Orlando Magic: Could Mike Dunleavy Solve A Lot Of Problems?

We know the Orlando Magic will be players in free agency as they strive to improve their roster ahead of next season. They will have somewhat hopeful ambitions of making a run at a playoff berth next year too, so picking the right players is important. From Shane Larkin to LaMarcus Aldridge, no player has appeared too overambitious or under the radar to look into signing around these parts. You can add Mike Dunleavy Jr. to that list now too.

Quite honestly, I would never have given Dunleavy much of a look with this team had it not been for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. I watched that game the other night between the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers, and what I saw was a performance from Dunleavy that went beyond his expectations as a role player for Chicago.

Although he’s 34 years of age, he played (and looked) about 26 out there. He’s always been a three-point threat who plays with heart, two commodities that are in vogue more than ever in the NBA these days. But there was a stretch in the second half where he had 11 of his team’s last 14 points. This came at a time when the Bulls were struggling offensively, as they have done quite a bit in their series against Cleveland. He was hitting threes, getting to the line and even breaking out some nice backdoor cuts for easy buckets.

Honestly, he carried the team for a stretch during that game, and although they ultimately lost that game, it wasn’t because of Dunleavy. On top of all of those great things he was doing offensively, he was working hard on the defensive end as well. He used his length to disrupt plays, and tried his best to stay in front of his man. It was just a really impressive performance from the guy. Let’s not forget, his sneaky veteran moves have already antagonized opponents during the playoffs too.

But why would the Magic want to sign a 34-year-old who is surely approaching the end of his career? A good question, but one which there would appear to be an obvious answer when you think about it. It’s no secret that Tobias Harris is a restricted free agent this summer, and may get a big offer to play elsewhere from another team. Fans of the team differ wildly on what they think Orlando should do if another team tries to pry the rising young forward from the team.

Should the team let him go, and use the considerable dollars they would have put into resigning him on another player, Dunleavy could be the perfect stop-gap role player here. An unrestricted free agent and a forward himself, he could come in and provide short-term cover while the Magic try to find another long-term solution for that position. Although not as skilled offensively as Harris, he’s arguably more efficient on that end, and does not need the ball in his hands to make something happen.

Dunleavy can simply spot up on the weak side of the offense, waiting for the action to come his way. Defenses have to respect his threat from deep (He was a sizzling 41 percent from three-point range during the regular season) which would create more space for Orlando on that end as well. It’s no secret that the Magic had spacing issues on the court during the season, with players like Elfrid Payton and even Victor Oladipo doing their best work closer to the basket.

That in itself would be big for this team, especially when sharing the court with Channing Frye, another forward who can hit shots from deep. Orlando was a bottom 10 team in offensive efficiency during the regular season (99.7, 27th in the league) and need all the help they can get on that end. Dunleavy fits the bill here too, his shooting touch and high basketball IQ big pluses.

Coming at it from another angle, Dunleavy could be the bench spark this team needs to go on scoring runs in the middle of games, just as he did for the Bulls in Game 5. If the Magic were to draft a forward like Justise Winslow, they could have Dunleavy coming off the bench in offense heavy units that pack a punch.

Teaming him on the second unit with Evan Fournier, while also having somebody like Kyle O’Quinn protecting them on the defensive end, could open up a whole host of opportunities this team sorely lacked this year. Don’t forget, this guy can look after himself on the court as well, and does not shy away from the physical stuff.

The final reason potentially bringing in Dunleavy makes a lot of sense is the cost involved. General manager Rob Hennigan has become known for spending money wisely on essentially every player on the roster. From Nikola Vucevic‘s extension all the way down to picking up Ben Gordon on a two-year deal, every move is made with the end goal of having as much financial flexibility as possible for the future.

Dunleavy’s age and the fact he is just a role player means he could be gotten for more than a fair price. Sadly though, there’s zero guarantee he’d want to come and play his final years of basketball in Orlando. His skill set is suited to that of a contender, like the Bulls, and if they don’t bring him back, you can bet other teams will try and snap him up. Giving him a couple million more than he’s worth, and the chance to live in Florida, could sway his decision though.

Ultimately Dunleavy would not be a game changer for this franchise, far from it. But right now this team needs all the talented players it can get, especially those who are available at the right price. Dunleavy fits that description, and would bring veteran leadership to a team that still needs help in that department. He shoots the ball well, has good handles and passing ability, and at least tries his hardest on the defensive end. There is much to like here, and after seeing his exploits for Chicago in the playoffs, I’d love to see him in an Orlando Magic uniform next season.

Next: Who Is The Greatest Player In Orlando Magic History?

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