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Report: Orlando Magic bring back Arron Afflalo on one-year deal

By Philip Rossman-Reich

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: Arron Afflalo #4 of the Orlando Magic drives against Trevor Ariza #1 of the Washington Wizards during the game at the Verizon Center on January 14, 2013 in Washington, DC. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: Arron Afflalo #4 of the Orlando Magic drives against Trevor Ariza #1 of the Washington Wizards during the game at the Verizon Center on January 14, 2013 in Washington, DC. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic are reportedly set to bring back veteran guard Arron Afflalo on a one-year deal. Afflalo played for the Magic for two seasons in 2013-14.

The Orlando Magic are set to bring back guard Arron Afflalo on a one-year contract, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports. Terms of the deal have not yet been reported.

Afflalo played last year for the Sacramento Kings where he averaged 8.4 points per game and shot 44.0 percent from the floor, including 41.1 percent from beyond the arc. He took 151 of his 185 field goal attempts from beyond the arc last year. His field goal attempts per game dipped below 10 per game since the 2011 season.

Afflalo is not the player he was when he played for the Magic from 2013-14. In two seasons with the Magic, Afflalo was probably the team’s best player — or at least, the team’s most consistent scorer. He averaged 17.4 points per game and nearly made the All-Star team in 2013 (the Magic’s record likely kept him out).

It was clear from the team’s play in those years Afflalo was not best suited to be the primary offensive option. That is not the kind of player he was. But that is what the Magic had to ask of him.

He was a solid isolation player and had a good mid-post game for a shooting guard. But he often settled for mid-range jumpers and was not great at getting to the line. Orlando ultimately traded him for Evan Fournier, looking to free room for Victor Oladipo to return to shooting guard They also wanted to make room for recent draft pick Elfrid Payton.

Orlando was just ready to move on and give its young players more time on the floor.

Afflalo has struggled since leaving Orlando. He could not duplicate his success in his second stint with the Denver Nuggets. He struggled again after a trade to the Portland Trail Blazers. And his scoring continued to drop off as he signed with the New York Knicks and Sacramento Kings.

Afflalo has kept up his efficiency from the floor and improved his 3-point shooting. With the Magic, he shot 37.0 percent and a 52.0 percent effective field goal percentage. He has shot 39.3 percent from beyond the arc and a 50.5 percent effective field goal percentage in the last two years as his role began to diminish.

Afflalo still is not a strong defender. He had a -2.2 defensive box plus-minus in his two years with the Magic. And he has still been a negative defender since then. But his improvement with his shooting and his ability to score will certainly be more attractive to the Magic, especially coming off the bench.

Orlando will not ask him to carry the offensive load as a starter this time around. Instead, he is likely coming off the bench to help spread the floor with the occasional drive or mid-post play. Maybe even be a dominant offensive player off the dribble more with the Magic’s second unit.

For a Magic team desperately in need of some 3-point shooting, Afflalo fills that need. And on a one-year deal, it carries little risk for Orlando.

And Afflalo appears excited to return to Orlando.

Finding playing time for him and the Magic’s other wings will be the bigger question.

Orlando made its signing of Wesley Iwundu official Tuesday. That leaves the Magic with Terrence Ross, Evan Fournier, free agent signee Jonathon Simmons and potentially Jonathan Isaac able to play shooting guard and small forward in addition to Arron Afflalo. The Magic also have unguaranteed contracts in Marcus Georges-Hunt and Patricio Garino available too. And, of course, Mario Hezonja in the rotation.

That is nine players who can play the wing spots on the roster already.

Orlando’s roster stands at 16 players including Marreese Speights (rumored to have agreed to terms with the Magic) and the non-guaranteed contracts. The Magic will have to cut at least one player to fill the roster.

But Afflalo is a player who will fit a critical need for the Magic. They needed shooting. And Afflalo has turned himself into a decent shooter.

Considering Orlando’s limited cap space, spending a one-year deal to bring in a solid veteran like Afflalo to fill this need should be a big boost for the team. With Jonathon Simmons, Jonathan Isaac and Bismack Biyombo in the second unit, the Magic should have plenty of defense to help boost Afflalo and allow him to do what he is best at for the moment.

Next: Time is not right for Orlando Magic to strike for a star

It seems the Magic have added another quality veteran who will help the team in the short term. All without threatening any of their long-term plans.