channing frye

Josh Cohen

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ORLANDO – Shockingly left open time and again on Monday as the Orlando Magic alternately probed the interior of the defense and swung the ball around the perimeter, Channing Frye did just what he was signed to do: He confidently drilled four, momentum-turning 3-pointers.

As he sprinted to the Magic’s huddle following a succession of Detroit Pistons’ timeouts, Frye playfully screamed, ``They better stop disrespecting me!’’

Frye admitted after Orlando’s 107-93 dismantling of the Pistons that he wasn’t trying to show up Detroit with his screams and that he was simply attempting to fire himself up.

What Frye ultimately realized, however, was that because Orlando’s offense was so proficient at moving the ball and was so good at playing inside-out through center Nikola Vucevic, Detroit was simply left to pick its poison and it had to surrender something. The result, of course, was a hailstorm of high-arching threes for Orlando’s sweet-shooting power forward, which is also known as a ``stretch-four’’ in today’s NBA vernacular.

Frye, who chose the Magic over a bevy of suitors last July when he hit free agency, saw just how potent Orlando’s offense could be when the movement and passing are free flowing. Opposing teams can’t cover everything, and it usually works to the Magic’s benefit when it’s the 6-foot-11 Frye who is left open.

``For me, I love this style and I think it’s how basketball should be played. For me, I’ve found success in playing this way (as a stretch-four) and it’s one of the reasons that I came here to Orlando,’’ said Frye, who is averaging 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds a game while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor and a sparkling 45.6 percent from 3-point range. ``I looked at the talent we had on this roster – guys like Vic (Oladipo), Nikola Vucevic, Evan (Fournier), Luke Ridnour, Ben (Gordon) and Elfrid (Payton) – and I wanted to be a part of it. For me, I saw a familiarity there. I thought I could be a big part in us being successful.’’

If Monday’s win was any indication, Orlando (5-7) heads into Wednesday’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers as it’s starting to hit its stride. A big reason for that is because Oladipo and Frye are healthy and learning to mesh with their teammates. Frye sprained his knee on the third day of training camp and missed four weeks, while Oladipo suffered a knee injury and a facial fracture to cost himself six weeks of time with his teammates.

Frye’s shooting has proven contagious as Orlando heads into Wednesday’s game first in the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage at 41.6 percent. The Magic, which made a season-high 13 3-pointers on Monday in Detroit, have five players (Fournier (50.9 percent), Frye (45.6 percent), Harris (40 percent), Vucevic (2 of 2) and Aaron Gordon (4 of 8)) shooting at least 40 percent from 3-point range.

``As we continue to understand one another, the (3-point) shots come from where you expect them,’’ Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. ``That’s big on a team where every guy has a role. You can anticipate where a guy will be and I think we’ll continue to get even better at (3-point shooting).’’

While Oladipo’s impact on the Magic is unquestioned because of his relentless hustle and fearless drives to the rim, it’s the addition of Frye that is a game-changer for Orlando, several coaches around the NBA have said this season.

Nothing gives NBA coaches trying to devise defensive schemes more headaches than a power forward who can shoot from the outside. Because foes have to stay up on Frye, it keeps opposing power forwards from double-teaming Vucevic on the inside and it keeps them from helping when players like Oladipo, Fournier and Tobias Harris beat defenders off the dribble and head to the rim.

Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy knows a thing or two about utilizing the ``stretch-four’’ position during his five highly successful seasons in Orlando. He said that the Magic’s acquisition of Frye in July was significant because of how it makes others on the roster even more dangerous.

During their time in Orlando under Van Gundy, Rashard Lewis (658 made 3-pointers in 257 games) and Ryan Anderson (378 made 3-pointers in 188 games) became the first and second power forwards in NBA history to lead the league in 3-pointers made in a season. Now, Van Gundy sees Orlando’s acquisition of Frye – a career 38.5 percent 3-point shooter – having a similar impact with the Magic.

``It changes the entire thing,’’ Van Gundy said of how adding a shooting power forward changes the dynamic of an offense. ``What it’s done for them is it has really spread the floor out now for guys like Oladipo, Harris and Evan Fournier to really be able to have more room to get to the basket because Frye has to always be accounted for. Those great-shooting bigs change the game immensely in the way that you play. Even though he’s only averaging a little over 10 (points per game) and you see other guys scoring more, to me, he’s probably been the biggest addition for them in terms of making them a better offensive team.’’

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, who is considered one of the NBA’s best tacticians, said last month that Orlando was wise to sign a ``stretch-four’’ like Frye because of the havoc that it creates for opposing defenses. And Carlisle saw first-hand last season just how much damage that the sweet-shooting big man can do when he gets hot beyond the 3-point stripe.

