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2018 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Marreese Speights

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 7: Marreese Speights #5 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons during a game on November 7, 2016 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 7: Marreese Speights #5 of the LA Clippers handles the ball against Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons during a game on November 7, 2016 at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Marreese Speights, LA Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 19: Marreese Speights #5 of the Los Angeles Clippers shoots the ball during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 19, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What To Look For

Marreese Speights is beginning to tail off in his career. His role with the Orlando Magic is likely going to be as the third center, meaning there will not be much of a role at all. With Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo on the roster, the Magic probably do not have the room to give him consistent minutes.

Essentially, Speights is there to change the pace and add extra depth. His role is to build relationships in the locker room and be a veteran leader. As nebulous and difficult as that is to quantify or comprehend.

Last year with the LA Clippers, Speights averaged 8.7 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game on a stellar 53.9 percent effective field goal percentage. Speights hit on 37.2 percent of his 3-pointers, further cementing his role as a stretch-5 as he took 3.4 3-point attempts per game. He had never taken more than one 3-point attempt per game in his career prior. All this in 15.7 minutes per game.

If the Magic needed Speights to play meaningful minutes, it certainly seems like he could. And still be fairly productive.

Maybe there is a stretch during the season where the Magic use Speights. Or in moments when Orlando needs an offensive spark or some shooting, Speights is there as an asset to use.

That is a luxury to have. A luxury the Magic have not had in recent years.

Of course, there is a reason Speights went unsigned and ended up with a minimum contract in Orlando. Perhaps Speights’ desire to play for his hometown team got the Magic a discount. Speights reportedly negotiated with several teams before signing with the Magic.

That reason is likely his defense. Speights struggles to do much else besides score. That has been his reputation throughout his career. And so he is a fairly one-dimensional player.

The Magic know what they are getting in Speights though. They certainly need the 3-point threat and so it seems likely that is the role they want him to fill. How they fit him into the picture is the big question for the team.