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10 NBA Starters Who Might Be Better Off As Sixth Men

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 23, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 109 - 89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) dribbles as New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday (11) defends during the second half at Verizon Center. The Washington Wizards won 109 - 89. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 19, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) looks on as he makes a three pointer against the Dallas Mavericks during overtime at Amway Center. Orlando defeated Dallas 110-104. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Victor Oladipo

Like Bradley Beal, Victor Oladipo‘s team is really hoping that he can learn how to play with the starting lineup without impacting the team’s win totals. But can we really ignore that the Orlando Magic have gone 13-23 in the 36 games that Oladipo has started this season, as opposed to their vastly superior 13-7 record with him coming off the bench?

As a starter, Oladipo is posting numbers more in line with his impressive 18-4-4 stat line from last season, averaging 16.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game on .424/.355/.831 shooting splits. Coming off the bench, his numbers plummet to 12.1 points, 4.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game on abysmal .392/.271/.814 shooting splits.

And yet, with as bad as Oladipo has been from an individual standpoint with the reserves, we can’t ignore that he’s a -2.6 with the starters and a +4.0 with the second unit. This is really something that head coach Scotts Skiles will need to explore moving forward, since Oladipo might have the highest ceiling out of anyone on the roster.

But for the time being, and with the Magic still frantically changing a playoff spot, the team-based numbers all speak to Oladipo’s value coming off the bench. With Tobias Harris gone, the Magic have gone 4-4 with Oladipo starting in the backcourt, so the jury’s still out on how this new-look Magic team will reincorporate him into the starting lineup. Here’s hoping Oladipo can recapture some of last year’s magic (pun intended) and re-establish himself as this team’s brightest rebuilding block.

Next: No. 3