Meet Terrence Ross with Raptors Rapture
The Orlando Magic will soon meet Terrence Ross. He is a bit of a perplexing player, even to those who follow him. Raptors Rapture tells us more.
The Orlando Magic began to shake up their team and turn toward their future with Tuesday’s trade of Serge Ibaka.
The Magic came into the season with Playoff aspirations that have fallen short. And while the Magic have continued to pay lip service to those Playoff dreams, it is clear a Playoff run would be something of a happy accident. The Magic are beginning to figure out what their next few seasons will look like instead.
And that begins with who the Magic acquired for Serge Ibaka.
Terrence Ross has been something of a mystery in his five-year NBA career. In one instance he can get hot in a hurry and score points in bunches. In another, he can go cold. Ross was the definition of streakiness.
This season, he is averaging 10.4 points per game, coming off the bench for the Raptors. His defense has been relatively inconsistent as has his shot. It is not enough to entrust him too much with the offense.
He is shooting a career-best 44.1 percent from the floor and 37.5 percent from beyond the arc. The real question is can he do more? Can he produce more?
There are some suggestions he can. He is producing a career-best 14.9 PER and a career-best 16.7 points per 36 minutes. It would suggest Ross is becoming more efficient and fitting in well with his role with the second unit.
It is unclear whether the Magic can duplicate these results or hand him a bigger role and see this production continue. It was a similar gamble the team made in acquiring Ibaka. Perhaps Ross fits the Magic’s focus on the future a bit better. He certainly will come much cheaper for the next two seasons than Ibaka would.
The player the Magic acquired Tuesday is one full of potential, but also still of frustration. One very few have been able to figure out fully.
The only thing anyone seems able to say about Ross definitively is he is extremely athletic.
To figure out more about Ross, we reached out to Brian Boake of Raptors Rapture to get his views on Ross and what he brings to the Orlando Magic.
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily: Everyone remembers Terrence Ross for his dunking and that one time he scored 50 points. Watching him day to day, what do you remember him for?
Brian Boake, Raptors Rapture: TRoss is a phenomenal athlete. He has mad hops and hands which can deflect passes. I was at the 51-point game, and he was breathtaking.
OMD: What are Terrence Ross’ strengths? What are his weaknesses?
RR: Ross has quick feet, as befits an elite athlete, and can create space for himself. That applies to the perimeter, and in the paint. When his 3-point shot is in a groove, he’s the best player on the floor.
Ross doesn’t like contact, which you’ll note when you look at his stats. Why doesn’t this guy get to the free-throw line more often? He can be very effective at driving and dishing, so he’s collected a number of pretty assists. Lucas Nogueira, our backup center, will miss Terrence greatly. Yet he’s not a great, or even particularly good, finisher at the rim. He has never developed a Euro-step, or a spin move, to enhance his close-in scoring.
OMD: Everyone seems to want Ross to take on a larger role (and it looks like he will in Orlando). What seemed to hold him back in Toronto?
RR: He flunked his audition a few seasons ago, and was dropped to the second unit. He seemed too complacent there. Terrence should have been able to shoulder aside the injured and struggling DeMarre Carroll this season, but couldn’t put together enough solid games in a row to convince coach Dwane Casey to make the change.
I predict that’s what will drive you guys nuts in Orlando: Ross’s lack of consistency. That said, I won’t be at all surprised if he’s in All-Star conversations next season, assuming he gets the minutes.
Orlando Magic
OMD: How do you see Terrence Ross fitting with the Orlando Magic? Do you think this will be a good fit for him?
RR: Yes, I think it’s a sound move for him. The Magic need shooting, and he can certainly provide that. He’s a quality defender most of the time. If I were coaching Orlando, I’d tell Terrence “Welcome. You’re starting your first five games here. Let’s see what happens.” He can handle the extra minutes he’ll be getting in Orlando. Whether he can deal with having his number called more often on offense remains to be seen.
OMD: How do you see Serge Ibaka fitting in with the Raptors? How do you grade this trade for the Raptors?
RR: I’m all over the place on the trade. While I like Ibaka a lot, and God knows we need a power forward, I worry about the short-term nature of the deal. If he walks in the summer, this trade will be Masai Ujiri’s first major blunder.
I have no worries about Ibaka fitting in. He’s a solid citizen, by all accounts, and Toronto’s dressing room has always been chock-full of internationals.
Next: Orlando Magic's trade for Terrence Ross opens up playing time
My thanks to Brian for checking in on a busy day to give us the low down on Terrence Ross. Be sure to follow him and Raptors Rapture on Twitter @RaptorsRapture.