ben gordon

Josh Cohen

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ORLANDO – That gutsy guard who was hitting in-your-face jumpers on Thursday, almost single-handedly leading the Orlando Magic back into contention and masquerading as Ben Gordon circa 2009 was actually the Ben Gordon of 2014.

Same person as five years earlier, the quietly confident veteran shooting guard insisted on Friday. In fact, even though he is somewhat hesitant to say it, Gordon resents the heck out of the fact that many in the basketball world felt he was done as an elite player after a disastrous couple of seasons in Detroit and Charlotte.

Gordon logged as many or more hours than any Magic player at the team’s facility this past offseason as he was worked tirelessly to get his game back while in Orlando. He wants to show that just because he’s 31 years old and just because his numbers plummeted steeply the last few years like a car going over a cliff that he still has plenty of game left to contribute to a team.

Gordon’s heard the whispers about how he was done, how this was his last chance, and he did something about this summer to reverse the course of his career.

``I just use it as motivation. In the evenings when I’m just sitting home, the stuff that I hear is just reason to get up and go to the gym and shoot some more jumpers or shoot some more free throws,’’ said Gordon, whose Magic (0-2) host the Toronto Raptors on Saturday at 7 p.m. ``I just use what I hear as motivation. The best thing that you can do is speak with your actions instead of going and complaining to the (media). Don’t talk about it and instead put your work in because most of the time it will pay off. That’s more where my focus is.’’

Gordon’s play did all of his talking on Thursday night at the Amway Center. He poured in 22 points, six free throws and two 3-pointers in 26 minutes. His ability to create offense – even with much taller defenders hanging all over him – with those high-arching teardrop shots allowed Orlando to cut a 17-point deficit to two and nearly pull out a stunning victory. The Magic ultimately lost 105-98 to the Washington Wizards, but in the process they just might have discovered what they have in a determined and dialed in Gordon this season.

``It was great to see him continue to trust what we are doing,’’ said Magic coach Jacque Vaughn, who also was quick to point out Gordon’s toughness and unselfishness (four assists). ``I look beyond the offense and I thought he battled, whether that was trying to get a loose ball, diving on the floor, boxing out or getting deflections throughout the course of the game. Not only did he make shots for us, but he created some opportunities energy-wise and effort-wise.’’

An Orlando team very much in need of outside shooting and offensive pop off the bench took a chance on Gordon in July even though his career had seemingly been in a freefall the past five seasons. He went from averaging 20.7 points per game in 2008-09 for the Chicago Bulls to getting waived prior to the playoffs last March by the Charlotte Bobcats. It was a bizarre ending to a two-year run in Charlotte where Gordon never meshed with rookie head coach Mike Dunlap in 2012-13 and fell out of favor with head coach Steve Clifford last season.

Gordon said his struggles were more because of misuse than a drastic erosion of his skills.

``There was never any doubt in my abilities because I was seeing all of the jumpers go in every day in practice and seeing the work that I was doing. But I just wasn’t getting the opportunities,’’ he stressed. ``That’s what this league is all about – getting opportunities and being in the right situations. I’ve been around the league long enough now to realize that.

``When I first came into the league (with Chicago in 2004), I was prepared for the opportunity and I was allowed to play through mistakes and develop my confidence,’’ said Gordon, who recently noted that his most successful stints in the NBA have come when he played for coaches who were former players (i.e. Scott Skiles and Vinny Del Negro).

``Sometimes you put the work in, but you don’t get the same opportunities. So in the NBA, it’s about getting the right opportunities. Everybody can play, but it’s just a matter of being ready for the opportunity.’’

The Magic felt comfortable gambling on Gordon because they had a history with him during the early stages of his career. Magic assistant GM Matt Lloyd worked with Gordon when the two were members of the Chicago Bulls. And Magic assistant GM Scott Perry was a part of the front office staff that brought Gordon to Detoit following his highly successful five-year run in Chicago.

What they remembered about Gordon was that he was an absolute gym rat and someone who took his craft – primarily shooting – very seriously. Also, they knew he was a player filled with pride and one who would work this season to regain his status as an elite scorer.

Vaughn got to see that firsthand over the summer when he had several conversations with Gordon about how he likes to be used in various offensive sets. Also, he saw Gordon’s dedication in the way that he would be at the team’s facility getting up jump shots at all hours of the day and night.