``Last time we played Frye’s team last season (when he was still a member of the Phoenix Suns), he hit five 3-pointers in the first quarter and we had to hit an impossible, running 25-footer to cut it to an 11-point deficit at halftime,’’ Carlisle recalled. ``That’s the kind of impact that guys like (Frye) can have. He’s really good. Guys like him are so valuable now.’’

Magic coach Jacque Vaughn, who along with GM Rob Hennigan sold Frye on the vision in Orlando, has said for months that the power forward’s addition was most important because of the trickle-down effect it will have on others. Because Frye commands so much attention, it opens up space for Vucevic and Harris on the inside and creates driving lanes for Oladipo and Fournier.

And Vaughn has noticed that even when Frye isn’t getting 3-point shots – usually because the defense is pressed close up against him – it helps out the Magic offense.

``It takes a lot of unselfish thoughts from Channing that sometimes he’s not even involved in the play, but he still has an impact,’’ Vaughn said. ``A great play that I watched of film the other night was when Channing crossed half court and (Washington power forward) Nene was this close to him. So that effect throughout the course of the game, it lends to other guys having success. So you give Channing a lot of credit.’’

Frye said he’s willing to occasionally take one for the team if it opens up drive lanes for Oladipo (14 ppg. and 4 apg.) and it frees up Vucevic (18.8 ppg.) and Harris (18.4 ppg.). As smart a player as the Magic have in their locker room, Frye is well aware that his presence as a ``stretch-four’’ can have an effect even when he isn’t being left wide open for 3-pointers as he was on Monday night in Detroit.

``I think my stretch-four position is going to allow us to play four-on-four at times and guys like Vic and Vooch will have more room. It will make our floor-spacing really good,’’ said Frye, who clearly understands the Magic’s big-picture approach. ``There are going to be nights where it’s just like that (when foes are taking away his shots), but I’m OK with it. If we can play four-on-four, it gives us a better chance to win. I just have to be patient within our system. Right now I’m pretty happy with where we are and how we’re seeing our guys compete and attack. I think this style of play gives us a really good chance to be good as an offense.’’

frye-i-love-this-style

Frye: "I Love This Style"

NEW YORK – In a script that seemed to be straight out a syrupy-sweet Hollywood sports movie, the older cousin – the one who actually paved the way to the NBA years earlier – set a screen for the younger cousin, one that freed him up to drill the game-winning shot an instant before the final horn.

And just to complete the family feel from Wednesday, the father to the younger player – who is subsequently also the uncle to the older cousin – was sitting nearby and watched the entire sequence unfold. Still somewhat bleary-eyed from a trip the night before, the third family member couldn’t believe what he had just witnessed from his flesh (his son) and blood (his nephew).

``It was kind of interesting because Tobias had called me earlier in the day and said, `Oh, you don’t need to come to the game.’ I told him, `Nope, I’m coming to this game because I feel like something special is going to happen,’’’ said Torrel Harris, father to Orlando Magic forward Tobias Harris and the uncle of first-year Magic forward Channing Frye.

`Tobias knew that I was tired from my trip and said that I didn’t have to come to the game, but I told him, `No way, I really feel like something special is going to happen.’ After Tobias hit that shot, I said, `Bingo, there it is.’’’

Sports moments don’t get much more special than the one that the Harris and Frye families got to experience on Wednesday in Orlando’s 91-89 defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers. As Harris, 22, ran down the lane and broke hard to his right, Frye, 31, set the key screen that created space and made the shot possible. From there, Harris did the rest by spinning, fading and sinking the 21-foot shot that caused his teammates to streak onto the floor in celebration.

At the time of his clutch basket, Harris was overcome with the joy of helping to lift his Magic to their first victory of the season. But as he watched the shot over and over again – both on ESPN’s SportsCenter and on his laptop via a DVD – Harris was struck by the magnitude of the moment. Two family members, playing on the same team for the first time in their lives, worked well together to produce magic for Orlando.

``It was surreal,’’ Harris admitted on Saturday. ``When I look at it in hindsight, I realize now that it was pretty special the way it all unfolded. I’m sure that I’ll look back at it at the end of my career too and realize how special of a moment that was.’’

