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Orlando Magic: Ranking their top 5 offseason signings

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 22: John Hammond and Jeff Weltman of the Orlando Magic talk in the war room during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - JUNE 22: John Hammond and Jeff Weltman of the Orlando Magic talk in the war room during the 2017 NBA Draft on June 22, 2017 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Luca Sgamellotti/EB via Getty Images
Photo by Luca Sgamellotti/EB via Getty Images /

5. Khem Birch

Khem Birch went undrafted out of college back in 2014, instead beginning his journey back to the NBA first in the G League, and later in Europe. Just getting to this point has been eventful.

Despite having a wealth of big men at this moment in time, Birch can give the Magic another dimension, at least defensively.

There’s no point talking about his numbers because he’s never played in the league, but what we do know is that the power forward can switch on defensive assignments.

We saw this in Europe and before that in college. Coupled with head coach Frank Vogel, there’s no reason Birch can’t become this team’s flexible defensive cover across multiple positions.

Comparing him to Draymond Green in this respect is both lazy and silly, but there’s no question the team doesn’t have a player like this currently on their books.

He’s more mobile than Bismack Biyombo, a straight up better defender than Nikola Vucevic and more experienced than both Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac on that end.

Spot minutes backing these guys up and chasing guards around the court while also protecting the paint are what this guy can bring to the team.

He’s a great pickup to fill out the end of their bench, with the potential to grow into something more as the season progresses.

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