``Where he was at as far as his mentality was concerned, he didn’t like the way that things felt the last time he was on the floor,’’ Vaughn said. ``He wanted to kind of erase that (memory) out of people’s minds and get back to being the dedicated, hard-working individual that he was accustomed to seeing on a daily basis. I sensed that in our conversations.’’

Gordon’s 22 points on Thursday were his most since April 6, 2013 when he surprisingly made six 3-pointers and scored 27 points in Brooklyn for a Charlotte team well out of the playoff race. And Thursday’s effort came two nights after the season debut in New Orleans where Gordon missed seven of eight field goal attempts – a somewhat misleading stat because three of the shots were blocked by bigger guards.

On Thursday, Gordon had just four points in the first half, but he heated up late in the third period after the Magic’s self-inflicted wounds (18 turnovers) put them in a daunting 17-point hole.

Working with veteran point guard Luke Ridnour (eight points, four assists, no turnovers in almost 25 minutes) and playing off Magic center Nik Vucevic (23 points and 12 rebounds), Gordon drilled five of eight shots and two 3-pointers in the second half. And because defenders had to run at him because of the reputation of his jump shot, he got to the free throw line seven times with six makes. He calmly stepped to the line with 44 seconds remaining and hit three free throws that pulled Orlando to within 100-98 – as close as it was at any point in the second half.

``I wasn’t surprised at what Ben was doing,’’ said Ridnour, who has grown close to Gordon because of their status as second stringers and their many mutual friends throughout the NBA. ``I think this is a good place for (Gordon) to be. They are putting a lot of trust in him and letting him go. I was playing against him when he was in Chicago and he was so tough. It’s fun to see him playing so well again.’’

That’s certainly the goal for Gordon as he works to re-establish himself as a go-to scorer once again. He likes the freedom that Vaughn has given him to run off screens and create his own shot and he’s excited about the prospects of being on the floor at the same time as 3-point shooters like Channing Frye and Evan Fournier.

He feels the marriage of opportunity with the hard work that he put in over the summer will lead to more nights of the Ben Gordon of 2014 looking like Ben Gordon circa 2005. He knows that he’s worked to put himself in position to be successful and also quiet the whispers that he’s done as a top scorer.

``When you work hard you don’t want that hard work to go to waste. When you’re hard work is overlooked and you hear people doubting you, it’s upsetting,’’ he said. ``But my work ethic hasn’t changed and now it’s a matter of reaping what you sew.

``They brought me here to be a spark, to bring some scoring and shooting to the team. There will be a lot of games like that this year,’’ Gordon said. ``I’m not surprised at what I did (on Thursday) because that’s what I expect of myself. That’s what I’ve been able to do throughout my career. I don’t know how often I can do that, but hopefully I can continue to make an impact on this team.’’

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Ben Gordon Out to Prove Critics Wrong

NEW ORLEANS – With Victor Oladipo out indefinitely following surgery to fix a facial fracture, the Orlando Magic likely will look to a variety of players to provide the scoring punch and energy usually displayed by their injured second-year standout.
  And it wouldn’t come as a total shock if it’s a reserve that plays starter’s minutes for the Magic while filling in for the hard-luck Oladipo.

A couple of 21-year-olds used to playing off the bench – Evan Fournier and Maurice Harkless – split the eight starts at the shooting guard slot during the preseason. It was Fournier, who was acquired in a trade with the Denver Nuggets last June, who go the start at shooting guard in Tuesday night’s season-opener for the Magic.

But it’s veteran guard Ben Gordon, a proven scorer in the NBA over his 10-year NBA career, who could get the bulk of the Oladipo’s minutes even though he’s not expected to be used as a starter.

Gordon, 31, has mostly made his name in the NBA by being one of the league’s best Sixth Man contributors. In Gordon’s 688-game NBA career, only 269 of those games have been as a starter. Gordon has averaged more than 15 points a game five times and he’s shot at least 40 percent from 3-point range in nine of his 10 NBA seasons.

Gordon said that it doesn’t matter to him whether he plays as a starter or comes off the bench, but clearly he’s grown accustomed to being a go-to scorer while in a reserve role. There’s an art to being an effective sixth man, and Gordon said he has no plans from straying from what has worked for him in the past.

