Orlando Magic Introduce Arron Afflalo: An Exciting Change, A Fresh Start

After shipping superstar Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, the Orlando Magic acquired a key piece in the 12-player trade to help them rebuild for the future: Arron Afflalo.

Afflalo heard about his trade via ESPN online. A bit unusual from your prototypical phone call; but we just so happen to be in an era where technology is so easy to use and where information spreads like a wildfire.

"It's exciting, for me and from a fan's perspective's it's a little different change." Afflalo stated during his official introductory press conference on Thursday morning. "It's change that always brings mystery, and it always brings doubt. But at the same time, from a positive outlook it brings a lot of opportunity and a lot of room for growth. And that is the light I feel most of the people in the organization are looking at it. And that's the way we're going to move forward."

The Compton native attended UCLA for three years where he majored in sociology and started as the Bruins' shooting guard. Afflalo was also on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in spring 2005.

The Detroit Pistons selected Afflalo for the 27th pick of the 2007 NBA Draft. He didn't log in heavy minutes for the Pistons, and was eventually traded to the Denver Nuggets after a two-year stint in Detroit.

It was in Denver though where Afflalo blossomed under more playing time ever since Carmelo Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks. Averaging a career-high 15.2 points per game, Nuggets' head coach George Karl's run-and-gun offense allowed some leeway for Afflalo to shoot at a higher volume. During the 2011-12 season, he attempted 11.3 field goals per game and shot 39.8-percent from the 3-point line. That will change now that the Magic's offense is about to take a huge shift since Howard is in LA.

Afflalo will more than likely pair up (and start) with point guard Jameer Nelson for backcourt duties. He will wear no. 4 instead of 6.

"The fans hold number six and they deserve it." Afflalo said.

On a side note though, it's no coincidence that Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan happens to be acquiring players who have either completed their degrees at four-year universities and colleges or completed at least 75-percent of their higher education. And it's not just about completing college, it's more about whether these new (and old) guys have high basketball IQ. Afflalo runs under that example as well.

Here's the a handy link for the current 2012-13 roster.

Looking at players like power forward Andrew Nicholson or center Kyle O'Quinn who both attended four-year schools fit this notion. And then you have your veteran guys like Nelson (St. Joseph's), JJ Redick (Duke), Glen Davis (LSU), Quentin Richardson (DePaul) who paint the picture as well.

Although the Magic lack in the athleticism department, they will be intelligent enough to play the game and hopefully at a high level.