Harris and Frye will be in New York on Sunday when the Magic (2-4) face the Brooklyn Nets (3-2) at 3:30 p.m. Barclays Center is not far from where their mothers – Lisa (Tobias) and Karen (Channing) – grew up in Brooklyn as two of eight children with a one-year age gap and being ``thick as thieves,’’ Lisa said. The two starters for the Magic will also be near their former homes – Frye was born in White Plains, N.Y. before moving to Arizona, while Harris was born in Islip and went to high school in Dix Hills, N.Y.

The family is expecting more than 100 friends and family members at the game, including the possibility to seeing 90-year-old grandfather Lt. Col. John Mulzac, who was a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen in 1942 during World War II. Those in attendance will get to see Harris and Frye not only play in the same NBA game, but don the same Magic jersey and once again work together for a common purpose. The moment, Lisa said, is almost too good to be true.

``It’s really special for our family,’’ said Lisa, who admitted that she got ``really loud’’ on Wednesday night when watching her son drill the game-winning shot from her home in New York. ``Just having one relative in the NBA is big, but to have two getting there and now they’re on the same team, you couldn’t have planned this. We never thought this was possible and it was never planned, so that just makes it even more special.’’

The union of the two first cousins was made possible when the Magic heavily pursued Frye in free agency last summer. Harris, who came to the Magic in a trade in February of 2013, also put in a call to Frye to see if he would be interested in joining the rebuilding Magic. Harris and Magic GM Rob Hennigan and head coach Jacque Vaughn all saw the same thing – Harris’ abilities as a leader and shooting the 3-pointer as a power forward would greatly benefit the Magic.

Through six games, Harris is the Magic’s leading scorer at 17.7 points per game, while Frye – who missed four weeks of training camp and the opener because of a knee sprain – is getting more comfortable around his new teammates and is averaging 8.2 points and 5.4 rebounds while having made seven 3-pointers.

``We’re both players and both scores, so we know how to play off one another,’’ Harris said. ``He’s family, so it’s been good having him around. He’s a bright spot for our team and he keeps everybody upbeat and focused. It’s definitely exciting any time that we’re out there on the floor together. Obviously we have good chemistry. He makes the game easier for a lot of people, including myself.’’

After signing a four-year contract with the Magic in July, Frye was blown away at how hard Harris worked throughout the summer to get himself ready for this season. Whereas Frye can be sarcastic and funny quite often, Harris is nicknamed ``All Business’’ because of his no-nonsense and serious approach to basketball. And when Harris hit the game-winner on Wednesday, Frye was quick to point out that his first cousin earned the opportunity because he had put in so much work over the summer to prepare for the situation.

``(Playing on the same team) definitely is a dream come true for our family,’’ Frye said. ``Any time that you have two people from the same family on the court at the same time, it’s special. I’ve been able to see Tobias grow through the years and with me being here now I just want to help him grow more. We’ll always be family first, but out here it all about winning games. That comes first when we’re on the court.’’

Frye moved from New York to the Phoenix area as a child and he became a college star at the University of Arizona from 2001-05. And when Frye was drafted No. 8 in the 2005 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, it gave Harris and younger brothers Tyler and Terry a chance to go watch their much-older cousin play at Madison Square Garden.

Frye didn’t know it at the time, but he was blazing a trail for Harris to the NBA. Harris starred at the University of Tennessee for one season before being the 19th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. Tyler (20 years old) plays at Providence and Terry (18 years old) plays at Houston Baptist and they too hope to follow in Channing and Tobias’ footsteps to the NBA.

``When Channing was in the NBA, Tobias and Tyler were in middle and elementary school and they could see how this dream could be a reality for them as well,’’ Lisa Harris said. ``I’m sure they looked at Channing and imagined their day coming if they worked hard enough.’’

Said Tobias: ``I followed Channing pretty much his whole career at Arizona and then him being drafted to the Knicks. He showed me the way and it was pretty exciting to have somebody from our family make it to the NBA. It pushed me to try and make it, too.’’

Because of their age difference and their upbringings in different time zones, Frye and Harris aren’t as close as some first cousins. But playing on the same NBA team has allowed them to occasionally hang out at each other’s houses during their downtime and to see each other on a daily basis in the Magic locker room. And they know that they have to be related considering the way that neither will shy away from a lively debate.

``We’ve been hanging out a lot. We’re around each other so much, that when the guys on the team hear us arguing about something or debating things, people tell us that we argue like cousins,’’ Harris said with a laugh. ``Channing’s always taking the opposite side of things, but he’s a fun guy to be around.’’

Not long after setting the screen for his younger cousin’s game-winning shot on Wednesday in Philly, Frye offered up a witty assessment of what had just transpired. As much as he and Harris stressed that their focus was on the Magic’s first victory, they did take great delight in the family feel that they provided.