``Me personally, I’m not a guy who likes to sit on the bench, so I’ll sit on the side, foam roll (to loosen his leg muscles) and stretch a little bit,’’ said Gordon, who has a career scoring average of 15.6 points per game. ``During games, I’m always up and moving around and I have the hot packs on. I just try to keep myself loose so that it doesn’t take me a few trips to get (ready). I like to feel like I’m loose already.’’

Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said that he respects Gordon’s track record of production as a super sub, and he’s unlikely to change the veteran guard’s role even though the Magic are searching for production without Oladipo.

Gordon said that his thinking won’t change regardless of what role that he’s playing for the Magic.

``I think it’s more of a mindset,’’ Gordon said. ``When you’re role is really defined and you know exactly what the team wants from you and that’s the be aggressive right away, look for your shot and look to make plays, that makes it a lot easier.’’

CHEERING UP OLADIPO: Oladipo missed three weeks of training camp with a sprained MCL in his left knee and then took an accidental elbow to the face just minutes into last Thursday’s practice. The hit fractured a bone that required corrective surgery on Saturday and the procedure went as expected, according to a Magic spokesman.

Ultra competitive and itching to jump-start his second NBA season, Oladipo has admitted struggled with being out and away from this team this month. Several Magic players went to Oladipo’s house on Sunday for a night of food, fun and laughs designed to pick up the spirits of the shooting guard. Oladipo’s mother and sisters were in town and they prepared a feast for the Magic players in attendance.

``It was amazing. We all went over there and we were playing video games. (Oladipo) was comfortable around us after he warmed up a little bit. His face was swollen, but we’re his friends and we don’t care about that stuff as long as we have him in good spirits,’’ Magic power forward Kyle O’Quinn said. ``He wants to be with us right now, but he can’t. It was good to have his mom cooking and giving that good family feeling. I think that’s what he needed most.’’

RAVE ROOKIE REVIEWS: The book on Magic forward Aaron Gordon coming out of college was that he was an ultra-athletic player who thrived on defense and in open-court, but lacked much of a jump shot.

Gordon, the youngest player in the NBA this season at 19 years old, worked all summer to build a reliable jump shot and expand his range out to the NBA’s 3-point line. Not only did Gordon shoot the ball especially well in the preseason, he showed off his basketball IQ by thriving in Orlando’s defensive sets and he had several spectacular dunks while attacking the rim.

Magic coach Jacque Vaughn was complimentary of the way Gordon played in the preseason, feeling that the rookie has established a blueprint for how he needs to play this season.

``Before you can really expand your game you need to show that you can play very solid and that’s what I’ve been trying to do,’’ Gordon said. ``I know that I’m a very good basketball player and when I play solid I know I can surprise even myself.’’

ETC: The Magic’s home-opener at the Amway Center is Thursday night against the Washington Wizards. Tickets remain for both that game and Saturday’s home game against the Toronto Raptors and the Magic are making a push to try and sell out both games. … It might feel like some sort of cruel joke after what they endured last season, but the Magic start the season by playing 16 of their first 23 games on the road. Orlando was just 4-37 away from the Amway Center last season. It didn’t beat a Western Conference team on the road and didn’t win a game west of the Mississippi River all season. Vaughn has stressed to his team all training camp that if it can be better defensively and more consistent at pushing the pace that it can be much more successful on the road. … In an attempt to combat New Orleans’ 7-footers Anthony Davis and Omer Asik, Orlando started its big lineup with Nikola Vucevic at center, Kyle O’Quinn at power forward and Tobias Harris shifted to small forward. For O’Quinn, the promotion to the starting lineup is a continuation from last season when he started the final 19 games and played the best basketball of his career. Said Vaughn: ``Kyle has taken a lot of strides and his ability to play multiple positions helps him. His ability to shoot the basketball, pass the basketball and have some physicality to play (center), it’s been good for him. He’s matured and has grasped playing different positions.’’ … New Orleans coach Monty Williams got a chance to work with Magic forward Tobias Harris this past summer when the Magic forward was picked to the USA Basketball Select Team. Williams, a former Magic player himself, was impressed with Harris’ business-like approach and his ability to score in a variety of ways while practicing against Team USA’s Senior Team. Said Williams: ``He’s a good player. He loves to go left and pull up and he can get to the basket too. He shoots it better than I thought. I didn’t get to see him in Milwaukee but I’ve seen him a lot (in Orlando) because I watch a ton of (the Magic games). He’s got good size and he can shoot the ball.’’

