The Magic have a starting point guard in Elfrid Payton.
They have a backup point guard in C.J. Watson.
And now they might have a third point guard
Shams Charania of RealGM:
Orlando summer guard Keith Appling has reached agreement on a partially guaranteed two-year deal with the Magic, league source tells RealGM.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 20, 2015
Appling went to training camp with the Lakers after going undrafted out of Michigan State last year. He didn’t make the team, but he probably has a little better shot in Orlando.
Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Magic add another young point guard to compete with him. How else will they use their cap space?
If Appling doesn’t make the team, Orlando’s D-League affiliate – the Erie BayHawks – owns his D-League rights. The Magic might have offered a partial guarantee to keep Appling, who also played on their summer league team, in the pipeline.
He’s a good athlete with solid playmaking skills, both as a scorer and passer. His jumper holds him back, as does his pedestrian 6-foot-1 frame. But Appling has a chance to make an NBA roster, and it seems Orlando is truly providing that.