Orlando Magic Ratings

ORLANDO MAGIC
95 – Dwight Howard (C)
89 - Vince Carter (SG/SF)
88 – Jameer Nelson (PG)
86 - Rashard Lewis (SF/PF)
80 - Brandon Bass (PF/C)
80 – Marcin Gortat (C/PF)
78 - Matt Barnes (SF/PF)
77 – Jason Williams (PG)
76 - Mickael Pietrus (SF/SG)
74 – Anthony Johnson (PG)
74 – Ryan Anderson (PF)
71 – J.J. Redick (SG)

KEY CONTRIBUTORS
Inside Scoring: Howard (B)
Outside Scoring: Nelson (A), Lewis (B+), Carter (B+)
Perimeter Defense: Nelson (B+), Pietrus (B), Johnson (B), Williams (B)
Post Defense: Howard (A+), Gortat (B+)
Ball Handling: Williams (A-), Nelson (A-), Carter (B+)
Rebounding: Howard (A+), Gortat (A-), Bass (B), Anderson (B)
Basketball IQ: Howard (A), Carter (B+), Nelson (B+), Lewis (B), Pietrus (B)
Athleticism: Howard (A), Carter (A), Nelson (B+), Pietrus (B+), Lewis (B), Bass (B)

THE RATINGS

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Dwight Howard (C)
Overall 95
Close 85 (down from 88)
Med 63
3pt 50
FT 59 (up from 56)
Layup 76 (down from 86)
Dunk 92 (down from 99)
Handle 62 (up from 60)
Pass 59 (up from 56)
PostOff 88
PostDef 96 (up from 94)
Block 91 (down from 99)
Steal 66 (down from 68)
RebOff 96 (down from 99)
RebDef 96 (down from 99)
Speed 71
Stam 99
Dur 99 (up from 95)
DefAwr 97 (up from 91)
OffAwr 86 (up from 84)
Potential 95
Strength 97
Vertical 92
Off Dribble 68
In Traffic 81
Quickness 68
Hustle 84
Hands 88
Ball Defense 67
Standing Dunk 99

Outlook: Howard was the 2009 defensive player of the year, and is the franchise player in Orlando. He needs to improve his offense beyond dunking, as he is not able to dominate the stronger centers in the league (and believe me, the league has taken notice). Learning how to pass out of double teams would help as well. At only 24 years of age, he's got plenty of time.

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Vince Carter (SG/SF)
Overall 89 (down from 92)
Close 82 (down from 85)
Med 83 (down from 86)
3pt 85 (down from 87)
FT 82 (up from 81)
Layup 93 (down from 96)
Dunk 87 (down from 92)
Handle 89 (down from 92)
Pass 76 (down from 82)
PostOff 78
PostDef 66
Block 60 (down from 68)
Steal 68 (down from 75)
RebOff 64 (down from 70)
RebDef 71 (down from 75)
Speed 88
Stam 95
Dur 85 (up from 80)
DefAwr 78
OffAwr 90 (down from 93)
Potential 93 (down from 96)
Strength 71
Vertical 95
Off Dribble 88
In Traffic 84
Quickness 90
Hustle 79
Hands 92
Ball Defense 74
Standing Dunk 75
ClutchOff 75 (Hidden Rating)

Outlook: Not the super athlete he once was), but still a go-to scorer thanks to his shooting and ability to take contact. VC is also one of the best passing SGs in the game and should easily fill the role vacated by Turkoglu. His ability to finish at the rim will only mean more putback chances for Howard. Only dunked 45 times last season, but that was still ELEVEN times more than Turkoglu (4).

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Jameer Nelson (PG)
Overall 88 (up from 87)
Close 85
Med 88
3pt 91 (up from 89)
FT 89 (up from 88)
Layup 88
Dunk 50 (down from 54)
Handle 92 (up from 88)
Pass 84 (up from 82)
PostOff 51
PostDef 53 (down from 55)
Block 51
Steal 78 (down from 80)
RebOff 57
RebDef 65 (down from 68)
Speed 88 (up from 87)
Stam 95
Dur 80
DefAwr 78
OffAwr 88 (up from 86)
Potential 83
Strength 70 (down from 80)
Vertical 82
Off Dribble 87
In Traffic 73
Quickness 89 (up from 88)
Hustle 82
Hands 88 (up from 83)
Ball Defense 79 (up from 76)
Standing Dunk 50

Outlook: Nelson had a break out season before getting injured halfway through the year. It was quite impressive that the Magic were able to make it to the Finals without him (the departed Rafer Alston deserves a great deal of credit and seems to have gotten none of it), and it would have been best had he not tried to gut it out in the Finals as he just wasn't ready to contribute. Here's hoping he picks up where he left off, starting with his lights out shooting.