``It showed that we’re being successful and we’re playing the game the right way,’’ Frye said of him and Harris teaming up on the winner. ``The thing is that for Tobias, he’s made shots at the end of his career. That might run in the family – just kidding.’’

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Cousins Harris and Frye Making New York Family Proud

ORLANDO – Possessing great wit and the owner of a sarcastic and sometimes cutting vocabulary, Channing Frye held no punches back when analyzing his long-awaited debut with the Orlando Magic on Thursday night.

``I thought I was hot trash,’’ Frye said bluntly.

Frye, who sprained the MCL in his left knee on the third day of training camp, missed four weeks of the preseason and the season-opening loss in New Orleans on Tuesday before seeing his first action in a Magic uniform on Thursday. Orlando fell 105-98 to Washington in a game that Frye started, but had little impact with just two points and two rebounds in 24 minutes.

Because Frye is still getting fully back into shape and learning his new teammates, he said Thursday’s first game back had a preseason feel to it for him. He hopes for better results tonight when the Magic (0-2) host Toronto (1-0) at the Amway Center.

Frye, a nine-year NBA veteran, is also hoping that he can factor into the Orlando offense much more than he did in the first game. He got just three shots, and one of those was a desperation heave at the end of the shot clock. He drilled his first try from 22 feet out after the defense had collapsed down inside on center Nikola Vucevic (23 points and 12 rebounds). Frye is well aware that the Magic heavily pursued him and ultimately signed him to a lucrative four-year contract to be a difference-maker in the offense.

``I want to be a threat and I feel like I was doing a lot of stranding and wondering what this guy or that guy was going to do. No offense, but I need to get more than three shots,’’ Frye said. ``I need to be more effective. It just comes down to watching more film, being a pro and coming to work.

``It’s talking with the coaching staff and learning, `Hey, if they switch (the pick-and-roll) or deny (the post) what would you like me to do?’ It’s a learning process,’’ Frye added. ``I would have seen these types of situations in the preseason or practice, but hey, no excuses.’’

The hard-luck Magic are making no excuses about the injuries that have hit them hard early this season. They were without Victor Oladipo (knee sprain and facial fracture) and Frye all preseason. They didn’t have either of those two in the first loss to the Pelicans. They got Frye back on a limited basis on Thursday, but bruising power forward Kyle O’Quinn was out with a sprained ankle. O’Quinn’s status for tonight’s game is still a game-time decision.

``He had to introduce himself to his teammates because he hasn’t played a bunch with those guys,’’ Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said of Vucevic. ``Just getting the feel for where his shots are going to come from and what is going to happen when the defense reacts to him – it’s going to take some time for him to get in a position where he’s comfortable with his teammates.’’

Orlando and a half-dozen NBA teams courted Frye over the summer because of the impact that his shooting stroke from the outside has on the dynamic of an offense. That proved to be true last season when he was statically one of the most efficient power forwards in the game, and many of his teammates were better when he was on the floor.

The hope in Orlando is that by being a threat at power forward, Frye can create driving lanes for Elfrid Payton and Tobias Harris, post freedom for Vucevic and open 3-point shots for Ben Gordon and Evan Fournier.

``When he’s the guy feeding me the ball and his guy helps on me, it’s a tough dig because of Channing’s ability to shoot and he releases the ball so high,’’ Vucevic said of Frye. ``He’ll be a good addition to not only me, but the rest of our team. … I’ve told (Frye) that if I kick the ball out to you, you’ve got to make that shot. Otherwise, I’m going to shoot it. I’m joking, but he is a good shooter and he’s going to help us a lot.’’

Now, it’s just about Frye learning his teammates’ tendencies and finding gaps in the defense and ways to create offense for himself and others. Frye joked that his first Magic points came on ``the only time that they left me open, and I think they got cussed out, too.’’

Frye made this much for clear after the first game: He expects to factor more into the Magic’s offense as he works his way back fully into the offense. And, no he stressed, the knee that he injured a month ago had nothing to do with his inactivity in the opener. He vowed to be more aggressive in looking for his shot tonight.

``As much running as I’ve been doing I could run the Boston Marathon at this point. I’m not worried about my knee,’’ he said. ``I would not have been out there if I had had any qualms about my knee and that stupid knee brace. But it is what it is and it felt great when I actually got a chance to shoot the ball. That third (shot) doesn’t count, but I thought the second one was pretty good with a little in-and-out going on. So two shots, that’s not bad.’’

