The Orlando Magic need 3-point shooting help, and one veteran may soon be available who can help address the issue.
If there is one thing the Orlando Magic need more of, it is shooting.
Along with injuries, being able to hit perimeter shots on a consistent basis has also been a cause for concern for the Magic. Last season, Orlando ranked 27th in 3-point percentage. The season before that, it ranked dead last.
The offseason for the Magic was quiet, given the financial limitations they are facing as a team in the first apron, but they did bring decent enough shooters back or into the fold in the form of Nikola Vucevic, Jonathan Isaac and Jevon Carter. The problem is, only Vucevic has brought consistent enough results on the floor in recent years.
So, could the Magic make a late offseason addition? If so, who would be a good fit? Let’s explore this.
Buddy Hield
On Tuesday, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported that the Atlanta Hawks traded Hield and Ryan Nembhard to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith. However, Hield is not expected to remain in Charlotte.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the Hornets are expected to waive Hield, making him available to interested teams. This is a move the Magic should consider.
At 33 years old, Hield is nearing the back end of his career, but he can still hit perimeter shots. Over the course of his 11-year career, Hield has registered a 39.5% 3-point percentage.
Moreover, he knows what it is like to be a journeyman and fit into different offenses. Whether he remains with Charlotte or joins a new team for the 2026-27 season, it will be his seventh stop.
If Orlando signed Hield, it would certainly be a flier. Last season was Hield's worst from beyond the arc. Over 44 games with the Golden State Warriors, he hit just 34.4% of his shots from long range.
Things did get better when Hield was traded to Atlanta in February, but the sample size was small. Over seven games, Hield hit 41.2% of his threes while taking one to 2.4 attempts per game.
Hield is at the point now where his services will only command a veteran minimum, which makes him a realistic option for the Magic. Beyond his shooting, Hield can provide a veteran presence for a young team looking to take the next step.
In three of his 11 seasons, Hield has shot over 40% from the perimeter, and if he could recapture that type of production for Orlando, it could be incredibly beneficial for this team. Whether it is Hield or another veteran, the Magic need to address this area of weakness, and it is something I talked about at length with my colleague RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic.
