helped his big season came in a contract year. And it came on the biggest stage.
Green is going to get the max. He is worth that much to the Warriors. They should have no qualms about matching. They can figure out the cap later — especially since it will expand in such a major way.
This is a guy that just seems to connect all the dots for many teams. Would he do the same for the Magic?
Opinion on Green seems to split here. He is a great perimeter defender and has the toughness to go on the block. He is still developing as a shooter. His hesitance both to attack and to shoot early in the series against the Cavaliers hurt his team. He is still figuring himself out and whether he can take the next step or whether he can stay in the role.
The Warriors certainly need him again. He made their defense so versatile with his ability to guard everyone on the perimeter, it seemed, and dig into the post — even playing center during the Finals.
For Green, it seems how much you want to pay him depends on how much he would be worth to the role of your team. And the Warriors will match that.
Next: Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks
For those that have accepted Draymond Green could be out of reach, they quickly turned their attention to two-time All Star Paul Millsap.
Millsap has certainly thrived within the Hawks system. He stepped up in such a major way and filled the versatile forward needs for the Hawks. He can force the action when he needs to, hit shots from the perimeter and play in the post. He plays taller than his 6-foot-8 frame, making the most of the opportunities he received from the Hawks and Jazz throughout his career.
It has always been hard to peg him. He spent the last two years on a bargain-basement deal worth $19 million. Millsap clearly outplayed the $9.5 million per year he made the last two years. That is not what someone who has averaged at least 15 points per game in four of the last five years should get.
The J-Notes
The Hawks seem perfectly willing to spend the money to keep their core together. Millsap will certainly ask for a little pay raise, even though he is 30 years old. This could be his last big contract.
Just how much might be the real question. And will some other team drop a lot more money to steal him away. Is he even that kind of player who can operate as something of a solo act, or does he need the confines of Mike Budenholzer’s system and the collection of perfectly placed pieces the Hawks have?
Someone will surely take that risk.
His defensive versatility seems like it would be a good fit for the Magic. The team needs someone defensive minded to slide next to Nikola Vucevic and who can spread the floor on offense. Millsap fits that bill, even if he does not fit the bill as a rim protector.
This is the kind of veteran a team like the Magic needs. It just may be one that is too expensive for them — especially considering his age.
Next: David West, Indiana Pacers
David West, Indiana Pacers
Like Paul Millsap, David West is just a rugged defender and power forward who sets an anchor in the paint as a defender. West is rugged, no nonsense and cares about one thing.
For a young team looking for some toughness and a rudder defensively, West would fit that bill.
Like Millsap, West seems to have been the odd man out on several big salaries. He has a player option this summer for a three-year, $36 million deal. It seems unlikely he would opt out of that contract with the windfall about to come throughout the NBA — even though he will be 35 at the end of the 2016 season.
He probably has one more big contract before his skills begin to decline.
Blue Man Hoop
Indiana seems like a good place for him. There does not seem a reason for him to leave. Except for the whole money thing and maybe even the uncertainty surrounding Roy Hibbert‘s future.
West will want to win now and the Pacers should figure to be back in the Playoff hunt with Paul George coming back. The Pacers are not going to sit on their hands with the East still seemingly up for grabs.
It appears West is determined to move on though with reports flying around that the Knicks are where he will land.
But if he looked to move, he would certainly seem to have a good fit in Orlando.
West can spread the floor with his jumper and work the pick and roll well. His skillset matches Nikola Vucevic on offense in many ways and that would help pair them well. Defensively West can help cover some of what makes Vucevic struggle on defense.
Again, this is a guy the Magic might want for what he represents. The age might be the problem in committing long-term money.
Next: Thaddeus Young, Brooklyn Nets
Thaddeus Young, Brooklyn Nets
Thaddeus Young has always been the sort of odd man out of everything in the NBA.
With the 76ers, he was a starter for a Playoff team. Just a solid guy who did a lot of the dirty work and found a way to fit his offense in. He worked hard on the defensive end and on the glass. The Magic learned that the hard way in Game Three of the 2009 Playoffs.
Young has always toiled under anonymity even while outside the Playoff race. Then he became a featured player on a bad Sixers team, got shipped to a bad Timberwolves team and then got a second chance at Playoff glory with the mismatched Nets.
Last season, he averaged 13.8 points per game and 5.8 rebounds per game in 28 games with the Nets. Brooklyn has reportedly said they want to bring him back.
Blue Man Hoop
Young has always kind of been out of the way. He is a stretch-4 who has never quite been a great 3-point shooter — 32.3 percent for his career and 38.0 percent with the Nets last year. He was never quite good enough to be a traditional power forward. He does not have a great post game or much offense to speak of.
This is a guy that just kind of fits in the puzzle, maybe not perfectly but well enough. Young has typically made others look better. If you are looking for a cheaper option than Tristan Thompson, Young might be the guy.
