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Orlando Magic Free Agency Rumors: Jodie Meeks to sign with Washington Wizards

By Philip Rossman-Reich

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: Jodie Meeks #20 of the Orlando Magic watches his shot in the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 02: Jodie Meeks #20 of the Orlando Magic watches his shot in the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 2, 2017 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic are definitely in the market for a shooter now. Shooting guard Jodie Meeks has reportedly agreed to a new deal with the Washington Wizards.

The Orlando Magic were not expected to make a run at very many of their own free agents this year as the team tries to retool following last year’s 29-win disappointment. The only one the Magic might take back was shooting guard Jodie Meeks.

The 6-foot-4 veteran was a flamethrower for the Magic off the bench, able to hit a bunch of 3-pointers in a hurry and spread the floor for an often congested Magic team. While injuries slowed him down much of last season, when he played he made the offense significantly better.

The Magic’s chances to re-sign Meeks, if they ever were interested in doing so, appears to have passed.

Shams Charania of The Vertical reports Meeks will sign a two-year, $7 million contract with the Washington Wizards. Meeks’ agency, ASM, confirmed the news on Twitter.

Meeks had a solid season with the Magic, averaging 9.1 points per game and making 40.9 percent of his 3-pointers. He was the only regular rotation player on the Magic to shoot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc.

When Meeks was on the floor, the Magic had a 104.9 offensive rating with Meeks on the floor, behind only Terrence Ross and Aaron Gordon for rotation players on the team. And that is well above the team’s woeful 101.2 offensive rating for the season.

From the moment Meeks stepped on the floor for the Magic, it was clear he could make a big impact for the team. He scored 10 points on 2-for-6 shooting, making two 3-pointers, in his debut — a 17-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers. It did not take long for him to hit supernova levels, dropping 18 points against the Wizards in a win in early December.

Ultimately, though, injuries defined Meeks’ lone season in Orlando. He came to Orlando after missing most of the 2016 season with a broken foot. While he returned from that injury before the end of the season with the Detroit Pistons and believed he was healthy, doctors discovered the injury had not healed right. He missed the first 20 games of the 2017 season recovering from that injury.

Just 25 games later, Meeks was out again after fracturing his thumb trying to go for a steal against the New Orleans Pelicans. He was out from January until late March. By then the season was already gone.

With Meeks leaving the team, Orlando certainly could use a strong shooter to come off the bench. The Magic have decent shooters in Evan Fournier and Terrence Ross — and, at least, theoretically in Mario Hezonja — but do not have a pure stretch player to space the floor for drivers. Orlando often had to rely on Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier to create off the dribble against a congested court.

The Magic may have considered signing Meeks just to fill this role as a solid veteran on the cheap. Clearly, he was not cashing in the same way other players in this free agency market have. But Orlando has gone in a different way. And Meeks has gone a different way.

Next: 2017 Free Agents the Orlando Magic should target

The Magic have stayed very quiet during this free agency period. With Meeks now out of the fold, it is unclear which direction they will head next.