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2017 Orlando Magic Free Agency Preview: The Centers

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 112-109 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2017; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) drives to the basket as Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Orlando Magic defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 112-109 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic, Iman Shumpert, Cleveland Cavaliers
Apr 4, 2017; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert (4) and Orlando Magic center Bismack Biyombo (11) battle for a rebound during the first half at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

The Center Logjam

The problem with the Magic in looking at the center free agent market is that it is not a position of any need whatsoever. With so much money tied up into Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo, there is just not a lot of opportunities to entice center free agents — not that the group is strong, to begin with.

If the Magic were to sit down with a center, they simply would not be able to guarantee minutes. They can barely find enough minutes to split between Vucevic and Biyombo at the moment.

And then there is the Stephen Zimmerman problem. He is non-guaranteed but is likely to get brought into camp. At some point, the Magic have to rely on him. And bringing in another center, even for the short term, would become problematic even in practice.

The Magic, if they want a center, are likely looking for a player like Arinze Onuaku last year. They would sign a player to a minimum contract who is barely holding onto the NBA. There are a few of those in the free agent market, but they are likely more expensive and they are likely looking for a clearly defined role.

That is just something the Magic cannot offer right now. Not without a move. There are probably a few other centers the Magic could look at if that backup spot suddenly opens up. They could even be on this current list.

Next: John Hammond discusses Orlando Magic free agency with HoopsHype

But the center position is far from the Magic’s biggest need on the roster. It would be a misallocation of the team’s limited resources right now to invest in another center. Zimmerman should be fine as a third center. And if the team needs it, they can always mine the G-League for a center in an emergency.