Orlando Magic: Can Mario Hezonja Make The Leap?

With Victor Oladipo gone to the Oklahoma City Thunder, can Mario Hezonja break out and become a stud for the Orlando Magic?

The Orlando Magic are looking for their first postseason appearance since the Dwight Howard era.

After a gaggle of draft picks, trades, coaches and free agency additions, the Magic are still trying to find the correct pieces to turn the franchise around. After three years in Orlando, the Magic shipped out Victor Oladipo and the 11th overall pick to acquire Serge Ibaka.

Bismack Biymobo, a playoff hero, joined Orlando on a four-year contract worth $72 million, adding to the duo of Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic.

Oh, and Jeff Green is involved.

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It’s an odd and expensive frontcourt. Vucevic is a good shooter and rebounder, but the worst defender of the bunch. Biyombo is the best defender, but can’t score at all. Gordon is the most tantalizing defender of the group with the most upside.

However, after two seasons, he can’t shoot. Ibaka is the best of four and an excellent pivot for the three as a shooter and defender.

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While that needs to be sorted out, the backcourt may even be worse.

is still figuring it out how to impact the game on the offensive end,

is involved as a backup point guard.

is brought in as another floor spacer in the second unit.

Evan Fournier was brought back on a five-year extension worth $85 million, but that’s not an impressive group.

The Magic need a spark with that roster and that spark could be 2015 first-round pick Mario Hezonja.

In a draft class that featured Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, Justice Winslow and several talented rookies, Hezonja was one of the more intriguing international prospects heading into the draft.

Good enough for Orlando to take him with the fifth overall pick, Hezonja came in and found time in limited action. Behind Fournier, Oladipo, and Tobias Harris, Hezonja saw just 17.9 minutes per game in 79 total appearances.

One of Orlando’s issues over the last three years has been their lack of shooting. Whether it be Harris, Oladipo, Gordon or Payton, the Magic have lacked consistent shooting, while maintaining athleticism and defense.

That has turned a bit, landing Meeks and Ibaka, two guys who can knock down the three with some consistency. Hezonja could be another in the mix. Last season, Hezonja averaged 34 percent on 192 attempts from beyond the arc.

The other parts to Hezonja’s game — namely, his athleticism and playmaking — will be key to helping Orlando take the next step. Hezonja is an explosive athlete, capable of finishing with a flashy dunk or two on the offensive end.

The better question is if he can get to the rim and create on the drive. Payton has that ability, but Hezonja can combine with shooting ability.

As a rookie, Hezonja shot 42 percent on drives, finished 64 percent of his shots at the rim and finished with a 0.88 PPP operating as  the ballhandler in the pick-and-roll. Nothing special, but the one constant was his turnovers.

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Hezonja’s overall work with the ball was sloppy last season, despite finishing with more assists (109) than turnovers (97). Not only did he

finish with the second-highest turnover percentage on drives

, but he also finished with the

highest turnover frequency in the pick-and-roll.

That comes with time, though. Hezonja was a solid playmaker before coming over to the NBA and again, had a solid season as an overall creator for both his teammates and himself.  If he can cut down on the turnovers, Hezonja could evolve into a dangerous offensive threat.

The only (other) downside to Hezonja’s game at the moment is that he doesn’t look like someone who can garner free throws, averaging just 1.4 attempts per 36 minutes as a rookie. 

New Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel has his work cut out for him with this roster. There are good pieces on the roster, but the gridlock in the frontcourt could force him to tether most of his lineups with Serge Ibaka on the floor.

And, as we’ve seen with the Magic since the departure of Howard, the Magic are going to do this without a star player on the roster.

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Hezonja had some impressive traits, such as his positive defensive contributions, his ability to create and his ability to space the floor. With some adjustments, Hezonja can shine in Orlando, and in turn, Orlando can move forward in the Eastern Conference.