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Projected free-agency target Landry Shamet could address Orlando’s biggest flaw. Here’s why the fit makes sense.
The Orlando Magic may not have the financial flexibility for a splash move this summer. But one projected free-agency target could directly address their biggest flaw: three-point shooting. According to Bleacher Report, Orlando is expected to pursue Landry Shamet of the New York Knicks, a veteran guard enjoying one of his most efficient shooting seasons.
NBA writer Grant Hughes explained why Shamet has emerged as Orlando’s most realistic option:
“It might be a stretch to target Landry Shamet if all the Orlando Magic can offer is a minimum salary. The veteran guard has been a key figure in the Knicks’ rotation, often profiling as their top three-point threat and best on-ball guard defender whenever Deuce McBride is unavailable.”
Shamet isn’t a headline-grabbing name. But he checks several boxes the Magic desperately need.
He’s averaging 9.6 points per game while shooting 42.2 percent from three on five attempts per night, tying a career high in efficiency. He’s also shown he can thrive next to ball-dominant stars like Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. He fits seamlessly alongside elite wings such as OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges.
For Orlando, Shamet would project as a point-of-attack defender who can space the floor around Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, and Jalen Suggs.
Why the Magic Needs Shooting Help…Again
Heading into All-Star Weekend, the Magic sit seventh in the East at 28-25. They remain firmly in the Play-In picture and trail the Philadelphia 76ers by just 1.5 games. Injuries have played a role. But the bigger issue hasn’t changed.
Orlando is once again tied for dead last in three-point percentage at 34.2 percent alongside the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers. They also rank eighth from the bottom in attempts at 33.7 per game.
Last season looked similar. The Magic finished 2024-25 shooting just 31.8 percent from deep, worst in the league. They took only 35 threes per game, tied with the Detroit Pistons for the eighth fewest.
That backdrop explains why Orlando traded for Desmond Bane last offseason. Before the season, Bane said on The Kevin O’Connor Show that he expected a green light in his new role:
“Yeah, I mean I think that’s the goal. We’ve been playing and scrimmaging over the last two weeks and it’s very apparent what they want from me. They want me to shoot threes, they want me to be aggressive and score the ball and every time they feel that I can get a shot off, they let me know about it. So, I think that I’ll definitely be at career numbers as far as [3-point] attempts go.”
Instead, Bane’s volume has dropped. After averaging 6.1 attempts per game last season and a career-high 8.6 in 2023-24, he’s down to 5.2 this year. That’s his second-lowest mark since his rookie campaign. He’s also shooting a career-low 37.2 percent. With 29 games left after the break, Bane has taken just 274 threes. That’s far off his career high of 523. In turn, the spacing problem remains.
The Risk of History Repeating Itself
Shamet would arrive with momentum. But Orlando has seen this movie before.
Prior to Bane, the Magic brought in Kentavious Caldwell-Pope after he shot 40 percent or better from three in back-to-back seasons with the Denver Nuggets, including their 2023 title run. In one season with Orlando, his percentage dropped to 31.6. That marked his worst since Year 3. The Magic later moved him in the Bane deal.
If Shamet follows the same trajectory, scrutiny will shift toward head coach Jamahl Mosley and Orlando’s offensive infrastructure.
The Magic don’t have many alternatives. Banchero’s rookie max extension begins next season. Black nears unrestricted free agency. Tradable first-round picks remain limited.
Shamet won’t change Orlando’s ceiling overnight. But if he brings the version of himself seen in New York and with the Phoenix Suns, he could become a sneaky value pickup. He might also finally provide the reliable shooting this roster has chased for years.
Jalon Dixon Jalon Dixon is a multi-platform sports journalist and content creator specializing in NBA and WNBA coverage. He blends writing, podcasting, and video analysis to deliver accessible, in-depth perspectives on basketball and beyond. More about Jalon Dixon
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