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Ben Gordon Likely to Get Bulk of Minutes Off Bench

EATONVILLE -- Every kid at Hungerford Elementary is a part of the free or reduced-lunch program and sadly many of them don’t have enough food at home to eat over long weekends or on a nightly basis.

Fortunately, the Orlando Magic, standout guard Ben Gordon and the Christian Service Center have teamed up to combat the growing number of children who show up to school hungry or are forced to do without food when school isn’t in session.

Gordon, Magic Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw and Christian Service Center Executive Director Robert Stuart spent time on Tuesday (Sept. 23) stocking “The Love Pantry” with food and hygiene essentials for local families in need. For Gordon, who signed a free-agent contract with the Magic in July, the “Hoops for Hunger” event was a way for him to integrate himself into the Orlando community and hopefully make a massive difference in the lives of hundreds of school children from the Eatonville area.

“When I heard what the ‘Hoops for Hunger’ program was about, obviously feeding children who don’t have the abundance of food that some of us have, it’s a great feeling knowing that we can help them with their education,” Gordon said. “Seeing each one of the little ones come up smiling and being able to help them with something like this, it’s very rewarding.”

“The Love Pantry” is an initiative of the Christian Service Center in partnership with Orange County Public Schools. Since the program’s inception in 2011, more than 8,000 family members across 63 different Love Pantries in Orange County schools have been provided food, hygiene items and community resource information. Each participating school is provided with a lockable cabinet supplied with emergency food and basic hygiene items which is replenished on a weekly basis by volunteers. When a student or family is in need, the school’s staff member can go to the cabinet to provide enough food for one or several family meals.

“Our long-term goal is to reduce hunger as a barrier to education,” Stuart said. “We’ve come across some remarkable stories of kids who have come through in the clutch as far as school goes because hunger has been removed from the equation. … The schools do a great job of taking care of the kids, but the goal and the role of the Christian Service Center is to be the connection to the family. We want to make sure that there are resources available for the families.”

The Magic are committed to fighting hunger issues in Central Florida and in response they have developed the “Hoops for Hunger” program. As part of the Magic’s commitment to this initiative, the team participates in several activities throughout the year including a full staff service project with UnitedHealthcare staff to assemble 13,500 food packs for the Hi-Five Kids Pack Program through UnitedHealthcare’s Do Good. Live Well. program, support of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Summer Break Spot program to provide free healthy meals to youth all summer long, and serving Thanksgiving breakfast annually at the Coalition for the Homeless. In addition, Magic Head Coach Jacque Vaughn sponsors the “Blessings in a Backpack” program at Nap Ford Community School, which provides backpacks filled with food for underprivileged children on the weekends. To learn more about the Orlando Magic’s Hoops for Hunger program and other community initiatives, visit orlandomagic.com/community.

Stuart has high praise for the Magic’s willingness to get involved in social issues in the Central Florida community and the franchise’s purpose of making a difference in the lives of those most in need.

“This is right up the Magic’s alley because it allows them to give back to their community and impact it in a way that we might not even be around to see years from now,” Stuart said. “When you start impacting the life of a five and six-year-old, I hope that I’m around long enough to see the impact that we’ve had on their lives when they are graduating and going into the workforce. That’s the exciting part of all of this where we can work with the Magic and make a difference.”

Gordon assisted Anderson, Outlaw and Hungerford Elementary Principal Letecia Foster stock shelves on Tuesday with nonperishable items such as spaghetti and meatballs, macaroni and cheese, cereal, condensed milk, mashed potatoes, soups and canned fruits. Gordon interacted with a dozen or so Hungerford Elementary students, asking each one what sport they play or what their favorite class is in school. Gordon said he’s always been active in the community throughout his time in the NBA, and he hopes to take part in several community service events in Orlando so he can impact the lives of as many children as possible.

“Everywhere I go, whether I’m at home (in New York City) or playing for a new team, there’s a point where you want to establish yourself in the community and let people get familiar with you on a different level than just basketball,” Gordon said. “You want to show them that you are a part of the community and that you want to try and help any way that you can. This is one of the ways for me. I’ll certainly be looking for more opportunities like this down the line.”

