5 questions for the Orlando Magic entering free agency
5 questions for the Orlando Magic entering free agency
How will the Orlando Magic fill the backup center role?
Orlando Magic have discussed the guard logjam the team’s draft picks have created nonstop since last Thursday’s NBA Draft. There will be a lot for this team to sort out. Depth is never a bad thing and the Magic want internal discussion.
That puts all the free agency focus on the frontcourt and making sure it is shored up enough to help the team take the next steps.
To me, no need is more urgent or immediate than the backup center role. And while both Moe Wagner and Goga Bitadze performed admirably, they are not players I would rely on alone.
If Orlando spent its draft in part to ensure that the conditions that led to their 5-20 start — if point guards go down, they have plenty of ball handlers to step up now — then the rest of free agency needs to be shoring up the roster for expected injuries.
The fact is: Wendell Carter is not someone the Magic can rely on for 82 games. He has never played more than 62 games in a season (he hit 57 last year). That means the Magic should be planning for Carter to miss at least 15-20 games.
That means the Magic need a starter-caliber center to fill that gap. They cannot be down such an important position for very long.
It would not be surprising if the Magic spend a good chunk of their free agency focused on this spot. And they have options.
They could go with veteran big man Mason Plumlee. He may not inspire a lot of excitement and is certainly a short-term option. But he knows what he is good at. He will set good screens and hold his own on the glass while finishing the occasional lob.
Dallas Mavericks big man Dwight Powell could also fill this role as a solid screen setter and rim runner who can fill in as a starter.
They could go for up-and-coming bigs like Drew Eubanks, a solid shot blocker in limited minutes for the Portland Trail Blazers last year, or Neemias Queta or Chimezi Metu.
They could go with journeymen like Jock Landale or Mike Muscala. Both are players who have had their moments in the league as one-dimensional bigs. But neither has made a consistent enough mark worth targeting at the highest level.
They could look to go to a hybrid big — more on them in a bit. Or there are some veteran options that might consider giving a young team like the Magic a chance.
Orlando will have its work cut out for it to fill this spot. But bringing back both Moe Wagner and Goga Bitadze does not feel like the best option. Then again, the further down this list the Magic seem to get, the better it might be to stick with what they know and hope Carter’s injuries are limited.