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Arron Afflalo Immediately Thought About Returning to Orlando After Last Season Ended

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton July 27, 2017

ORLANDO – Looking to address some of the team’s deficiencies while also adding veteran experience and toughness to the roster, the Magic reached into their past and signed guard Arron Afflalo and reached all the way to Europe to add power forward/center Khem Birch.

While Afflalo – a member of the Magic from 2012-14 – is well known to fans in Orlando, Birch is something of an unknown after playing professionally in Turkey and Greece the past two seasons. The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Birch was born in Montreal, Quebec, attended two high schools in Massachusetts, played collegiately at Pittsburgh and UNLV and was a G League standout before landing professional basketball contracts in Europe.

Birch, 24, gave up guaranteed money in Greece to sign a make-good contract with the Magic and chase his dream of playing in the NBA.

``Coming out of high school I was highly recruited and highly ranked, but (professionally) I’ve had to start from scratch,’’ said Birch, who averaged 7.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 37 EuroLeague games during the 2016-17 season. ``Two years ago I didn’t think I’d be here. (The Magic) expect me to play hard and play good defense. I’m known for being a good defensive player and I’ve told Coach (Frank) Vogel that I’m going to come here and do whatever they ask me to do.’’

Under the direction of President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond – both hired in late May – Orlando has been extremely active this offseason in re-working a roster that slumped to a 29-53 record last season. The Magic have signed shooting guard Jonathon Simmons, point guard Shelvin Mack, Afflalo and Birch, while drafting forwards Jonathan Isaac and Wesley Iwundu. They will compete for playing time with a core that includes Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Bismack Biyombo, Terrence Ross, D.J. Augustin and Mario Hezonja. The Magic should have improved depth and defense and are better-suited to play the version of small-ball that is sweeping the NBA. Also, the team should have great competition at every position – something that has been lacking over the past five seasons that ended outside of the playoffs.

Afflalo, 31, has been equally well-travelled since being traded by the Magic to Denver following the 2013-14 season. He’s played for the Nuggets, Trail Blazers, Knicks and Kings over the past three seasons. He enjoyed his greatest professional success in Orlando, averaging 16.5 points in 2012-13 and a career-high 18.2 points in 2013-14.

Afflalo, who is capable of playing shooting guard or small forward and is considered a plus defender, saw his scoring average rise each of his first seven seasons in the NBA, topping out at the 18.2 points per game that he averaged in 2013-14 in Orlando. However, his production and playing time have declined in recent years. Upon becoming a free agent following last season, Afflalo said he had thoughts of returning to Orlando where he was the happiest on and off the court.

``Immediately, immediately,’’ Afflalo said of when he first started to entertain thoughts of returning to Orlando. ``My thought process going into free agency – and obviously it’s a business and we think about money and stuff like that – but I just wanted to find happiness. I just think this career is so short and you are very fortunate if you can play over 10 years. I don’t want to see any more years go by where I’m frustrated or not happy, regardless of wins and losses. It’s just about being around good (people), good management and a coach with good standards and some guys who I will hopefully enjoy playing with.’’

Afflalo joked that with his level of experience – his has 10 years of NBA service time already – that he will be the oldest player on the roster. He knows that the Magic are bringing him in to be a great leader for the likes of Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Mario Hezonja.

Only one player – center Nikola Vucevic – remains from his first stint in Orlando. Ironically, he will battle guard Evan Fournier – the player he was traded to Denver for three years ago – for playing time with the Magic. Afflalo has every intention of being a team leader and a mentor for the Magic’s young players, but he wants to make one thing abundantly clear – he still feels he can help a team with his talent and he wants to fight for a solid position in the rotation. For proof of that seriousness, Afflalo – who played last season at 220 pounds – has dropped 15 pounds and has spent the summer working to sharpen his game and revive his hunger. Happily, he’ll be doing that again in Orlando – the site of his greatest basketball accomplishments.

``Guys in this league are young – 19 and 20 years ago – and you think (adding weight) will never happen to you, but time waits for nobody and you have to be able to compete,’’ Afflalo said with conviction. ``I’m not here to stand around and cheer; I’m here to compete. I want to be able to get up and down with guys, run, shoot and space, so I needed to be a little bit lighter. I’m happy to be here with the Magic and I’m ready to get to work.’’

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