Orlando Magic Daily
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Five trade deadline targets for the Orlando Magic

By Ricky Scricca

Dec 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) drives as Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 8, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari (8) drives as Washington Wizards forward Otto Porter Jr. (22) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Danilo Gallinari

Despite the Magic getting the fifth-most open 2-point shot opportunities in the league, they are fifth-worst in the league at converting them. The Magic also get themselves the third-fewest free throw opportunities while making them at the second-lowest clip.

Missing out on these easy shot opportunities really add up throughout the course of a game and especially during an 82-game season. If Orlando wants a quick fix to ramp up their offense, they have to find a way to start converting open shots, getting to the foul line and sinking free throws.

Fortunately, the Denver Nuggets appear to have several players they could shop around.

There are 24 players in the league who shoot at least 5.5 free throws per game. Of them, Danilo Gallinari has the third highest free throw percentage.

It is also worth mentioning that on open shot opportunities, Gallinari has a better effective field goal percentage, a higher 2-point field goal percentage, and about the same 3-point field goal percentage as the Magic. His numbers here are not necessarily elite, but they are enough and they are consistent across last season too.

If nothing else, Gallinari is dependable, and dependability would go a long way for Orlando.

Those free throw numbers are no coincidence either. He is an extremely crafty offensive player who knows how to exploit tight defense and closeouts to his advantage, getting him to the line where he converts almost 90 percent of the time.

On this play, he drives to the basket and gets himself an and-one from Defensive Player of the Year candidate Andre Roberson. Roberson puts his hands straight up to defend in order to bother the shot without swiping or swatting at it and risking a foul. But Gallinari knows where his hands are and manages to draw the contact for a three-point play.

These tactics are not just good for creating easy buckets. Consistently drawing these calls can frustrate opponents and cause matchups to get into foul trouble. And if a team is using their best defensive player on him (like Roberson), that foul trouble can really impact a game.

Not to mention, the career 37 percent 3-point shooter can help the Magic space the floor and complement Aaron Gordon if they are played together. Defenders cannot afford to sag off him, because he is also great at using late closeouts to initiate contact and draw fouls.

The play below happens in transition, but you can see how he is instinctually able to turn a late closeout into three shots at the line.

Even if he is not exactly an offensive dynamo, his skill set could do a lot to improve Orlando’s offense. In return, Denver is looking to shore up their defense somehow, possibly with a frontcourt piece like Serge Ibaka.

In that case, more players or assets may need to be involved to match salaries on both sides. Mario Hezonja could be a part of the conversation. And the Magic would have good reason to be interested in Wilson Chandler too.