Young is reportedly going to exercise his option to hit free agency, but it seems pretty likely he will return to the Nets. He made a little less than $10 million this past year. It will probably cost north of that to rip him away from the cash-strapped Nets.
Next: Brandon Bass, Boston Celtics
Brandon Bass, Boston Celtics
The Orlando Magic are already pretty familiar with Brandon Bass and what he can do. He averaged 9.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Magic. It took him a while to find his footing with Stan Van Gundy and the Magic. But once he did, he proved incredibly valuable, and he carved out a clear role in the league from that point on.
Bass has been rock solid for the Celtics since the Magic traded him there. And he was just doing everything he was capable of.
We know Bass’ game really well. He has that sweet mid-range jumper. He will play good defense for his size and go for blocks when he gets the opportunity.
Maybe at this point in his career, he is better suited coming off the bench. He started a little more than half the games and played a little less than half a game for the Celtics last year. But he was still a solid contributor. That is ultimately what you get for Brandon Bass.
Bass could work well with Vucevic since both can step out and hit jumpers and post up. So they would be able to give each other some space to operate.
However Bass might be preparing to enter the twilight of his career. He just turned 30 years old and, like I said, is probably better suited to be a backup at this point in his career. His defense is good, but not great and there is no telling whether he would be able to cover for Vucevic in the way the team needs.
Bass is not someone to pick up to play defense. He is still an offensive-mind player at the end of the day. But maybe he could be affordable.
Next: Ed Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
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
Andrea Bargnani, New York Knicks
It might be blasphemous even to consider the former top overall pick. Andrea Bargnani has been nothing but disappointment. He probably cannot defend a chair.
When the Magic focused on Kristaps Porzingis, Bargnani was brought up as his floor. And Porzingis is certainly more athletic than him.
So why even bring him up? Why consider this bust?
The Magic desperately need 3-point shooting. And that is something Bargnani can do.
He is a career 36.1 percent shooter from beyond the arc and made 36.6 percent last year. That is decent and certainly better than anything the Magic could throw out there right now, aside from Channing Frye.
Maybe taking on a player like Bargnani is too much of a risk, or duplicating something the Magic already have. His stock and expectations for him could not be any lower. So that means you could be getting him on the cheap.
It is just a suggestion. Would Bargnani be a good culture fit for the Magic? No.
Like I said, he cannot defend a stick and does not fit the team’s growing defensive culture. So while he would fill a need, he would not fit the team’s growing culture. Bargnani is maybe a piece you bring in when you are a step away from contending. The Magic are decidedly not there.
Next: Thomas Robinson, Philadelphia 76ers
Thomas Robinson, Philadelphia 76ers
At this point in his career, it seems like Thomas Robinson has been passed around every NBA team. That is actually four teams in just three years.
For his entire season last year, Robinson averaged 5.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in 14.8 minutes per game. That translates to 13.9 points and 13.7 rebounds per 36 minutes. There is a talented player in there somewhere. There was a reason he was selected fifth overall in the Draft (hey, same as Mario Hezonja!).
Robinson plays more a traditional power forward — rebounding and low post scoring. He has some ability to hit a jumper — but he shot just 32.7 percent on jumpers according to Basketball-Reference.
It is hard to figure out exactly what Robinson is or what he still could be. The failures throughout the league and the constant trading seem to have shot his confidence. For a young player, confidence is everything.
This is not a guy who you spend a lot of money on. In fact, this is the kind of player you get on a minimum contract or a non-guaranteed deal. Is that the kind of risk to take on a guy who is still just 24 years old?
Who is to say what would happen if he were given a defined role?
Do not put all your eggs in one basket if Robinson is your guy.
Next: Tyler Hansbrough, Toronto Raptors
Tyler Hansbrough, Toronto Raptors
Defense is not necessarily all about rim protection. It is more about making players uncomfortable and getting under their skin.
Few players in the NBA do that as well as Hansbrough. He just ticks everyone off he goes against. Ask the usually reserved Andrew Nicholson.
Hansbrough is not going to produce much in the way of stats — 3.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 14.3 minutes per game. His rebound rate last year also dipped to 14.4 percent. And his style of play may not translate to large amount of minutes.
But Hansbrough provides a defensive mentality. That is really all he brings to the table. And doesn’t that just reek Scott Skiles?
This is shooting and aiming low if this is the guy you want to sign. It even seems that Hansbrough is preparing for the decline of his career. He certainly is not someone you want on the floor for very long and anything you get offensively from him is a bonus. He has not even been particularly good putting the ball back in after getting offensive rebounds.
Hansbrough is a nice role player to have, but not someone to count on for lots of minutes. If you need a backup or someone to pick up the pace in practice, that is Hansbrough.
He should be an incredibly cheap option for a team needing a backup.