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The Orlando Magic have officially signed free-agent point guard Ronnie Price, the team announced Thursday. Orlando did not disclose terms of Price's contract, but Alex Kennedy of HOOPSWORLD reported July 16th that it would be for one fully guaranteed year at the minimum salary. Chris Haynes of Comcast SportsNet Northwest was the first person to report that Price had agreed to terms with the Magic.
"We believe Ronnie’s toughness and competitive spirit, along with the varied experiences he’s gained throughout his career, will impact the development of our team in a positive way," Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said in a statement.
Price, 30, last played for the Portland Trail Blazers, who waived him in February in order to make roster room to acquire Eric Maynor via trade. Price appeared in 39 games for Portland, averaging 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 13.1 minutes. He shot 32.5 percent from the floor and 25.6 percent on three-pointers.
Price faced long odds just to reach the NBA, going undrafted out of Utah Valley State in 2005. He is best known for serving as a backup for the Utah Jazz for four seasons, but he began his career with the Sacramento Kings.
In eight NBA seasons, Price owns per-game averages of 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists on 38.3 percent shooting. He is highly regarded for his character and willingness to work hard, two attributes which certainly appeal to the rebuilding Magic.
Price discusses his passion for basketball and approach to the game in this video which Portland produced before the beginning of the 2012/13 season.
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