Orlando Magic Keep DeAndre Liggins, Guarantee Contract for Rest of Season
by Evan Dunlap on Feb 7, 2012 7:29 PM EST
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PrintThe Orlando Magic did not waive rookie combo guard DeAndre Liggins by Tuesday's 6 PM deadline, confirming the Kentucky product will remain on the team's roster for the rest of the regular season and fully guaranteeing his salary.
Though Liggins' contract won't become fully guaranteed in an official sense until Friday, NBA teams had only until Tuesday at 6 PM to waive players in time for them to clear waivers by the deadline. As such, some players around the league--including Derrick Caracter, Josh Davis, Mickell Gladness, Solomon Jones, and Malcolm Thomas--found themselves out of a job Tuesday evening.
Orlando selected Liggins with the 55th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft after a successful three-year career with the Kentucky Wildcats. Liggins earned a reputation as a staunch defender in the mold of fellow Chicago native Tony Allen and averaged 5.8 points, three rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
In his first media availabilty session following Orlando's selection of him, Liggins said he could defend point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards. His priorities were "to become a better ballhandler and better shooter." Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Liggins' shooting is already NBA-caliber, noting he had "no problem" draining threes from beyond the NBA arc. "He's not gonna be that guy you don't have to guard," he said. "That's huge."
Liggins has yet to log any minutes at the NBA level, though he made a 10-minute appearance in Orlando's final preseason game, during which he tallied one point, one rebound, and four assists. The fact that the Magic decided to keep him despite not getting a chance to see him outside the practice court bodes well for his NBA future.
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The point is he is good enough to keep on the team
but not yet good enough to play except in an emergency. It’s pretty simple and very common.
Keep Hedo
Its like baseball. Grooming him in the minors
so he can eventually take over running the point. They obviously think he can turn into a good player.
“The fact that the Magic decided to keep him despite not getting a chance to see him outside the practice court bodes well for his NBA future.”
Or the sad state of the magics roster
by dukenilnil on Feb 7, 2012 8:45 PM EST via Android app reply actions
As pleased as I am for Liggins
This makes me feel like a trade will come in the near future and we’ll be seeing a lot more of Harper and Liggins than previously expected.
Still, really happy for him.
Exactly...
I hate to admit it, but Redick may be as good as gone! Only one more year on his deal, and it’s not guaranteed? Look for a deal to a team needing to have a salary dump option this summer, and we might get us a legit backup C. Would make trading Gortat seem even dumber at that price, but his mental state of not wanting to be 2nd fiddle made him a locker room nightmare. Not sure who may be available, but I’m sure Otis has an idea.
by the.pianolady on Feb 14, 2012 9:18 PM EST up reply actions
Liggins is a shooting guard, which is a stacked position for the Magic to the extent that Wafer receives scarce minutes.
But due to his defensive abilities, as he balks up a bid, he could play both at SG and SF positions as a defensive stopper.
Learning is not compulsory, but have you learned anything today?
Thats good
I wasn’t sure he was going to make since he hasn’t played this season. A great incentive to keep him is if he can develop any type of niche, like a Tony Allen, then he becomes a trade-able asset for the team. Because we just don’t have many.
Evan, do you know the contract status of Ish Smith? When does his deal become guaranteed?
"A man has got to have a code." -Bunk, Season 1; Omar, Season 4.
I thought I'd read somewhere that he was on a 10-day contract.
by TheOtherWhiteMeat on Feb 8, 2012 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
i rather keep him
and develop him into a starter. good defender and can get his teammates involved. we don’t need another person who doesn’t play defense. so i say no on the trade
He honestly looks like a better version of MP.
By better I mean smarter, because build-wise they are probably quite similar. Also, Liggins seems to have a better an ability to make plays for others. I like him a lot.
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