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Orlando Magic: Why Mario Hezonja Fits Perfectly

By Nathan Grubel

Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and guard Victor Oladipo (5) high five after he made a basket in the act of getting fouled against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Amway Center. Atlanta Hawks defeated the Orlando Magic 95-83. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Orlando Magic have been trying to completely change the mindset of their team ever since the departures of Dwight Howard and Stan Van Gundy.

Ever since those two were no longer part of the organization, it seems that general manager Rob Hennigan has been focused on bringing in players with high character and defensive potential.

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He’s done a good job so far, drafting Victor Oladipo, Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton. The Magic have players that can play a role on offense such as Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris, but neither one is a bonafide scoring machine, same goes for the rest of that unit.

Luckily, Hennigan addressed this issue in the 2015 NBA draft, selecting Mario Hezonja with the fifth overall pick.

Hezonja may not be well known in the United States, but he’s been one of the top international prospects for years now, and for good reason.

Standing at 6-foot-8, Hezonja is arguably the most skilled wing player to come out of the draft offensively.

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Hezonja’s jump shot from three-point range is absolutely lethal, as he has a high quick release combined with a vertical that gets him enough off the ground to make his shot very hard to block.

Not only can he hit set shots from deep, but he’s also excellent at curling off screens and hitting shots off the catch, and he’s proficient enough at creating his own shot from both inside and outside of the arc thanks to his ball handling abilities.

Hezonja will come in and not only be an impressive shooter, but he’s also gifted in terms of pure athleticism. Hezonja moves very well around the floor, and his finishing ability around the rim is special because of his vertical.

Having an scorer with that kind of size who can get his own shot whenever he wants and can hit with efficiency and range is a plus for any team in the league, let alone one that has the defensive support behind him to allow him to focus on what he does best.

It’s true that Hezonja’s weak spot is on the defensive end, as he’s never exactly been considered a lockdown defender at his position. However, he has all of the physical tools to succeed on that end of the floor, and on a team like the Magic he’s going to be expected to play consistent defense and not take plays off, which should be good for his overall development.

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    • Hezonja is the kind of talent that can carry a team offensively for years to come, which is something the team desperately needed.

    Oladipo is talented in his own right at the shooting guard position, and Payton showed promise last season as a first-class distributor, but neither of them are adequate jump shooters who can be given the ball and trusted to hit big shots when they count (at least not at this point in their careers).

    Hezonja is a different breed, as he has the overwhelming confidence to knock down any shot he knows he has to make to get his team the victory.

    He may appear to be too cocky sometimes, but Hezonja has the swagger to succeed at the next level. He may not be another defensive ace on the perimeter, but there’s no need to be completely redundant there. Hezonja’s offensive firepower is something that the Magic are going to need a lot of if they are expected to eventually make a push into the playoff picture.

    Hezonja’s shooting and scoring abilities are just what the doctor ordered for Orlando, meaning he will have the chance to earn himself plenty of playing time in his first season with the team.

    Next: Orlando Magic: Draft Night Thoughts

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