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Frye Expects to be More Effective in Second Game Back

ORLANDO -- Having never suffered a major knee injury in his basketball career, Channing Frye initially feared for the worst when his leg collided with Ben Gordon’s on Thursday and his knee was bent back awkwardly.

When a MRI showed no structural damage and the Orlando Magic training staff was able to aggressively treat the knee to limit the swelling, Frye was able to breathe a big sigh of relief on Friday.

Frye, Orlando’s prized free-agent acquisition in the offseason, suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee in Thursday’s practice. He was up and walking on the leg on Friday and wearing on a light sleeve over the knee.

Frye felt so good that he was planning to get in a weight-lifting session while his Magic teammates practiced. His return will be based largely on the knee’s response to treatment, but Frye said he is encouraged by there is no major damage to his knee.

``I’m a little disappointed, but at the same time it could have been way worse,’’ Frye said before Friday’s training camp practice. ``It could have really set me back longer, but thank God that it happened now of any time. So I guess it’s a best of the worst situation. I’m pretty happy with what’s going on and I’m pretty confident with this training staff and how they want to get me back healthy.’’

Upon colliding with Gordon on Thursday, Frye went down on the floor and his moans and pained facial expressions sent a shock wave through the team. Like Frye, many of the coaches and players feared the worst when they saw the 31-year-old forward clutching his knee. But there was relief later when it was revealed that Frye didn’t suffer major damage.

``You just look at a player’s expression on his face and you look to see any shock or timidity in his movement and I think we’re pretty fortunate,’’ Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. ``After practice he was evaluated with a MRI and it could be a lot worse.’’

With Frye down for the time being, Kyle O’Quinn and Andrew Nicholson will likely see the bulk of the minutes at the power forward position during the preseason, which begins Tuesday night with an exhibition game in Miami. Orlando can also use Tobias Harris and rookie Aaron Gordon at power forward in some smaller, up-tempo lineups.

O’Quinn finished last season by playing some of the best basketball of his career over the final 19 games. Nicholson struggled throughout much of last season, but he’s worked hard this summer on regaining his confidence and form as a low-post scorer. Also, Harris added muscle and toned his body this offseason in hopes of becoming a stronger, more physical post player for the Magic.

``(Frye’s injury) lets you know what coach preached at the beginning of when we first got here that you’ve always got to be ready. You may not be in the game plan, but anything can happen because (injuries) are unpredictable. You hate to see anybody grab anything – shoulder, elbow, knee or anything – but God-willing he’ll have a speedy recovery and he’ll be right back with us.’’

O’Quinn said that his solid play as a starter – he averaged 9.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.95 blocked shots over those 19 games – sparked his confidence and propelled him into having the best offseason of his career.

``It was good for my confidence and it let me go into the summer time knowing what I had to work on,’’ O’Quinn said. ``I had game experience to really base my workouts on. I didn’t just go through workouts trying to be ready for a season where I didn’t know what to expect. So those games (last season) really helped and I really appreciate Coach (Vaughn) giving me those minutes and those opportunities. It really helped me out and hopefully it will kick-start this next year.’’

Orlando heavily pursued Frye in the offseason, as did eight-to-10 other NBA franchises, because of the power forward’s ability to make 3-point shots and make his teammates better. According to several advanced metrics, Frye was one of the NBA’s most efficient power forwards last season.

Frye ranked 11th in the league in ESPN’s ``Real Plus/Minus’’ category, a statistical ranking that takes into account the production of the teammates around the player. Also, according to the ``Wins Above Replacement’’ statistic, Frye was ranked 14th in the NBA and sixth among all power forwards trailing only standouts Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge and Serge Ibaka.

Frye missed the entire 2012-13 season because of a temporary virus in his heart, but he bounced back last season to play all 82 games. He is upset that he won’t get time on the floor to better learn how to play with guards Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton, center Nikola Vucevic and Harris, his first-cousin. But Frye said his veteran experience and time away from the game two seasons ago will help him in knowing how to stay involved with the team while on the sidelines.

``I’m pretty good at watching and I got pretty good at watching (two seasons ago during a heart condition). As long as I watch and see, I’ll be fine,’’ he predicted. ``They are still trying to learn the offense. But this is the offense that I have been running for seven years now. Even in Portland we ran a lot of this stuff. This is their chance to run it and get used to one another. Then, when I come out there it will make their life better. For me, I already know which way Vic and Elfrid like to go. I am missing that time, but it’s giving me time to assess how I can a better help to this team.’’

