Arron Afflalo Needs To Lead Orlando Magic's Younger Players To Become More Effective

It would appear Arron Afflalo has found a home in Orlando.

But early next month, it’s back to work for the six-year veteran shooting guard for the Orlando Magic.

Afflalo came to the team during the off-season last year, hoping to compensate for the loss of Dwight Howard and keep the Magic as a playoff  team. That didn’t quite happen as the Magic fell into a second season-long slump and was saddled with the NBA‘s worst record.

The Magic will get a good pick in the draft but hopefully will find someone who can instantly step up and take some pressure off of Afflalo when it comes to outside shooting.

But Afflalo, after an outstanding first season with the Magic, needs to prove that it wasn’t a fluke. He averaged 16.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game and shot 43.0 percent in field goals and 30 percent in 3-pointers. He also shot 85 percent in free throws. He scored 30 points twice including once against the Los Angeles Clippers and also against the Los Angeles Lakers. He had seven assists sometimes proving he can be as good of a playmaker as a guard.

Afflalo scored in 55 of his 64 games and had at least 20 points 19 times. His free-throw percentage was 85.7 which is 14th in the NCAA. His minutes per game were 36.0 In both counts, Afflalo was extremely valuable to this team.

The Magic management also likes the influence Afflalo had on their other young players.

The schedule calls for Afflalo to start jogging by early May and start basketball drills in June. He was frustrated the last three weeks of the regular season after having torn his right hamstring and not being able to play.

That Afflalo’s first objective get healthy. Then hopefully, he can play a central role in Orlando’s rebuilding efforts.