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Orlando Magic’s Ben Gordon Shows His “Love” for the Magic’s Hoops for Hunger Program at Hungerford Elementary

ORLANDO -- Ben Gordon is about to start his 11th NBA season and it would be understandable if the veteran shooting guard was already dreading the rigors and monotony of two-a-day practices and training camp.

However, Gordon – one of the newest members of the Orlando Magic – can’t wait for camp to begin so that he can prove to the basketball world that he still has plenty of life left in his game.

``As a professional athlete (proving yourself) is why you compete, sacrifice your body, put the hours in and put so much into the game,’’ said Gordon, who took part in the Magic’s ``Hoops for Hunger’’ community event at Hungerford Elementary School on Tuesday. ``I look at this opportunity with the Magic as a chance to reestablish myself. I definitely want to help our younger group of guys with how to win and things of that nature. I’m definitely looking forward to the season.’’

Gordon averaged more than 20 points a game as recently as 2009, but his career has been in decline in recent years, culminating with his premature release from the Charlotte Bobcats last spring. The 31-year-old Gordon signed a two-year contract with the Magic that has just one season guaranteed and he knows that this will either be his opportunity to show that he can still play at a high level or he could possibly be out of the league.

Gordon has attacked the opportunity with the Magic by spending much of the offseason in Orlando. In between trips to Disney World with his 3-year-old son, Gordon has been a regular at the Magic’s practice facility. He said that he’s worked hard on his strength and conditioning in hopes that his once deadly 3-point shooting stroke and his ability to score against bigger players will return.

``I’ve been down here for a few months and all I have seen from the guys is a lot of hard work and dedication,’’ said Gordon, who has played for Chicago, Detroit and Charlotte in his NBA career. ``It’s great to be around guys who come in every day, put their hard hats on and they get to work. I look forward to trying to be that veteran guy who can help them along the way and have a big impact on this team.’’

Gordon won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award in 2005 and he had his finest season as a pro in 2006 when he averaged 21.3 points per game while shooting a dazzling 41.3 percent from 3-point range. He pumped in another 20.7 points a game in 2008-09 while again shooting 41 percent from the 3-point line. That season earned him a big free-agent contract with Detroit, but his production with the Pistons never matched what he did in Chicago.

Gordon was traded to Charlotte in June of 2012, but he was displeased with his role with the Bobcats while playing for two different head coaches in two seasons. Gordon shot just 38.7 percent from 3-point range in 2012-13 and only 27.6 percent in 19 games last season.

Gordon is convinced that being in a system where his offensive production, 3-point shooting and veteran savvy will be heavily counted on will benefit his game going forward. Gordon is eager to prove that he can still be an elite scorer if used properly and included in the offense.

``(His jump shot) never really went anywhere; it’s just a matter of being consistent, making sure my touch is always right and staying in rhythm,’’ he said. ``I’ve just been working with the coaches, working with my teammates and getting a lot of shots up. Hopefully it will carry over to the season.’’

Gordon said he shakes his head on a daily basis when he realizes that he is one of the ``old guys’’ on a Magic roster that includes Aaron Gordon (19 years old), Elfrd Payton (20 years old), Maurice Harkless (21), Evan Fournier (21), Devyn Marble (21), Victor Oladipo (22), Tobias Harris (22), Nikola Vucevic (23), Kyle O’Quinn (24) and Andrew Nicholson (24). Gordon likes the mix of youth and veterans along with himself, Channing Frye, Luke Ridnour and Willie Green and he thinks that the Magic can make some significant strides this season.

``I think this team really needed that (veteran experience),’’ Gordon said of a Magic squad that lost Arron Afflalo and Jameer Nelson in the offseason. ``They have guys that are young, work hard and are hungry for the game. The only thing they were missing was the veteran presence. I think the (veteran) guys will be able to help with that from Day One. I think that’s something that will be beneficial to the younger guys and it will be fun.

``I think guys often derive confidence from how hard they work and this offseason everybody on our team has been working really hard,’’ Gordon added. ``Our guys know they are young, but they are hungry at the same time. I think now we have a good mix to support the young talent. We’re all really looking forward to the season.’’

