The Detroit Pistons have traded shooting guard Jodie Meeks to the Orlando Magic. The deal will see the Pistons receive a 2019 conditional second round draft pick. The deal was officially announced by Magic general manager Rob Hennigan on Wednesday.
Pistons Trade Guard Jodie Meeks
Meeks, 28, played just three games in the 2015-16 season, after fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. Meeks signed a three year, $19.5 million deal with the Pistons in 2014; But only managed to tally 63 games with the Pistons, during that two-year period.
Last season Meeks averaged 7.3 points, 1 assist and 1.7 rebounds, in his short lived season.
Rob Hennigan had this to say on the Meeks acquisition, “We are excited to welcome Jodie to the Orlando Magic family. Jodie adds perimeter shooting and is another veteran presence. He adds depth to are backcourt, and we look forward to his contributions.”
Hennigan is clearly pleased to have Meeks on board, and so should Magic fans. Meeks provides quality perimeter shooting, as he proved during the 2013-14 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Meeks played 77 games and averaged 15.7 points with the Lakers. Meeks proved he was worthy of the three year deal the Pistons gave him in free agency.
This deal frees up $7 million in cap space for the Detroit Pistons and head coach Stan Van Gundy had this to say to the Detroit News, on the Meeks trade, “It gives us a little more margin, It gives us a little bit of space so that if the numbers start to go up a little, you’ve got a little bit of space to deal with.”
Meeks has developed into a three point specialist during his seven seasons in the NBA. Meeks has played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons. Meeks was drafted in 2009, 41st overall by the Bucks.
Main Photo: Pistons guard Jodie Meeks, seen here in a preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets. Credit: D. Williams/Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images
