The Orlando Magic hoped Jodie Meeks would help provide the team some much-needed shooting. He did. But injuries kept him from reaching his full impact.
Jodie Meeks arrived in Orlando in a trade with the Detroit Pistons just before Summer League began. He spent his time that first week of July working out on the Orlando Magic’s practice court eager to begin the season.
He missed all but three games in the 2016 season with a broken bone in his foot. Meeks believed he was fully healthy and ready to contribute. And the Magic knew they would need his contributions.
Orlando was preparing at that point to build an interesting roster that would need shooting. Even before signing Bismack Biyombo, the Magic knew they would need shooting. Meeks was possibly the best shooter on the team and would play a big role for Orlando off the bench.
Then the progress halted. Some discomfort led to a visit to the doctor. The trainers noticed something wrong with Meeks and his surgically repaired foot. He would need another procedure to repair the injury.
Meeks missed the first 20 games of the season. The Magic’s offense suffered without consistent perimeter shooting. Meeks’ return seemingly came too late, despite its obvious impacts.
Fast forward to January and Meeks again suffered bad luck. While reaching in for a steal against the New Orleans Pelicans, Meeks dislocated his thumb and would miss another 27 games before making a comeback for the final dozen or so games of the season.
In all, Meeks played 36 games in the 2017 season. He was unable to stay on the court long enough to make a true impact.
When he did play, Meeks’ 3-point shooting was deadly. He helped boost the Magic and give the team space. Some of Orlando’s best offensive performances came because Meeks was on the floor and because he was making shots. His absence was critical.
As his former coach Stan Van Gundy noted before the Magic’s final game against the Pistons, Meeks just has not been able to stay healthy his last few seasons. That has been the only thing holding him back.
He is clearly a player who can contribute and make a big impact. For a Magic team desperate for shooting, they certainly could have used him.