Orlando Magic: Examining The Shooting Guards For 2013-14
This is the second installment of a position-by-position breakdown of the Orlando Magic. Here, we focus on the team’s shooting guards.
Afflalo was considered to be the best player the Magic received in the Dwight Howard trade, proving to be one of the team’s bright spots on defense and leading the team in scoring last season. His 16.5 points per game was also a career high, but he only shot 43 percent from the field, third-lowest in his six-year career. Much of that had to do with the fact he was transitioning his game from primarily being a defender and role player with the Denver Nuggets to becoming a scorer for Orlando. With the addition of Victor Oladipo and Maurice Harkless into the shooting guard rotation this season, Afflalo will not be asked to look for his own shot as much. Afflalo was one of the main players being discussed in a potential Eric Bledsoe trade, so he still could be moved before the trade deadline if some of the younger players continue to improve.
Victor Oladipo
As the second overall pick in the draft, Oladipo was the Magic’s only flashy addition this offseason. Though he will be playing point guard at times, Oladipo is best as a shooting guard when he attacks of the dribble and uses his quickness, athleticism and finishing ability in the lane. In college at Indiana, Oladipo averaged 13.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game last season. At 6’4”, he may give up a few inches to most of the league’s starting shooting guards and that is why the Magic have intentions of playing him as a point guard similar to Russell Westbrook. Expect Oladipo to be a fan favorite and provide a level of excitement that the franchise can build around.
In limited playing time as a rookie, Lamb shot 37 percent from 3 and is one of the team’s better shooters. That is the one thing about his game that makes him stand out from Afflalo and Oladipo, both who are not known to be efficient spot-up shooters. His playing time will most likely be determined though by Oladipo’s development at point guard. If Oladipo plays more behind Jameer Nelson, Lamb will be Afflalo’s backup. If not, he may be the odd man out of the rotation.
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