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Ben Gordon: "Chance to Reestablish Myself"

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Projecting Most Improved Magic Players in 2014-15

ORLANDO -- There were times last season – the triple-overtime effort against Chicago, the OT thriller versus New York and the home win against Oklahoma City particularly come to mind – when guard Victor Oladipo would take over games with his hustle and will the Orlando Magic to success.

And to hear Oladipo tell it, those kinds of efforts were just the start of something bigger ahead for him and his Magic teammates.

``I feel like I’m just scratching the surface of being the player that I can become,’’ Oladipo said earlier this summer. ``I can be so much better than I was as a rookie. I just have to keep working hard and keep improving every day.’’

Oladipo improved all throughout a highly successful rookie season, and Magic fans can’t wait to see what heights he can hit this year. The hope is that Oladipo’s improvement, combined with the strides made by other young players and the addition of several high-character veteran players, will help the Magic become a much-improved team in the season ahead.

The Magic traded their leading scorer from the past two seasons, Arron Afflalo, in part to open up more playing time for Oladipo at the shooting guard position. They acquired promising guard Evan Fournier in that Afflalo trade, signed Ben Gordon in free agency and claimed veteran Willie Green off waivers to bolster the depth behind Oladipo at shooting guard.

That mix of players should all Orlando tremendous versatility and depth at the shooting guard position as head coach Jacque Vaughn mixes and matches lineups. Vaughn prefers to have multiple ball-handlers and pick-and-roll initiators on the floor at all times and versatile players such as Oladipo and Fournier will create a host of options for the Magic.

The Magic will hold Media Day on Sept. 29 and open training camp on Sept. 30 at the Amway Center. Orlando begins the preseason schedule on Oct. 7 in Miami and the first home preseason game is Oct. 15 against Brazilian powerhouse, Flamengo. The regular-season opener is Oct. 28 at New Orleans, while the home opener will be two nights later (Oct. 30) against the Washington Wizards.

With the opening of camp less than two weeks away, OrlandoMagic.com is breaking down each position with some in-depth analysis. For a look back at analysis of the center, power forward and small forward positions, click HERE, HERE and HERE. Today, we break down the Magic’s strengths and weaknesses at the shooting guard position:

PROJECTED STARTER: Victor Oladipo (2013-14 stats: 80 games, 13.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg., 4.1 apg., 1.61 spg., 41.9 FG percentage, 32.7 3FG percentage, 78 FT percentage).

PROJECTED RESERVES: Ben Gordon (2013-14 stats: 19 games, 5.2 ppg., 1.4 rpg., 1.1 apg., 34.3 FG percentage, 27.6 3FG percentage, 81 FT percentage); Evan Fournier (2013-14 stats: 76 games, 8.4 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 1.5 apg., 41.9 FG percentage, 37.6 3FG percentage, 75.6 FT percentage); Willie Green (2013-14 stats: 55 games, 5 ppg., 1.4 rpg., 0.9 apg., 37.6 FG percentage, 33.9 3FG percentage, 82.4 FT percentage); Devyn Marble (2013-14 stats with the University of Iowa: XX games, 17 ppg., 3.6 apg.).

OVERVIEW: In Oladipo, Gordon and Fournier, the Magic have three starting-quality players and veteran Willie Green has been a starter at the position for much of his career. Oladipo will play some shooting guard and some point guard and the Magic want him to worry more about playing hard and playing efficiently than they do him being so concerned with what position that he’s playing. Oladipo proved himself to be a game-changer at times last season with his incredible energy level, hustle and high basketball IQ. If he can become a better shooter and cut down on his turnovers – something he worked hard to do this summer during drills – he should be able to make a leap this season.

Gordon is playing with something to prove after a dismal stint in Charlotte and his opportunity in Orlando could be his final one in the NBA if he doesn’t work out here. He’s hungry and motivated to show those in the NBA that he can still be an elite scorer and a player that Orlando can count on late in games and late in the shot clock for big baskets. Fournier, who was acquired on draft night in a trade with Denver, is a versatile guard who can play both guard spots and he’s as good a shooter as he is a creator with the ball in his hands. Fournier, who played well for France in World Cup play despite limited minutes, could very well be the dark horse player on the Magic to have a breakout season. As for Green, he is a high character person who will be a mentor to many of the Magic’s young players. Green also still has plenty of game left in the tank and he’ll push the players ahead of him with his competitiveness and basketball smarts. Rookie Devyn Marble was impressive in Summer League play with his toughness and his ability to play the shooting guard or small forward positions.

