NBA Free Agency 2017: 5 offseason needs for the Orlando Magic

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Mar 27, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) looks on during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 131-112. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

2. A new starting point guard

I’m not trying to put Orlando in the worst mood, but the Magic’s point guard situation is their biggest architectural flaw. Elfrid Payton could have been something interesting coming out of Louisiana-Lafayette in the 2014 NBA Draft, but he’s just not an NBA-level shooter.

Payton has solid distributive skills, but struggles to be an effective offensive point guard in the NBA today. While he did shoot 47.1 percent from the field, Payton was a terrible 27.4 percent from beyond the arc. If he wasn’t looking like the Weeknd from two albums ago, maybe he wouldn’t hit his ridiculous hairdo while he shoots 69.2 percent from the free throw line.

D.J. Augustin is a serviceable backup point guard, but nothing more for Vogel. Expect Orlando to use its high-end lottery pick on a long-term replacement for Payton. Either Kentucky Wildcat’s De’Aaron Fox or North Carolina State’s Dennis Smith Jr. could be viable options in the draft.

Should the Magic want to go with a frontcourt player, they might want to inquire about George Hill or Jeff Teague’s availability in free agency. Hill played for Vogel in Indiana. Teague is very familiar with winning in the Southeast Division as the former starting point guard for the Atlanta Hawks.

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