The Orlando Magic were among the few teams that crushed their odds this season. Led by rising superstar Paolo Banchero, the Magic climbed to the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite the shortcomings, head coach Jamahl Mosley did an exceptional job reviving a young team into the postseason. Orlando should address its weaknesses by pursuing the four-time champion Klay Thompson in free agency.
Although Orlando has plenty of strengths, three-point shooting cost them an opportunity to advance to the second round. Through a seven-game showdown with the Cavaliers, the Magic shot 32% on catch-and-shoot three-pointers and 30.9% overall. In detail, 25.4 of their total 33.3 attempts from beyond the arc came from the catch-and-shoot.
That said, signing Thompson would immediately skyrocket these percentages. Over the years, Thompson has become one of the best three-point shooters to step foot between the lines. Though he isn’t the player he once was, the five-time all-star would help Orlando in a variety of ways.
With the help of Klay Thompson, the Orlando Magic would become a nightmare to matchup against.
If the Magic were to get a hold of Klay Thompson, they would quickly emerge as the frontrunners for a top-three seed in the East next season. Thompson’s superior spacing and off-ball movement would create generous room for Paolo Banchero to operate. When faced with multiple defenders, Banchero’s vision could exploit the open shooter on the perimeter, transforming the Magic’s offensive dominance.
Through 77 games this season, the all-world three-point specialist averaged 17.9 points and 3.3 rebounds while shooting 38.7% from a distance on nine attempts. These numbers are mind-boggling when taking into account the consistency and volume of his shots.
As for the contract, Orlando should offer Thompson a two-year deal with a player-option. This gives him a reasonable amount of time to adjust into a new scheme, and decide whether he would like to run it back for another season.
The Magic’s offensive and defensive capabilities are on the verge of championship-level performance. They are poised for success with a young roster, competent coaches, and a top-tier front office. Adding Thompson through free agency would bring priceless experience and shooting, the final pieces needed to solidify their championship aspirations.
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