The Magic have acquired the 31-year-old guard with a two-year deal that includes a second-year team option.
Free-agent guard Ben Gordon has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with the Orlando Magic, Yahoo Sports reports.
Free agent guard Ben Gordon has agreed to a two-year, $9 million deal with the Orlando Magic, league source tells Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 2, 2014
The second year of the deal is reportedly a team option, so it’s unclear whether he’ll be anything more than a one-year lease for a young, rebuilding Magic team in desperate need of outside shooting. With Jameer Nelson waived, E’Twaun Moore unlikely to be re-signed, and Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo likely to see the majority of minutes handling point guard duties, Gordon will likely compete for time as the backup shooting guard with Evan Fournier (acquired from Denver in Arron Afflalo trade). Fellow veteran Willie Green, who was recently waived by the Clippers and quickly claimed off of waivers by Orlando to help with both guard spots, perhaps in an effort to add a veteran known for being an excellent teammate/locker-room guy since Nelson was set free.
Gordon was waived by Charlotte on March 2 after appearing in only 19 games during 2013-14, but the 10-year-veteran sharpshooter might have been picked up by a playoff squad had Charlotte not waited to waive him until after he became ineligible to join another team’s postseason run. Gordon is not the same player who has averaged 15.6 points per game in his career and won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award with the Bulls back in 2005, but it’s possible he could be in line for a decent comeback season if he’s able to develop a better relationship with Magic coach Jacque Vaughn than he did with Steve Clifford in Charlotte.
Reaction to Ben Gordon signings
Other free agents see that Ben Gordon signed for $4.5 million per season and think, "What am I worth then?" That raises the bar for others.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 2, 2014
Head scratching report: Magic reach terms with Ben Gordon for two-year $9 million deal http://t.co/vkjdo9lAeT
— Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) July 2, 2014
Jamal Crawford makes a $1 million more per than Orlando just gave Ben Gordon – who played in 19 games last year.
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) July 2, 2014
Overall, the deal looks shaky at best. Some people thought Gordon would be out of the league all together after a number of run-ins with management in Charlotte. If Gordon was to have a role with a team, many thought it would be on a veteran minimum contract, not a $4.5 million dollar contract with a team option for the second year. Orlando were in dire need of outside shooting after pairing 2014 rookies Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton with Victor Oladipo, but Gordon seems to be a slightly desperate “reach” by Rob Hennigan.
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