Terrence Ross ready to take flight with new opportunity in Orlando
The Orlando Magic’s acquisition of Terrence Ross provides the young player a new opportunity to grow his game and help a struggling team.
Terrence Ross was still getting settled into his new digs and new locker room before he and the rest of his team were about to take off for the All-Star Break.
The former Slam Dunk Champion arrived in Orlando on Tuesday hoping to play and join his new team. For the 26-year-old wing player who has constantly been behind budding star DeMar DeRozan or high-priced players as he sought consistency and consistent minutes, the Orlando Magic will represent a fresh start.
“This is a good opportunity,” Ross said after Wednesday’s game. “It is a new fresh start for me. I’m looking forward to it. I embrace my role whatever it is. And just being really excited to play.”
Despite all the preparations and eagerness to get going, the stars did not align for Ross to play his first game in a Magic uniform Wednesday. All that anticipation to get going will have to wait until after the All-Star Break when the Magic return to action Thursday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The anticipation for the Magic is pretty high.
Ross brings to the Magic something they have desperately needed — shooting and wing athleticism. Ross is not a player who is likely to break anyone down off the dribble. But teams have to respect his shot.
Ross is shooting 37.5 percent from beyond the arc this year. That is about his career average. Instantly, the Magic have added that shooting to their roster. It should help.
The bigger question is whether Ross can take his game to another level.
Much like when the Magic acquired Serge Ibaka in the summer, the team hoped his offensive game had another level with increased usage and attempts. Ibaka ended up averaging a career-high in points per game and usage rate with the Magic. He did not produce at a star level, but Ibaka’s offensive production was more than steady.
Ross is currently averaging a career-high 10.4 points per game. A very modest number. But he is also posting a career-high 44.1 percent field goal percentage and a career-high 16.7 points per 36 minutes. This is all to suggest Ross is having one of his most efficient seasons of his short career so far.
He has, however, struggled when the Toronto Raptors trusted him to be a starter. Eventually, they settled on putting him in a bench role with their roster construction.
But perhaps there is the potential to do more in a different situation.
The caveat is Ross has taken roughly 53 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. And largely most of those attempts — 194 of 256 3-point attempts (more than 75 percent!) — were catch-and-shoot shots, according to NBA.com. Ross is shooting 35.6 percent on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, according to NBA.com. A solid if not strong percentage.
Off the dribble in pull ups, Ross is slightly better, shooting 47.2 percent from the floor. Perhaps that is how he gets into a rhythm.
Ross rarely isolates (less than one isolation per game), but that is largely because Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan suck up a lot of attention on offense. Ross has just a 19.7 percent usage rate. Especially low for someone who is a shooting specialist, even off the bench.
Ross is not someone the Raptors ever relied on to create offense. He has played the role of spot-up shooter, attacking when the lane is open and getting out in transition to score closer to the basket.
There is the feeling Ross could take on a bit more responsibility. Or at least provide the Magic with some added shooting to space the floor better. Perhaps he will get more opportunity on the ball in this new setting.
“It’s all part of the new experience I am looking forward to,” Ross said. “It is going to be fun, it is going to be a process. It will be a little different. But I am willing to work, I am willing to do whatever I can to make a difference with this team.”
Orlando Magic
What kind of difference he can make in the final 24 games will be the intriguing part to the rest of the season. The Magic will be taking this time to figure out exactly what they have so they can plan better for their future.
Ross will have to get comfortable quickly. Luckily he has former teammate Bismack Biyombo (from the Raptors) and C.J. Wilcox (from Washington in college) around to help smooth the transition. Plus now an All-Star Break to get settled in Orlando (and take a little vacation).
When he and the team get back, they will be getting back to work.
Ross is leaving a winning team, but he said his mindset is not going to change. He may have more responsibility with this team and in this role with the Magic than he did with the Raptors, but he said he will continue to play hard and play tough. Eventually, effort, if everyone pulls along with it, will lead to wins and help turn things around.
As Ross got to meet his new teammates and observe the Magic — the Raptors played the Magic twice last week — he saw a team that has a future but needs to tighten some things up. Here, Ross hopes he can help.
“We have a good team,” Ross said of his impressions of the Magic. “We just have to tighten some things up. We have a good core group of guys, talented players. I just kind of hope I can bring some of that experience I got in Toronto here. Just really kind of helping wherever I can.”
This new opportunity will give Ross his chance to shine and grow in a way he may not have been able to in Toronto.
Next: Meet Terrence Ross from Raptors Rapture
Ross will have his chance to show what he can do and fit in with the Magic. The Magic will have their chance to change and shift to see what they have the rest of this season.