For the second season in a row, the Orlando Magic will be drafting arguably 1-2 slots outside of the window that would allow them to select a future franchise-type young player. The NBA Draft is very exciting to talk about. The rumors, the trades. Comparing players to guys in the NBA already, watching film and determining who "your favorites" are in the class - I get it.

However, I would argue that this summer, Free Agency will be more important than anyone the Magic draft @ #5. This FanPost isn't related to retaining our own RFA's (Tobias Harris and Kyle O'Quinn, which I absolutely want to do), but rather who can be signed to a modest deal that can help fix some of the problems that plague this roster.

I frequently compare watching my Orlando Magic in the post-Dwight era to examining a leaky bucket full of water, a bucket that has numerous holes. Every time an effort is made to plug one of the holes and fix the leak, water starts leaking from somewhere else. I know we all hoped that the ping pong balls would cooperate and put the organization in a position to draft in '15 a guy who could come in and plug most of these holes himself. I'm not sure this unicorn exists (credit: eltharion_doa), but Karl Towns sure is pretty close isn't he? At the moment, here are some of the "holes" in this roster that we all recognize as causing some leakage (areas where the Magic rank in the bottom five of the NBA according to stats in 2014-15 from Basketball Reference):

2014-15 Orlando Magic

• The Free-Throw Line - 30th FTM/g, 30th FTA/g, 25th FT%
  
  
• Rebounding - 25th OREB/g, 27th OREB%, 25th REB/g
  
  
• Rim Protection - 29th BLK/g, 26th OPP 2PT %

• Team Defense - 25th PTS/gm, 28th OPP FG%, 29th OPP 3PT%
  
  
• Scoring - 27th ORtg, 25th PTS/g

This Free Agency Primer series begins with possible veteran back-up PG options who could potentially be signed this summer.

We all know about Elfrid's struggles shooting the basketball. For all of his triumphs and successes in his rookie season, it still is common knowledge that he has a very long way to go with his shot before he can be considered a legitimate franchise starting point guard option. In all likelihood, Payton will be given every opportunity to improve his shot. In the meantime, I think it's imperative the Magic sign a PG who can offset some of Payton's shooting woes and provide a legitimate scoring threat off the bench. In my mind, we should be looking for a guy who is a proven shooter/scorer in the league. A vet who would accept playing about 20 MPG, but still capable of winning a game on any given night by exploding in the 4th quarter. Again, not a superstar to take Payton's spot, but a guy still capable of taking his minutes once or twice a month if more scoring is needed that night.

For the record, I didn't consider any possible FA PG's who are RFA's, just unrestricted free agents on the open market. I also didn't consider any guys who could potentially opt-out early or get waived (that's why Hinrich - an obvious Skiles favorite, or Jameer Nelson - an obvious fan favorite, are not mentioned in this post). I realize that an elite back-up PG is not a priority for a lottery team, that is a fair point. I don't have unreasonable expectations for this team, but I do think that upper management is going to try and do anything they can to improve this roster, it seems they are becoming less and less interested with rebuilding and more interested in being competitive again soon. I also realize that scoring is not usually the primary job description of a back-up point guard. A back-up is usually asked to take care of the basketball and simply run the offense. I just feel some legitimate shooting/scoring punch from this position could really supplement and offset the personnel we already have at the position.

So, according to the qualifications and qualities in a player I think Orlando should be looking for (shooting/scoring ability, getting to the FT line), here are some options that I have come up with. I have included first their numbers from last season, and secondly their career numbers for perspective (again per Basketball Reference):

2014-15 Season (per/36 minutes)

Career Numbers (per/36 minutes)

A couple thoughts:

• All of these guys could potentially serve as huge upgrades at the back-up PG position. The average NBA PER is around 14.0-15.0. While none of these players may blow you away as legitimate starting NBA caliber PG's, they all are more than capable of serving as above-average back-ups (huge upgrades over the likes of Ish Smith, Ronnie Price, Luke Ridnour, etc.).
• I was a bit surprised that JJ Barea had the best per/36 A/TO ratio of the bunch. I was even more surprised that he had the worst career (and 2014-15) shooting numbers (worst TS%, worst 3PT%) of the chosen options. Barea rarely gets to the line (not a requirement of the back-up PG, but an area we sure could use help in) and is the least efficient scorer of the aforementioned options. He does bring valuable playoff experience to any team that chooses to sign him; I just don't see Orlando being one of them. He would probably be my 5th choice of the bunch.
• I've always thought Aaron Brooks was kind of a "chucker". He's a prolific scorer as a back-up PG (highest career & '14-15 3PM per/36, highest career & '14-15 PPG/per 36), but is he the most efficient option? Brooks would provide the Magic with a three-point threat coming off the bench, a guy capable of heating up in a hurry. I'm just not crazy about his ability to run an offense, he clearly is the least desirable PG of the group when examining career (and 2014-15) A/TO numbers per/36. Brooks would probably be my 4th choice of the bunch.
• What are you getting as an organization if you sign Jeremy Lin? As an organization, you're surely opening yourself up to a wider fan base, possibly greater jersey sales, ticket sales, etc. Not a deciding factor at all, but certainly factors into the decision to sign a player of his appeal. Lin would fit what I think Orlando would be looking for. Can score for sure, yet not as prolific from behind the arc as I assumed he was. He would instantly be one of, if not the most prolific option on the roster at getting to the FT line. I've never been a fan of Lin as a starting PG in the NBA, but as a back-up? I would absolutely endorse it. The question with Lin is, at what cost? There's no way he gets the kind of money he received on his last deal, not even close. What would be an acceptable contract? Are there other options that make just as much sense, guys that might be a bit cheaper? Lin would probably be my 3rd choice of the group in this post that I would sign to a deal.
• Mo Williams has been around. Williams has played in numerous meaningful playoff games, he would be the ultimate veteran presence in the locker room. Unlike some of the other "veteran presences" that have been signed the last couple seasons, Mo could also actually help this team a lot off the bench. Williams may not be an everyday starter in the NBA anymore, but he's certainly capable of serving that role here or there on any given night. I like the idea of Williams as a back-up to Payton, I think they would complement each other nicely. Again, the question is, would Williams be willing to come to Orlando - and at what cost? I would assume he would rather latch on with a title contending team, but who knows? Williams would be my 1a back-up PG choice of the bunch, I liked what I saw from him down the stretch last season with Charlotte.
• I knew CJ Watson had an above average season last year by his standards, but I thought it may have been an exception in his career. I was partially correct; Watson did post career highs in efficiency across the board in 2014-15. Yet, I was surprised that his career TS% and 3PT% numbers are still pretty good. Watson is not a splashy player; he's not going to blow anyone away. He's also not going to hurt a team whatsoever (you can't argue with 40% from behind the arc). I think over the course of their careers', Mo Williams is a slightly more statistically successful player across the board compared to CJ Watson. Still, Watson would be my 1b back-up PG choice; I would honestly be content with either veteran.

So, what are everyone's thoughts? Lin, Watson, Williams? Agree/disagree with some of the guys I have listed as options. Who strikes whom as an ideal back-up PG target? Please feel free to post comments, acceptable deals (years/$'s) in your minds, etc. I know it's technically draft season, but the FA period is a couple weeks away, and I was hoping this could be a platform for FA talk to commence.