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Orlando Magic: 25 Best Players To Play For The Magic

By Phil Watson

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: A general view of Amway Center during the game between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center on December 11, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 11: A general view of Amway Center during the game between the Orlando Magic and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Amway Center on December 11, 2015 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Basketball: Orlando Magic Hedo Turkoglu (15) in action, pass vs Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol (16). Orlando, FL 12/20/2008 CREDIT: Bill Frakes (Photo by Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X81643 TK1 R11 F236 )
Basketball: Orlando Magic Hedo Turkoglu (15) in action, pass vs Los Angeles Lakers Pau Gasol (16). Orlando, FL 12/20/2008 CREDIT: Bill Frakes (Photo by Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X81643 TK1 R11 F236 ) /

11. player. 38. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Free agent, July 14, 2004; Trade, Phoenix Suns, Dec. 18, 2010.. SF. 2004-09, 2010-13. Hedo Turkoglu

The Orlando Magic signed former San Antonio Spurs forward Hedo Turkoglu to a six-year contract as a free agent in July 2004 and never regretted the deal.

Turkoglu became the Magic’s starter at small forward but also played a hybrid point-forward role while helping Orlando to the NBA Finals in 2009.

ORL_11_TURKOGLU
ORL_11_TURKOGLU /

That came a season after he was named Most Improved Player in the NBA in 2007-08.

Turkoglu led the Magic in scoring in the Finals, averaging 18.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 41.1 minutes per game, while shooting .492/7-for-16/.742 in a five-game loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Turkoglu opted out of his contract after the NBA Finals in 2009 and was sent to the Toronto Raptors as part of a sign-and-trade deal that included four teams, with Orlando acquiring cash from both the Dallas Mavericks and the Raptors, while the Memphis Grizzlies also facilitated the deal.

Traded to the Phoenix Suns in July 2010, he returned to the Magic in December 2010 along with forward Earl Clark and swingman Jason Richardson from Phoenix in exchange for swingmen Vince Carter and Mickael Pietrus, big man Marcin Gortat and a first-round pick in 2011.

His second stint with Orlando wasn’t as successful as the first. Plagued by injuries and suspended for 20 games for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance in 2013, the Magic waived Turkoglu in January 2014 after he didn’t appear in a game for them that season.

In parts of eight seasons with the Magic, Turkoglu averaged 14.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 32.7 minutes per game, shooting .432/.379/.805.

He signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in January 2014 and remained there through the 2014-15 season. Unsigned as a free agent in the offseason, Turkoglu announced his retirement on Nov. 13, 2015.

Selected out of Turkey with the 16th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings, Turkoglu became the first Turkish national to play in the NBA before being dealt to San Antonio in July 2003 as part of a three-team deal that included the Indiana Pacers.

Turkoglu’s 1,246 3-pointers are 43rd-most in NBA history.

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