As a life long Magic fan, I am often left feeling every emotion at the moves that they make. I am feeling happy after some moves, like trading for Grant Hill and signing Tracy Mcgrady a few years ago, before we knew that Grant Hill would be injured for every year after that. Other times I am feeling sad or mad at the moves they make, like signing Tyronn Lue to be a starter. Then there are the times that I am feeling puzzled by a Magic move, like the not signing back Darrell Armstrong move that the Magic made a few years ago, after he was the inspirational leader of this team for many years. The move that they have last made, the agreement in principle to bring Lewis to the Magic, falls into the first category, a move that makes me very happy.

 This was a move that the Magic needed desperately. A scoring presence from the wings, that could consistently lead us in scoring, while being able to hit the three point shot with regularity. With Dwight Howard being the main option down low, and a beastly option at that, it was important that we brought him in a compliment. A scoring option that could help open up room for him to work, or provide a shooter to kick out to. Rashard Lewis is this man that can be that compliment to Howard’s scoring ability. Lewis doesn’t have to have the ball in his hands to be effective, he can move without and get the ball and the catch and shoot. That is part of what makes him valuable, the fact he can contribute to our motion offense that the Magic likes to work. Past that, when the Magic go through scoring lows, he has the ability to score off the dribble and create his own offense. He is a multi-dimensional offensive threat, able to shoot the three off of the spot up jumper, or score off the dribble. Both making him dangerous, and making him the perfect match for our team. This was the best possible signing the Magic could have made, and they definately pulled the trigger at the right time.

Getting him, not only will contribute to Dwight Howard, but the entire Magic team. Last year a major problem was that other teams often switched to zone defenses, due to the Magic having no consistent outside shooting threat. No one was there to pull the opposing team out of their zone defense, so it made it hard for the Magic to attack the rim. Something the Magic players are good at, attacking off the dribble. With Rashard Lewis there, driving lanes will be open for Ariza, Turkoglu, Nelson, Bogans, Dooling, and Arroyo, our best attackers off the dribble.

To add to that, it also will contribute to the Magic bench. Last year the Magic had a deep and good bench, with many people coming off of it. This year, even with Ariza probably coming into the starting lineup at the 2-guard spot, the bench likely will get added pop to it. Rashard Lewis will fill up the small forward spot, sending Turkoglu to the bench. Turkoglu while to inconsistent in a starters role, is perfect for a bench roll. He can bring instant energy and scoring into the game when the Magic need it. A bench of Carlos Arroyo, Travis Diener Keith Bogans, JJ Redick, Keyon Dooling, and Hedo Turkoglu is a nice group of players to determine your rotation from, as well as provides a dangerous bench for anyone in the league to match up to. This will keep the pressure on the other team at all times, not just with the starters on the court.

Overall, there is nothing but positives to this signing of Rashard Lewis. The best free agent out there for our situation, he will take alot of pressure off of Dwight Howard, Jameer Nelson and the rest of the team. I can’t wait to see how it works out, and watch the Magic have a much better season this next year. I think a 5th seed is not out of the equation for us, and is attainable for us.

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