With starting point guard Jameer Nelson reeling from concussion-like symptoms, the Orlando Magic have elected to call up Ish Smith from the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League, reports Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Smith, 23, has played for the Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Golden State Warriors in his two-year career.
The Magic entered the season with Nelson, Chris Duhon, and Larry Hughes as their only point guards. However, Nelson's lingering concussion-like symptoms put undue stress on Duhon and Hughes, which in turn forces coach Stan Van Gundy to call on Hedo Turkoglu and Von Wafer to run the point at times. Smith, a more natual point guard, should be better suited to the task.
Nelson left the Magic's loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Friday after two hard collisions with New Orleans guard Jarrett Jack. It's not the first concussion for the eight-year pro, and the Magic are understandably handling his return to the floor slowly, in compliance with the NBA's new concussion policy.
Smith owns NBA averages of 2.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 10.3 minutes, with 37.9 percent field-goal shooting. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacon averaged 12.5 points per game and 7.9 assists per game with the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League during the 2010/11 season.
Smith spent less than a month with the Warriors earlier in the lockout-shortened campaign.
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