Frye had high praise for the Magic’s training staff for quickly diagnosing and treating his knee injury. He said the staff’s quick action helped him avoid having so much swelling and stiffness in his knee. While refusing to put a timetable on his return, Frye vowed that he would push to get back out on the court as soon as he’s pain free and fully confident that the knee is structurally sound. He also vowed not to do anything that will ruin the chances of him having a big impact on the Magic in his first season in Orlando.

``I don’t know the severity – I don’t ask those questions. I feel pretty good. It’s injured right now, but at the same time I just want to take it day by day,’’ Frye said. ``At this time of year, I don’t want anything nagging. I don’t want any excuses for the year. I want to come back where I’m as close to 100 percent as possible. For me, it’s a timetable if I feel great tomorrow I’ll try to do some more stuff. If it doesn’t feel good, I’ll take a day to get it right. I can’t come back until it’s right and they give me permission.’’

Frye said some of the pain in his knee was eased on Thursday night when his alma mater, the University of Arizona, upset No. 2-ranked Oregon in college football action. Frye and fellow Wildcat, Aaron Gordon, had a friendly bet with Luke Ridnour – an Oregon grad – and the reserve Magic point guard had to pay up Friday morning by wearing an Arizona jersey while reciting the Wildcats’ chat of, ``Bear Down.’’ Frye then made sure to post videos of Ridnour in the Arizona gear on his social media accounts.

``That’s what we do – we go in there and we shock the world,’’ Frye said. ``I knew it was going to happen, the rest of the people from U of A knew what was going to happen and the rest of the world just didn’t want to believe it.’’

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Frye Injures Knee During Training Camp Scrimmage

ORLANDO -- Channing Frye is a career 38.5 percent 3-point shooter, he has the versatility to play two positions along the frontline and his smarts are off the charts in terms of the dynamics of a basketball team.

But another of the primary reasons that the Orlando Magic heavily pursued and ultimately inked Frye to a free-agent contract back in July was because of what he can do for others on the team.

When Frye is positioned on the wing, it should open up Mac Truck-wide driving lanes for cat-quick guards Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton. When Frye sets up shop in the corner, the opposing power forward won’t dare leave him to double-down on center Nikola Vucevic in the post. And with Frye always a threat to pump in threes, it should give an attacking Tobias Harris – Frye’s first cousin, coincidentally – even more room to operate in the middle of the floor.

So while some in the national media might have scoffed at Orlando’s offseason pursuit of Frye, the signing was ultimately about so much more than simply adding a 31-year-old ``stretch-four’’ who can knock down the occasional 3-pointer. History has shown, specifically last season in Phoenix with the surprising Suns, that Frye can help a team both with his shooting and his ability to make others around him better.

``I think that’s the ultimate compliment for a player – that you are someone who makes others better,’’ Frye said on Wednesday prior to the Magic’s second day of training camp practice. ``It’s also the hardest expectation on myself. I still have to continue to be me and do my job. … But it’s a huge compliment and an honor that they think I can make others better and now I just want to live up to those expectations. I want to grow with these guys and have them make me better also.’’

Magic GM Rob Hennigan, who has totally remade the team’s roster over the past two seasons, certainly did his homework when pursuing Frye during the free-agent courting period. Despite missing the previous season with a viral condition in his heart, Frye was an integral part on a Suns team that was the surprise of the NBA last season with 48 victories. Simply put, the Suns were significantly better when Frye was on the floor for his 28.2 minutes a game than when he was on the bench resting.

The Magic delved even deeper into Frye’s impact with the Suns last season and found a player who not only was especially effective with his shooting, but also one who greatly impacted those around him. To wit:

Frye ranked 11th in the NBA last season in ESPN’s ``Real Plus Minus (RPM)’’ rating, a statistical category created by Jeremias Engelmann that isolates a player’s plus/minus ratio while also accounting for the production of the teammates around him. The others ranking in front of Frye last season in the RPM category were a Who’s Who of all-stars: LeBron James, Chris Paul, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Steph Curry, Nick Collison, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan and LaMarcus Aldridge. Among power forwards, he was the fifth most efficient player at his position.

In the category of ``Wins Above Replacement (WAR),’’ a rating that heavily weighs victories, games available, minutes played and defensive value, Frye ranked 14th in the NBA and sixth among power forwards. All five of the power forwards rated just ahead of Frye – Nowitzki, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Aldridge and Serge Ibaka – are considered standout players.

When Frye was on the floor last season his Suns teams were a plus-297 in points on the scoreboard. That’s 3.6 points per game and 4.6 points per 36 minutes on the floor – numbers that put him in the league’s top 40 players in efficiency. Phoenix’s primary rotation (Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, Miles Plumlee, P.J. Tucker and Frye) had a plus-3.3 plus/minus rating per game, good for the 10th best five-man rotation in the league.

