Magic catch a Bass

Surprised I have not seen that pun before. But the big news coming out of RDV Sportsplex was not Ryan Anderson's struggles in the final Summer League game (he certainly had an impressive week putting four stellar games in five days and earning a spot on the first team for the five-day league).

Instead it was Orlando agreeing to terms with Dallas Mavericks free agent Brandon Bass on a reported 4 year, $18 million contract. That equates to about $4.5 million a year and he supposedly has an out clause after the second year.

In reading the long run up to this acquisition, I have heard a lot of mixed reviews about Bass. A lot of people really like him as a player. Even for a guy at 6-8 (one of his detractions maybe), he is a tough rebounder who will scrap and, as The Orlando Sentinel put it, do the dirty work.

I have been calling for Orlando to sign someone whose sole purpose is to protect Dwight Howard and get after people who try to outmuscle him (impossible, I know). Bass can be that guy. What he does really does not always show up on a state sheet.

He will help Howard down low to get rebounds and clean up any misses around the basket when Howard is shooting or not in the game.

The biggest question about Bass is how he will fit into the roster. Bass is 6-8 and was called on to play center for Dallas at times. I do not know how comfortable I am with Bass coming and playing center all the time -- the Magic are in the market for a backup center to replace Marcin Gortat with the remainder of their mid-level exception.

Bass is also not known for his jumper. He has some range outside the pain -- think Tony Battie's range, maybe a shade shorter -- but is not the 3-point shooter that is the ideal of Orlando's spread the floor system. Some people see him as a starter, which I think he certainly can do, others see him coming off the bench.

What I like about this move is that it gives the Magic flexibility and versatility. That is something very important and inherent to Stan Van Gundy's whole scheme with this team.

No one thought Rashard Lewis could play power forward when Orlando signed him. That has clearly worked out. Until the Finals, that is.

Adding a player like Ryan Anderson and Brandon Bass have greatly increased the number of (theoretically) effective lineups the Magic can use. They can throw out their traditional lineup, but also now throw out a big lineup with Carter, Lewis, Bass and Howard on the floor. Or they could go small and have an Anderson and Bass on the floor down low while Howard is out.

The possibilities are no a little more endless. Plus competition is always a good thing in the fight for the power forward spot (I still like Mickael Pietrus off the bench) or for the backup power forward spot.

Bass is going to be a player that endears himself to Magic fans with his effort and play.