NBA Trade Rumors: Why Monta Ellis and the Orlando Magic Are a Perfect Fit
The Orlando Magic need a star offensive guard that can help Dwight Howard lead the team back to the NBA Finals and Golden State guard Monta Ellis is the perfect fit to help Orlando reach their expectations.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Magic are one of several teams who have talked to the Warriors about Ellis.
Ellis was eighth in the NBA in scoring last season and is one of the best one-on-one players in basketball.
He has exceptional shooting range and can take any defender to the basket with his quick dribble moves and great speed.
For Howard to remain with the Magic long term (he is a free agent next summer) the team needs another star player. Orlando needs to show Howard they are doing everything necessary to compete with the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.
JJ Redick is a good player, but he is not a scorer the Magic can depend on. Neither is Jason Richardson, who is too inconsistent and is an aging player.
Ellis' shooting and scoring ability would force defenses to take a good amount of focus off of Howard, which in turn would be a massive help to the star center.
In previous seasons, if the the Magic weren't dominating from the three-point line, Howard would not have the room needed to be effective in the paint.
Defense is always a knock on Ellis but that's an unfair criticism. He was third in the league last season in steals and his superior quickness allows him to recover when beaten by the man he's guarding.
The Magic are a team that has enough talent to be a major contender in the East, but acquiring someone like Ellis would make them a legitimate championship contender.
Having an elite guard and center would make the Magic far more difficult to beat and would give Dwight Howard a reason to pledge his long-term future to the Magic.
As their roster stands now, there is no guard or forward that scares NBA defenses right now. Howard needs help and Ellis is the perfect fit to do that in Orlando.
