While the Orlando Magic took the rest of the league by surprise and made it to the playoffs, this is far from a complete team. The franchise is still technically working on its rebuild. They are just ahead of schedule because Paolo Banchero has emerged as a real star, Jamahl Mosley got the best out of the team defensively, and they managed to take advantage of other teams in the East struggling.
The playoffs have been exciting, especially the last three games, but they have also exposed some of the Magic’s biggest weaknesses and roster flaws. Guard play and three-point shooting is something the front office will have to address this summer.
So, let’s look at four three-point threats the Magic should target in free agency.
4. Klay Thompson
You cannot talk about the importance of three-point shooting in today’s NBA without mentioning the Splash Brothers. As two of the greatest three-point shooters the game has ever seen, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson changed how we see the long-range shot.
While Curry will likely retire in a Warriors’ uniform, Thompson will be a free agent this summer. The Golden State Warriors’ dynasty seems to be over, and that might very well mean that the trio of Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson will not finish their careers on the same team.
Missing the playoffs while you still have one of the best players in the league headlining your team is inexcusable. The Warriors have to make some changes. One of those changes might concern Thompson. The veteran struggled this season and was even moved to the bench in favor of rookie Brandin Podziemski for a while. Amid those struggles, he has not signed a new contract with the Warriors yet.
If they don’t offer him a new deal, the Magic could swoop in and sign Thompson. They have the money to do so and desperately need some more shooting. While Thompson struggled at points of the regular season, he still shot 38.7 percent from three on nine attempts per game.
That is exactly the kind of production from long-range the Magic do not have right now. Adding a floor-stretching guard like Thompson to the mix could be a real game-changer. On the other hand, Thompson is already 34, however, and has a significant injury history.
3. Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield has been a consistent three-point threat for pretty much all of his eight NBA seasons, never shooting worse than 36.2 percent from long-range. In some of his better seasons, he even shot around 43 percent.
The Magic desperately need a sharpshooter of his caliber, and Hield could be a solid option to pursue in free agency. He can impact games without having the ball in his hands too much, just his presence stretches the floor, and he has experience playing with stars.
On the other end of the floor, Hield is far from an asset, but that is something the Magic should be able to make up for. They are such a strong defensive team that one weak link would not be able to tear that down.
If available, a high-level 3-and-D player, who can contribute to the team’s defensive identity, would obviously be preferable but you can’t always have everything. Adding shooting, no matter in which shape, to the team should be the priority right now.
Hield has fared rather well with the 76ers during the regular season, averaging 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3 assists, but struggled in the playoffs until last night. It was his first playoff run of his career and he only played in three games. So, Hield would add much-needed shooting but not much defense or postseason experience.
2. Malik Monk
Malik Monk revived his career during his two seasons with the Sacramento Kings, emerging as one of the best bench players in the league. The shooting guard is a dynamic scorer from all three levels, a true competitor, and a good playmaker who could easily start on a competitive NBA team.
While he has been a huge part of the Kings’ identity during his time there, he will be a free agent this summer, and his price tag has increased significantly. For the Magic, that would be no problem, however. They have more money available than the Kings and might be able to lure him away from Sacramento.
During the 2023-24 regular season, Monk only shot 35 percent from three, but he has shown during his career that he can be better than that, and teams respect him beyond the arc.
Besides, Monk brings some other interesting qualities to the table, mainly his playmaking skills. The 26-year-old has come a long way as a playmaker and passer, averaging 5.1 assists for the season.
The Magic could really use someone like that in the backcourt with Jalen Suggs. If you have a star-level player like Paolo Banchero on the wing, you obviously want to give him the ball as much as possible. At this point in his young career, it might be wise to have someone else, who can initiate some offense and set others up around. Monk may not be a true point guard but he has proven that he can do just that.
Plus, Monk is a walking bucket. Too often this season, we have watched the Magic struggle to get anything going offensively. Monk can create offense out of nothing.
One concern is that the guard is not necessarily a great defender. The Magic have the personnel to mask any of his shortcomings on that end of the floor, however, and Monk is a competitor who will never back down from a challenge.
1. Paul George
The LA Clippers veteran star might be one of the biggest names on the free agency market this summer. He is already 34 but still a great two-way threat with a nice three-point shot.
Paul George could be a perfect fit for the Magic. He would add some much-needed three-point shooting, paired with the ability to be a top scorer to help Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner carry that burden and the experience necessary to guide the next generation of stars.
George reportedly wants a max contract from the Clippers, which they are apparently not necessarily inclined to give him. Kawhi Leonard didn’t get one either. On top of that, the Clippers are currently trailing the Mavericks 3-2 in their first-round series after suffering a rough loss.
The window to go on a meaningful playoff run seems to be closing fast for the Clippers, so George might be open to looking for a new home. The Magic have the money to get him and the need for a two-way threat like him. Ramona Shelburne just recently reported on The Hoop Collective that Orlando and Philadelphia are the two teams monitoring the situation closely.
It would be costly, but adding Paul George to the mix could push the Magic to the next level much sooner than expected.