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Rashard Lewis (SF/PF)
Overall 86 (down from 87)
Close 84
Med 82
3pt 87
FT 84 (up from 83)
Layup 76
Dunk 81
Handle 76
Pass 65 (up from 63)
PostOff 78
PostDef 72
Block 65 (up from 56)
Steal 70 (down from 77)
RebOff 69 (down from 74)
RebDef 73 (down from 78)
Speed 81
Stam 95
Dur 85
DefAwr 80 (up from 77)
OffAwr 83 (down from 86)
Potential 87
Strength 70
Vertical 85
Off Dribble 84
In Traffic 71
Quickness 80
Hustle 71
Hands 89
Ball Defense 74
Standing Dunk 75

Outlook: Rashard has spent the last two years at PF, and I for one am happy he's (hopefully) back at SF. He only rates an 84 overall as a PF and I tire of the constant baseless criticism that he's rated too low. He's not a good rebounder or post player, so what do you expect? Hopefully he picks up some of Turkoglu's slack and shows a more well-rounded game rather than just providing threes as he has the last two years. Vince and Shard on the wings might be as scary as Ray and Shard were in Seattle... with Dwight Howard in the middle rather than Nick Collison.

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Brandon Bass (PF/C)
Overall 80 (up from 78)
Close 72 (down from 84)
Med 82 (up from 79)
3pt 50
FT 87
Layup 68
Dunk 79
Handle 65 (up from 60)
Pass 56 (down from 59)
PostOff 78
PostDef 73 (up from 67)
Block 71 (up from 65)
Steal 58 (up from 56)
RebOff 85
RebDef 79
Speed 70
Stam 90
Dur 85
DefAwr 73 (up from 68)
OffAwr 77 (up from 72)
Potential 65 (up from 60)
Strength 95
Vertical 71
Off Dribble 66
In Traffic 81
Quickness 70
Hustle 79
Hands 75
Ball Defense 62
Standing Dunk 99

Outlook: One of the more underrated PFs in the game today, Bass has an exellent mid-range touch that he should put to use next to Howard. He won't get as many jamming opportunities, but as long as he can keep hitting that mid-range shot and playing solid defense a starting role should be secure. I don't like him coming off the bench because he won't differ too much from Gortat.

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Marcin Gortat (C/PF)
Overall 80 (up from 70)
Close 80 (up from 64)
Med 61 (up from 56)
3pt 52 (up from 50)
FT 58 (down from 61)
Layup 68
Dunk 71
Handle 58 (up from 56)
Pass 54 (up from 50)
PostOff 70 (up from 58)
PostDef 83 (up from 76)
Block 87
Steal 61
RebOff 90 (up from 78)
RebDef 87 (up from 83)
Speed 71 (up from 69)
Stam 85
Dur 85
DefAwr 80 (up from 76)
OffAwr 60 (up from 50)
Potential 66 (up from 51)
Strength 83
Vertical 70
Off Dribble 56 (up from 50)
In Traffic 68 (up from 58)
Quickness 68 (up from 66)
Hustle 93
Hands 66 (up from 53)
Ball Defense 70 (down from 72)
Standing Dunk 75

Outlook: Orlando is probably going to try and fit Gortat at PF more frequently this season in an effort to make him worth that contract they matched. Defensively this should work wonders (as Gortat is a bigger Varejao), but offensively it might be a dud as neither player offers a perimeter game. Still, it shouldn't surprise anyone if Gortat is backing up PF and C and getting enough minutes to be considered the team's sixth man. They certainly aren't going to get much bang for their buck if he's only backing up Howard 12 mins a game.

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Matt Barnes (SF/PF)
Overall 78 (up from 76)
Close 80 (up from 78)
Med 77 (down from 78)
3pt 79 (down from 81)
FT 74 (down from 75)
Layup 73
Dunk 72
Handle 72
Pass 67
PostOff 68 (up from 53)
PostDef 72 (down from 78)
Block 59 (down from 63)
Steal 64 (down from 71)
RebOff 71 (down from 73)
RebDef 78 (up from 74)
Speed 74 (down from 78)
Stam 90
Dur 80
DefAwr 74 (down from 76)
OffAwr 75 (up from 68)
Potential 67 (up from 52)
Strength 68
Vertical 80
Off Dribble 78
In Traffic 71
Quickness 72 (down from 75)
Hustle 80
Hands 78
Ball Defense 73 (down from 78)
Standing Dunk 75

Outlook: Please god, do not let him start over Brandon Bass. Barnes isn't bad, he's just not particularly good at anything either. Hopefully he returns to a quality backup as he was in Golden State, as he showed in Phoenix he's a bit stretched as a starter.

