Will J.J. Redick Start for the Magic Next Year?

It turns out the desire to win a championship wasn't the only reason Grant Hill wanted to leave Orlando. Hill, a natural small forward, started at shooting guard out of necessity for the Magic last year. After the team committed big bucks to acquire stud small forward Rashard Lewis this summer, it was clear that Hill would again be asked to play out of position.

"They got a good, young stud in Rashard and he's exactly what that team needs," said Hill ... "I told them, I'm not a (shooting guard). I did it last year, but that's just not who I am. But there's no bitterness whatsoever."

Unfortunately, an out-of-position Hill was still better than any of the in-position options currently on Orlando's roster. So who's left? Re-tread journeymen Keyon Dooling and Keith Bogans are options, as is J.J. Redick, last year's first-round draft pick who played in just 42 games. Signing another free agent is technically still an option, but after Lewis' contract hits the books, the best the Magic can offer anyone is the veteran's minimum of about $1.2 million -- and you'd be lucky to find rotation filler for that amount, let alone a legitimate starter.

My hope is that Orlando bites the bullet and gives Redick a legitimate shot to prove himself. He never really had that last year, coming into camp with a back injury and then never really earning a spot in the rotation. Yes, he's a one-dimensional player, but he does that one dimension really, really well. The Magic ranked 27th in the league in three-point makes last year, and adding the sharp-shooting Redick (and Lewis, for that matter) to the lineup would certainly help space the floor and open up a bit more room for Dwight Howard to operate in the paint.