Orlando Magic: The Week That Was

Just like that we’re back into the thick of it. Back into the action. The Orlando Summer League has already kicked off, with lottery picks, undrafted players and returning young professionals all on show. The Orlando Magic, like many others, have a young team taking part.

So let’s take a quick look at some takeaways from their opening game win against the Los Angeles Clippers. We will also take a look at how free agency is going for the team as well. Now, I have gotten plenty of stick in the past for over emphasising the importance of preseason friendlies, and I’ll now admit that really they tell us nothing of real note before the season begins.

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In fact, I think it would be better to cut those games in half (or maybe wipe them out completely?) in favor of stretching the regular season out a little longer so that players have additional time off to recover during the season. That’s a conversation for another day though.

The Summer League is a little different however, in that usually you’ll find rookies wanting to make statements right away (Justise Winslow, Stanley Johnson), and undrafted/fringe players trying to create a little buzz and force their way into the league down the road (Aaron Harrison). So while it’s still hardly competitive and it can be hard to take anything of real note away from these games, there is a certain edge to them that means they need to be taken at least a little seriously.

With that in mind, the Magic Blue’s (Orlando has two teams competing, Blue and White) win over the Clippers was nice for a couple of reasons. A Mario Hezonja three-point effort with under 20 seconds to go won them the game, and really there were some nice takeaways from the game — none more so than forward Aaron Gordon. Gordon endured a rough rookie season, with injury and the step up in competition level both playing a part.

But he played this game like a guy who now has a better grasp and understanding of the league and how he can have a big influence in games. At times last season it looked like there was a lack of confidence to him at times, again understandable when you’re going up against people you would have watched on television only the year before.

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His 22 points and 18 rebounds in 33 minutes (he saw the most minutes of any player) was a tremendous stat line to produce.

The manner in which he attacked the boards and cleaned up on the defensive end (13 of his rebounds came on that end) was exactly what Magic fans and management alike would have wanted to see from him. More than that, his athletic ability was on full display as he scored his points in a variety of different ways.

It is at this point again that we must remember that this was one singular Summer League contest. It is likely already forgotten in the eyes of most. But if it’s a platform for Gordon to build on, then in the bigger picture it was an important day.

I’d liken this performance to Tobias Harris last year. Throughout the Magic’s preseason friendlies in 2014, there was a lack of intensity from both teams on any given night. Harris came out firing, however, making shots and generally working hard in these games. He carried that form into the regular season and beyond, resulting in a new near max deal with the team.

Along that same train of thought, Hezonja’s performance was also noteworthy. His 12 points in 23 minutes off the bench were welcomed, while going 2-of-5 from three-point range at least shows he’s willing to step into those efforts. We all know he’s a confident kid, and knocking down what turned out to be the game-winner will only have reinforced his belief that he can be a hit in the league.

Although playing mostly with guys he won’t go through the grind of the season, his spacing was evident for a team that badly needs it. He’s going to be fun to watch this year. One final note, point guard Elfrid Payton came out and played with the same poise we’ve become accustomed to seeing, and going 3-for-10 from the field at least shows that he plans on being more aggressive on that end this coming season.

Away from the court, power forward/center Kyle O’Quinn looks to have tied up a deal to go home and play for the New York Knicks. Although deals cannot be officially signed until Jul. 9, it is reported that O’Quinn signed a four-year, $16 million deal with the Knicks in a sign-and-trade package with the Magic. While Magic fans don’t seem to be mourning this as a massive loss, Knicks fans sure seem happy to be picking him up.

While it may not hurt the team in the long term, O’Quinn gave three solid years to the team that drafted him in the second round in 2012, and came across as a consummate professional too. His stats for last season (5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 51 games, 17 of which he started) hardly jump off the page, but he did provide one key ingredient to this team that they will have to replace.

Starting center Nikola Vucevic is a great offensive big man, but his rim protection is still below average. O’Quinn, although a little undersized when manning the middle, was capable of coming in and plugging up that hole defensively last year. That will need to be replaced on a team that looks to be trying to build its identity around stopping opponents before hitting them on the counter.

A backup big man must surely be the plan now, while also picking up another guard to slip into the rotation. Mo Williams would be a nice addition, an offensive guy who can come in and score points in a hurry, even if he’s unlikely to keep up with his man defensively.

Interestingly however, Devyn Marble, the Magic’s second round pick last year who spent most of the season in the D-League, played 30 minutes and scored 14 points in that win over the Clippers. He’s one to keep an eye on, especially given that he’s a defensive-minded player as well.

For a team that struggled so badly at times offensively last season however, seeing Hezonja taking long range efforts and Gordon piling up the points will have put a smile on people’s faces. Marble’s contribution on that end was a bonus, and as we’ve mentioned this was nothing more than a glorified pickup game. Other than the mildly disappointing news of O’Quinn’s departure however, it’s been another good week for the Magic.

Next: 2015 Free Agency Tracker

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