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Jason Williams (PG)
Overall 77 (down from 78)
Close 69 (down from 84)
Med 77 (down from 78)
3pt 80 (up from 79)
FT 86 (down from 91)
Layup 85 (down from 99)
Dunk 52 (down from 56)
Handle 95 (down from 96)
Pass 80 (up from 77)
PostOff 50 (down from 55)
PostDef 50 (down from 55)
Block 51
Steal 78 (up from 70)
RebOff 52 (down from 55)
RebDef 56
Speed 88 (down from 91)
Stam 90 (down from 95)
Dur 70
DefAwr 68 (down from 71)
OffAwr 78 (down from 79)
Potential 74 (down from 84)
Strength 53 (down from 58)
Vertical 74
Off Dribble 82
In Traffic 64 (down from 79)
Quickness 89
Hustle 69 (down from 76)
Hands 92
Ball Defense 74 (down from 78)
Standing Dunk 50

Outlook: Returning from retirement, Williams has himself in a pretty good situation as the backup on a championship contender. He can surely still handle the rock with the best of them, though it remains to be seen just how much offensive pop he has left.

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Mickael Pietrus (SF/SG)
Overall 76
Close 73 (down from 76)
Med 73 (down from 79)
3pt 81 (down from 83)
FT 71
Layup 80
Dunk 89
Handle 73 (down from 75)
Pass 59 (up from 56)
PostOff 59 (up from 54)
PostDef 77 (down from 80)
Block 62 (down from 66)
Steal 68 (down from 77)
RebOff 65 (down from 67)
RebDef 66 (down from 68)
Speed 84
Stam 95
Dur 75
DefAwr 82
OffAwr 74 (up from 72)
Potential 71
Strength 69
Vertical 88
Off Dribble 79
In Traffic 70
Quickness 86
Hustle 75
Hands 82
Ball Defense 81
Standing Dunk 75

Outlook: Pietrus had a tough time fitting in with Orlando. He dealt with injury problems, and he's really not a SG which is where he saw half his minutes. He should get more SF minutes with Vince Carter in town, but he should also see a decrease in his overall PT because of that.

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Anthony Johnson (PG)
Overall 74 (down from 75)
Close 76 (up from 73)
Med 75 (down from 79)
3pt 84 (up from 83)
FT 75 (down from 81)
Layup 71
Dunk 65 (up from 52)
Handle 83
Pass 74 (down from 81)
PostOff 58 (up from 50)
PostDef 60
Block 53
Steal 69 (down from 71)
RebOff 61 (up from 56)
RebDef 60 (up from 59)
Speed 79
Stam 85
Dur 80
DefAwr 79 (up from 76)
OffAwr 73 (up from 68)
Potential 65 (up from 60)
Strength 65 (up from 61)
Vertical 68
Off Dribble 79
In Traffic 66
Quickness 78
Hustle 70
Hands 81
Ball Defense 82
Standing Dunk 50

Outlook: Johnson is easily the best 3rd string PG in the league. He is still capable of contributing despite being 35 years old. He even dunked 8 times last year, which is twice as many as Turkoglu in half as many minutes.

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Ryan Anderson (PF)
Overall 74 (up from 73)
Close 72 (down from 78)
Med 75 (down from 84)
3pt 82 (down from 86)
FT 85 (down from 87)
Layup 62
Dunk 68
Handle 68
Pass 58 (up from 54)
PostOff 67 (down from 77)
PostDef 67 (up from 62)
Block 61 (up from 58)
Steal 71 (up from 56)
RebOff 81 (up from 79)
RebDef 81 (up from 71)
Speed 62
Stam 85
Dur 80
DefAwr 62 (up from 52)
OffAwr 73
Potential 61
Strength 68 (down from 73)
Vertical 58
Off Dribble 74
In Traffic 69
Quickness 58
Hustle 71 (up from 68)
Hands 82
Ball Defense 57
Standing Dunk 75

Outlook: There are a lot of Magic fans who are high on Ryan Anderson, but I'm not one of them. If Brian Cook didn't work out in Orlando, why would Anderson? He has all the same flaws. He'll need to show he belongs in the first 10 games of the season with Rashard suspended - because there's literally no point to playing Anderson on a team that utilizes Rashard Lewis at PF.

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J.J. Redick (SG)
Overall 71 (up from 69)
Close 70 (down from 73)
Med 76
3pt 83 (down from 87)
FT 87 (down from 89)
Layup 76
Dunk 59
Handle 77 (down from 80)
Pass 62 (up from 58)
PostOff 54
PostDef 54 (up from 50)
Block 50 (down from 51)
Steal 61
RebOff 52 (down from 57)
RebDef 62 (up from 56)
Speed 82 (down from 83)
Stam 90
Dur 80
DefAwr 64 (up from 54)
OffAwr 71 (up from 68)
Potential 70
Strength 51
Vertical 73
Off Dribble 84
In Traffic 58
Quickness 79 (down from 82)
Hustle 64
Hands 80
Ball Defense 66
Standing Dunk 50

Outlook: If he could barely get time over Courtney Lee, Vince Carter has been sent to crush what is left of Redick's career. He needs a trade badly. Or perhaps a contract with a team in Europe, where he can become the next Arvydas Macijauskas.