``We looked at the productivity of when he was on the floor, (the productivity) of the guys around him when he was out there and wasn’t and it was a significant difference because of his ability to create space on the floor,’’ Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said. ``His old team (in Phoenix) had guards who could get into the paint and make plays and hopefully our guys here (in Orlando) will be able to do the same.

``I think when we look at people who we want to acquire and bring in we look at how they are going to help the core of guys that we have be more productive,’’ Vaughn added. ``Spacing was an issue for us and the ability to shoot the basketball is a premium and (Frye) is unique because he does it at a big position. It’s just unnatural sometimes with the movement of guys for them to guard him on the perimeter. So the thought process was will that have a chance to make driving lanes more open for our guys? Will that allow us to get into the paint and create drive-and-kick situations? His signing made sense for us.’’

Orlando launched an all-out assault on trying to land Frye, sending Hennigan and Vaughn to the West Coast to recruit the power forward. It also didn’t hurt that Harris already had family ties and Frye’s best friend in the NBA, Grant Hill, played for the Magic, still lives in Orlando and is now a neighbor.

Harris, who grew up going to Frye’s NBA games early in his career while playing for the New York Knicks, said it is downright surreal to now be on the same team with his first cousin. (Harris’ mother and Frye’s mother are sisters). Harris said he was blunt when pitching the Magic to a player he has looked up to for much of his basketball life.

``I knew he was a free agent and I asked him who he was considering and if he would consider us as a team. When he said yes, I told him that we needed to get that done,’’ Harris said with a chuckle. ``Obviously Rob talked to him and got a deal done. But Channing’s a guy that I wanted on this team and I wanted to play with him because he knows how to win games. … Obviously, Channing had to make the best decision for himself and his family. He has two kids and I knew Orlando would be ideal for him. So I just told him, `Get down here.’ I told him to bring his butt down here as the big cuz and play with his little cuz.’’

Frye’s choice to sign with the Magic was significant because of the fact that he had eight-to-10 teams in pursuit of his services, and many of those teams were expected to compete for the NBA championship this season. But Frye believed in the Magic’s long-term vision and he said helping build a young team would mean more to him than simply joining an already established winner.

``For me, nothing is guaranteed in this league and I wasn’t going to go to a team that was just expected to win. It was the challenge of winning somewhere that isn’t necessarily expected to win and they are the underdog,’’ Frye said. ``I asked Rob what kind of guys he was going to bring in and I knew then that I could be a part of this. I respect what they want to do here, I want to bring something here and help this team shock the world.’’

Frye shocked some in the NBA last season when he returned from his temporary heart ailment to play all 82 games and average 11.1 points and 5.1 rebounds. Last season, he made six 3-pointers in a January game against Milwaukee, hit five threes in a game six times and connected on at least three triples 25 times. He dropped 30 points on Denver in January by putting on a 10-of-12 shooting exhibition (with five-of-seven 3-point shooting). Also, he scored at least 20 points in 11 games.

``When Channing is on the floor, he spaces the floor so much because you have to respect him and guard him. And he releases the ball so quick that his man has to stay close to him,’’ Magic guard Maurice Harkless said. ``I think he’s going to be great for us. He’ll help guys like Victor, Elfrid and myself and myself to give us driving lanes.’’

Frye said he’s eager to build a chemistry with Oladipo similar to the one that he had with the blossoming Dragic in Phoenix. Frye said he’s already become a fan of Oladipo’s because of his relentless hustle and his fearlessness in driving to the rim. Frye wants to open up driving lanes and give the second-year guard the occasional release valve in hopes of making him an even more effective player in the future.

``The biggest thing right now for Vic is that he has to understand that I’m here and I’m here for him, really,’’ Frye said. ``We haven’t been on the same team much yet, but when we are it’s really about him just slowing down some because sometimes he moves too fast. I think it will come with maturity and with him being around guys who are used to playing with him. I hope that I can help him.’’

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Frye Expected to Help Others Reach Potential

ORLANDO -- Who will be the main voice in the locker room to provide motivation? Who will step up when things seem bleak and challenging to deliver inspiration and guidance? Who will keep his head high and not show weakness? Who will lead the Magic through the good times and bad?

For the first time in a while, these questions are a bit of a mystery. Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson had carried that torch for so long and with both gone these days, there will inevitably be a new spearhead in the locker room and on the court.

Watch a debate below for some analysis and vote on who you think is best cut out to lead the Magic this season.

