Oct 17, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard
Ben Gordon(8) shoots a foul shot during the pre season game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Time Warner Cable Arena. Bobcats win 110-84. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
The Orlando Magic have made their first signing of the summer and it’s somewhat of a head scratcher as the team have signed guard Ben Gordon.
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
Both years are fully guaranteed but the second year of the deal is a team option that must be initiated by July 1, 2015.
Gordon automatically becomes the team’s oldest player at 31 years old, and also makes the second most money after Victor Oladipo.
The move to sign Gordon is still a surprise though. Many of the league’s premier media members seem confused at the signing which tells you how off the board it is.
Last season, Gordon played in Charlotte where he averaged just 5.2 points per game in 19 contests.
For his career however, he’s averaged 15.6 PPG in 688 appearances.
Gordon made a name for himself in Chicago where he played five seasons after being the third overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Since then however, his game has fell off somewhat. He spent three seasons in Detroit after signing a big free agent deal with the Pistons and has played the last two in Charlotte.
He’s hit over 43 per cent from the floor in his career and adds a veteran presence to the Magic. He will also mentor both Oladipo and Elfrid Payton.
Essentially, he gets a one-year deal and in a year the Magic can re-evaluate the situation. Of course, if he plays well he could be a trade target at the deadline.
The Magic still need to add to the roster but Gordon provides scoring to a side that desperately needs it.
His deal can’t become official until July 10.