STRENGTHS: Magic coach Jacque Vaughn loves having players who can play multiple positions and he puts a high value on rotations that feature multiple players who can initiate pick-and-roll plays. Oladipo and Fournier will give Vaughn two players who can play either off the ball on the wing or with the ball at the point. And Gordon, a former Sixth Man of the Year award winner, is just as comfortable coming off the bench as he is starting. The versatility and flexibility of this group will allow Vaughn the freedom to mix and match rotations and ride the hot hand throughout games.

WEAKNESSES: Outside shooting is going to be a big concern for the Magic, just as it was much of the past two years. One of the reasons that Orlando signed Channing Frye – a career 38 percent shooter from 3-point range – was to address the squad’s outside shooting. Oladipo is much better as a driver than as a shooter, but he’s worked hard on his form and he showed signs of major progress while competing on USA Basketball’s Select Team in Las Vegas in July. Gordon has been an elite 3-point shooter in years past, but his effectiveness has dropped off dramatically in recent years. Orlando will need him to be a knock-down shooter from the perimeter to keep defenses from collapsing inside on center Nikola Vucevic and small forward Tobias Harris. Last season in Denver, under first-year head coach Brian Shaw, Fournier played mostly off the ball and dramatically improved his 3-point shooting. He shot 40.7 percent from the arc and hit at least three 3-pointers in 11 games. He had games with 23 and 26 points late last season, hitting six 3-pointers in the 26-point effort against the Houston Rockets.

EXPECTATIONS: Oladipo handled everything thrown at him as a rookie – coming off the bench and starting; playing point guard and shooting guard; big wins and bad losses – with incredible grace and savvy. Now, he could be poised for a big season after getting more comfortable with his Magic teammates and the NBA’s physical style of play. Orlando’s additions of veterans such as Frye, Gordon and Green will only help Oladipo’s development in becoming the best player that he can possibly be. A year from now, Fournier could be looked at as an absolute steal for the Magic because of his talent level and creativity with the ball in his hands. He’ll get plenty of time at both positions and could be a full-time starter for the Magic by midseason. Magic executives have been pleased with the work that Gordon has put in this summer and they feel that he will have a big bounce-back season in Orlando. If all three players stay healthy, the shooting guard position could be a position of great strength for the Magic.

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2014-15 Position-by-Position Breakdown: Shooting Guard

Dan Savage

The Orlando Magic have signed free agent guard Ben Gordon, General Manager Rob Hennigan announced today.  Per team policy, terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“Ben (Gordon) brings valuable experience to our team,” said Hennigan.  “His competitiveness and ability to score and stretch the floor adds versatility to our backcourt and overall roster. We are excited to welcome Ben to the Orlando Magic family.”

Gordon (6’3”, 200, 4/4/83) played in 19 games last season with Charlotte, averaging 5.2 ppg., 1.4 rpg. and 1.1 apg. in 14.7 minpg.  He led (or tied) the team in assists once and scored in double figures three times, including a season-high 12 points on Dec. 9 vs. Golden State.

Originally selected by Chicago in the first round (third overall) of the 2004 NBA Draft, Gordon has appeared in 688 career NBA regular season games (269 starts) during his 10-year career with Chicago, Detroit and Charlotte, averaging 15.6 ppg., 2.6 rpg. and 2.6 apg. in 28.5 minpg., while shooting .402 (1,136-2,824) from three-point range and .858 (1,968-2,306) from the free throw line.  He also played in 29 career playoff games (24 starts), averaging 20.2 ppg., 3.2 rpg. and 3.2 apg. in 37.9 minpg.  Gordon earned the NBA Sixth Man Award in 2004-05, becoming the first rookie in league history to win the honor.  Since joining the NBA in 2004-05, he has scored 20+ points off the bench 98 times, second-most in the NBA during that span (Jamal Crawford, 127).

magic-sign-ben-gordon

Magic Sign Ben Gordon

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Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, the NBA has announced that the Dallas Mavericks at Orlando Magic game on Wednesday, November 9 will tip-off at 5:30 PM. Amway Center doors open at 4:30 PM.