Who do you think should be the Magic's team leader?

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Great Debate: Who Will Lead the Magic?

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Great Debate: Magic Team Leader?

ORLANDO -- No position on the Orlando Magic’s roster speaks more to the talent, depth and versatility of the squad than the power forward slot.

Additions made over the summer combined with improvements by returning players should give Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn plenty of options when formulating rotations for the season ahead. The depth of talent and overall variety of players at the power forward position should allow the Magic to play either physical against bigger teams or small and athletic against perimeter-based teams.

Free-agent newcomer Channing Frye is expected to be the starter at power forward, and he will most likely be backed up by the blossoming Kyle O'Quinn and Andrew Nicholson. And in certain situations, Tobias Harris and rookie Aaron Gordon can play small forward to give the Magic more speed and athleticism along the front line.

With the start of Orlando’s training camp just three weeks away, OrlandoMagic.com is breaking down each position with some in-depth analysis. For a look back at analysis of the center position, click HERE. Today, we break down the Magic’s strengths and weaknesses at the power forward position:

PROJECTED STARTER: Channing Frye (2013-14 stats: 82 games, 11.1 ppg., 5.1. rpg., 38.5 3FG percentage).

PROJECTED RESERVES: Kyle O’Quinn (2013-14 stats: 69 games, 6.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg., 1.28 bpg); Andrew Nicholson (2013-14 stats: 76 games, 5.7 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 42.9 FG percentage, 31.5 3FG percentage).

OVERVIEW: While some national analysts scoffed at Orlando’s July addition of Channing Frye through free agency, advanced metrics proved the veteran power forward to be one of the most impactful players in the NBA last season. Frye was a driving force behind Phoenix’s surprising season a year ago and standouts Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe were dramatically better when Frye was on the floor because of his ability to stretch defenses. The Magic feel the same will be true in Orlando where Frye’s shooting will create driving lanes for Victor Oladipo and Elfrid Payton and allow for single coverage for Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris. O’Quinn’s value to the Magic will once again be quite evident as he will be the primary backup at both the power forward and center positions. Harris – Frye’s first cousin – and rookie Aaron Gordon can also provide depth and tremendous athleticism at the power forward slot in smaller lineups. Orlando is also hopeful of Nicholson having a big bounce-back season following a drop off in several statistical areas last season.

STRENGTHS: Frye gives the Magic their first true ``stretch 4’’ since the days of Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson three years ago. Frye is a career 38.5 percent 3-point shooter. He’s made at least 160 3-pointers in three of the past four seasons. Last season with the Suns, Frye made six 3-pointers in January against Milwaukee, hit five threes in a game six times and connected on at least three triples 25 times. He dropped 30 points on the Denver Nuggets in January by putting on a 10-of-12 shooting exhibition (with five-of-seven 3-point shooting). Also, he scored at least 20 points in 11 games. If he can once again play 82 games, shoot the ball well from 3-point range and mentor the Magic’s young players he will be free-agent dollars well spent for the franchise. The versatility of O’Quinn and Harris – both of whom can play two positions – rounds out the depth at power forward.

WEAKNESSES: While Frye is an ultra-intelligent defender capable of guarding centers or power forwards, physicality isn’t one of his, umm, strengths. He, O’Quinn and Nicholson, along with Vucevic at center, will have to be strong rebounders and defenders for the Magic to hold their own against bigger frontlines and aggressive power forwards. Rebounding is a major question mark for this group. Harris, who has split time between small forward and power forward the past two seasons, has added some noticeable muscle this offseason and could push for more minutes along the frontline. He is an above-average rebounder for his size and it will be interesting to see him and Frye play together this season when they shift to power forward and center respectively. Time will tell if Gordon, a power forward in college, can play the power forward position in the NBA with his somewhat sleight 230-pound frame.

EXPECTATIONS: Frye is a major upgrade at the power forward slot what with his off-the-charts basketball intelligence, shooting stroke from 3-point range and his defensive versatility. And his true impact could be felt in the trickle-down effect that he has on others on the roster (primarily Oladipo and Harris). O’Quinn thrived as a starting power forward late last season and he will continue to supplement the center and power forward positions. Nicholson has worked hard this summer on getting back to the strong post game that made him a first-round draft pick in 2012 and a solid rookie in 2013. Too much time at the 3-point line last season sapped his aggressiveness and zapped his confidence. And if Harris and Gordon prove an ability to hold up physically at the power forward slot it will offer head coach Jacque Vaughn lots of options when it comes to his player rotations.

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2014-15 Position-by-Position Breakdown: Power Forward

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