Here's the TL;DR up front: Orlando's two best prospects with the most long-term potential are currently on their bench... and the 5 guys starting over them are all quality young players/assets as well.
I'm intrigued by the Magic. They are loaded with quality individual young pieces, but have a mediocre record. I'm wondering what people think will end up happening there. First, let's take a look at the players I'm talking about.
PG - Elfrid Payton - Some fans love this guy. He's possibly the second coming of Rondo. By that, I mean he's probably capable of putting up huge stats if he dominates the ball, but the kid can't shoot. He's 21 years old... averaged 9 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and a couple steals last year in 30mpg. His rookie per-36 numbers were pretty similar to Rondo in his prime (remember that Rondo was playing 37-42 minutes per night and dominating the ball). Seems without a shot, he'd struggle in an offense that doesn't require the ball to flow through him.
PG/Undersized SG - Victor Oladipo - 23 years old - 6'4 210 pounds. Seen as the young star of the team. Optimists call him the next D-Wade. To me he seems more like the next Kemba Walker. He's shooting 38%/26% from three and controls the ball perhaps a bit more than he should. Good numbers last year of 18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.7 steals on 44%/34%/82% shooting. He's struggled a bit so far this year... maybe he breaks out... maybe not. I personally wouldn't buy Oladipo stock right now. Some Orlando fans seem him as the cancer of the team holding them back. I wouldn't be entirely shocked to see Oladipo as the odd man out based on the rest of the roster.
SG/SF - Evan Fournier - 23 years old 6'7 205 pounds. WHat's up with this kid? Is he a long-term starter? I thought this was a fluke, but he had solid numbers last year (12 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists on 44%/38%/73% shooting). This year he's looking fantastic... 19 points, 4 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals 46%/38%/79%. Some Orlando fans are p---ed he's starting over Aaron Gordon, but how can you argue with those stats. He's leading the team in scoring early on and doing it efficiently. Coach Skiles giving him 38mpg seems a bit extreme, but he obviously likes the kid. Another Khris Middleton type?
SF - Tobias Harris - 23 years old 6'9 235 pounds. A quality young player that a lot of teams (Boston included) wanted this offseason. Orlando locked him up for 4 years 64 mil, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see him traded (perhaps even to Boston). He got paid, the team got some leverage, but I'm not sure Orlando is his final destination. There's no hint of a potential Harris trade from the Orlando fan community, though. They seem to really like the guy. Last year: 17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal on 47%/36%/79% shooting. This year it's been more of the same (15 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists), though his minutes are down a bit to 32mpg.
C - Nikola Vucevic - 25 years old 7 feet 260 pounds. 19 points, 11 rebounds and 2 asissts last year on 52%/75% shooting. Ths year, more of the same (16.1 points, 8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2 blocks). He's a quality young center, though his defense is a bit limited. Does that make him an Enes Kanter type who would come off the bench on a team that valued defense? He's got a 4 year 48 million dollar contract and seems like the ideal centerpiece of a trade for Cousins if Sac makes him available.
... then off the bench they have
SG/SF - Mario Hezonja - 20 years old 6'8 218 pounds. I don't know much about this kid, but some people rave about him. He was the #5 pick. Bill SImmons is convinced he's a Rookie of the Year candidate, but I don't see where his minutes will come from this year. He hasn't had much of an opportunity yet and is obviously still making the transition to the NBA. 14mpg only averaging 5ppg. Last 5 games he's showed brief glimpses... 7 points on 41%/39%/100% shooting in 14mpg.
SF/PF - Aaron Gordon - 20 years old 6'9 220 pounds. Orlando fans are livid he's not starting. He looked vastly improved this summer, dominated summer league, and has been fantastic in the minutes he's played this year. Per-36 numbers of 16 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks. Second highest PER on the team behind Vucevic. Does he slot in as a PF? A SF? I think he could end up being the best player on that entire team. He'll inevitably start... but despite the anguish of Magic fans, who would you bench for him right now? Would you move FOurnier to the bench while he's playing this well?
So what do you think happens there? Gordon/Hezonja are just kids. I mean, Gordon just turned 20 a couple months ago. They will likely continue to come off the bench for now and then maybe at some point if one of them plays into the starting lineup you'll just see one of the starters end up on the bench... similar to what might be happening with Avery Bradley here despite him getting paid.
I could also definitely see someone like ELfrid Payton lose his starting role. A lineup of PG - Oladipo, SG - Fournier, SF - Harris, PF - Gordon, C - Vucevic makes some sense... Alternatively, I wouldn't be totally stunned to see Oladipo end up in the 6th man "microwave" role.
And of course, I could definitely see a trade made. Someone like Harris could be moved for future pick assets if Orlando doesn't want to pay him long-term. And it seems to me if Cousins ends up on the trading block, Orlando is an ideal trade partner. Vucevic + another player would make a lot of sense. Vlade/Vivek and the Kings don't seem like the the types that would move their star for the unknown of draft picks... they'd want established talent and Vucevic is a fine starting point. If ORlando moved 2 or 3 for 1, they'd upgrade to a superstar center and probably kill two birds with one stone by opening up roster spots for one or two of their stud prospects.
What do you think happens there?
Topic: What do you think happens in Orlando? Frontrunner for Cousins? (Read 10066 times)