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Orlando Sentinel: Jason Smith hopes to stay in Orlando

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Nov 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Jason Smith (14) battles for the rebound with New York Knicks forward Kyle O'Quinn (9) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half of a basketball game at Amway Center. The Magic won 100-91. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic forward Jason Smith (14) battles for the rebound with New York Knicks forward Kyle O'Quinn (9) and forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half of a basketball game at Amway Center. The Magic won 100-91. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Orlando Magic center Jason Smith has been one of the most pleasant surprises of the season. He told the Orlando Sentinel he hopes to re-up with the Magic.

Through all the talk of trade deadline and who is or is not part of the Orlando Magic’s core, there are still several players entering free agency and the Orlando Magic will have to determine who will stay and who will go.

Evan Fournier is the biggest name obviously. He will be a restricted free agent this summer and the Magic (assuming he remains on the team after the trade deadline) will have the right to match. There are not a ton of other free agents on their own roster to worry about.

There is one the Magic will almost certainly consider bringing back. And the good news is he wants to return, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.

Jason Smith has been a pleasant surprise for the Magic this year. He has provided some solid defense and his mid-range jumper has been surprisingly effective. He has been extremely valuable for the team.

"“I like it here. The coaching staff knows what they’re going to get out of me. We’re on the same page. For me, it’s really about helping these young guys develop and knowing my role,” Smith said. “I’d love to be here. It’s a challenge to continually move every year, but you know what? It’s a great job. You can’t complain. I get to do what I love for a living. And I never complain about that no matter if it’s here or someplace else or if I have to move a couple times. It’s still an amazing opportunity for me."

His one-year, $4.3 million contract obviously expires at the end of this season and there is certainly some consideration to resigning him.

Smith is averaging 6.3 points per game on 51.6 percent shooting. He is scoring 15.0 points per 36 minutes as the Magic’s primary backup center.

He has been something of a shooting savant, making 54.2 percent of mid-range jumpers. He has also been surprisingly strong defensively too, becoming one of the more consistent players on the roster.

His gritty, fitting play earned him the honor of being a Luke Walton All Star from Zach Lowe of ESPN.com:

"Smith has drilled 54 percent of his midrange jumpers, the third-best mark in the league among players who have tried at least 50 such shots — behind only Kyrie Irving and Mo Williams. When you scorch the pick-and-pop at a Nowitzkian level, you can jack as many long 2-pointers as you’d like.After lazing through a lost season in New York, Smith is trying again on defense. Guess what? Effort helps. Smith has learned “verticality,” and he’s meeting drivers at the rim with some oomph."

Smith has been quietly a very good pickup for the Magic.

Whether Orlando will re-sign him is another issue and question. It is still unclear what the team wants to do and exactly how Smith will fit into those plans. It is also unclear whether Smith increased his value any in free agency or if other teams would be interested in him.

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Smith will probably not be a priority this offseason. He will have to wait his turn for the dust to settle (his cap hold though could play a role with the Magic’s offseason plans). But there seems to be no reason why if Smith wants to return, the Magic would not keep him around.