Magic's Hedo Turkoglu has things to prove in 2012-2013 season

Hedo Turkoglu will be an important figure for an Orlando Magic team that's dropped much of its star power, leaving many to wonder whether the veteran small forward can be productive.

The 6'10 Turk has played with the Magic for seven of his 13 NBA seasons, but the version who has been with them for the last two seasons is a far cry from the player who was a key contributor on the 2009 NBA Finals team. Although he averaged as high as 19.5 points and no lower than 13.3 in his first stint with Orlando from 2004-2009, the 33-year-old has averaged 11.4 points or lower in every season since. The 35.3 percent he shot from three last year was the lowest total since his rookie year. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel examined what Turkoglu could be able to do this year:

He arguably has more to prove than anyone on the Magic roster because of his age and because the Magic are now in rebuilding mode. His contract expires at the end of the 2013-14 season, but that season is thought to be only $6 million guaranteed.

With Jason Richardson and Ryan Anderson leaving Orlando this offseason, the Magic are low in depth on the wings and will depend more on Turkoglu for small forward production than last season.