Orlando Magic: 3 worst free agent signings in team history
By Luke Duffy
2. Rashard Lewis
It’s hard because Rashard Lewis was a much-loved player during his time with the Magic. He was also a key component to their Finals run in 2009, and in a lot of ways was ahead of his time as somebody who could stretch the floor with their shooting from deep from both forward positions. While with the Magic, he shot 39.9 percent from 3-point range.
It was just what it cost to acquire him in a sign-and-trade from the Seattle SuperSonics that hurt. Six years, $118 million. Not only that, but the deal was backloaded so that Lewis got more money as the years went by. His productivity took a dip in unison with this, however, so by the time the 2010-11 season came around, Lewis was the second-highest earner in the entire league.
Orlando Magic
During much of the time Lewis spent there, the Magic were genuine contenders and had some depth, but they would have been so much better off with some financial flexibility to strengthen elsewhere if they’d just signed him to less money. The logic in doing so was to provide a big-time scorer to pair with Howard, which Lewis had been with the SuperSonics.
It didn’t quite work out that way though, as he never cracked 20 points per contest, with an average of 16.3 points per game in Orlando. Not a bad figure when you’ve got other talented guys like Howard and Jameer Nelson to play with, but you’d expect more from somebody making so much money.
Lewis was an All-Star only once during his time in Orlando too, that 2008-09 season, but he was gone by 2011. His parting gift to the Magic was lasting because as a result of making so much money the only team who would take him off their hands were the Washington Wizards. Who did they give up in return? Gilbert Arenas.
So not only did the contract of Lewis hurt in the moment but it also indirectly set in motion the crumbling of the Magic as contenders. Arenas joined the cause alongside Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu, but not long after Howard got disillusioned and forced his way out. Then Lewis went and got a ring with the Miami Heat of all teams, which didn’t help.