Speights ecstatic to join Orlando
Marreese Speights grew up in St. Petersburg, roughly 120 miles from where the Orlando Magic play their home games.
When he was 5 years old, Speights would wear a tiny Magic jersey with Penny Hardaway’s number on it as he watched the Magic on TV.
Now, even after nine NBA seasons, Speights roots for the Magic.
So when his agent informed him the Magic wanted to sign him to a one-year, $2.1 million contract, Speights jumped at the chance.
Speights made the drive from St. Petersburg to Orlando on Thursday with his wife, Kimberly; his older sister, Willena; and his 10-month-old niece, Jurnee. He felt so excited about his career’s new chapter that he didn’t even mind the traffic they encountered as they traveled eastbound on I-4.
“This is my dream team,” Speights said after his deal became official. “I’ve been dreaming to come here since I started watching basketball. So to have the opportunity to come here is an unreal feeling.”
A 6-foot-10 center, Speights distinguishes himself with his shooting. Known primarily as an effective (and at times overeager) mid-range shooter, he added 3-point shooting to his arsenal during the 2015-16 season with the Golden State Warriors. And last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, he made 103 of his 277 attempts from beyond the arc, a success rate of 37.2 percent.
“He is a quality NBA big who made over 100 3s last year,” said Jeff Weltman, the Magic’s president of basketball operations. “Additionally, [he’s] another guy who is dying to play for his home team. So the combination of the shooting, the character and the desire to wear a Magic jersey were all compelling reasons for us to bring Mo on board.”
Speights last played for a Sunshine State team when he played for the Florida Gators.
The Magic will ask him to space the floor and provide instant offense off the bench.
And he’s excited for that, even though the Magic already have two proven centers on the roster, Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo.
“I just know my role in this league,” Speights said. “I just know if I want to stay in this league, I’ve got to be a role player. That’s my role and it’s always been my role.”
It’s difficult to determine how Magic coach Frank Vogel will allocate minutes among his topthree centers. Vucevic seems entrenched as the starter. And with Aaron Gordon best suited to play power forward, it doesn’t seem likely that the team will play two bigs simultaneously — not after lineups featuring two big men failed disastrously last season.
Speights, who will turn 30 on Aug. 4, indicated he’s not concerned about his playing time.
“I love playing basketball, so I’ve got confidence in myself and I’ve got confidence in the coaches,” Speights said.
“The only thing I can really control is coming in and working every day. If I don’t play, it’s OK, because I’m not really chasing nothing coming here. I already won a championship. So if I can help the team any kind of way and help the young guys, that’s something I can do and that’s something I’m willing to do with no ego.”