Orlando Magic: Predicting their opening night starting 5
By Luke Duffy
The Verdict
This Orlando Magic’s starting five looks more complete and the players complement each other in a way we haven’t seen in some time. In any other year of this rebuild, Jonathan Isaac could have been thrown in as a starter from the beginning, to see how he got on.
This is what happened to Victor Oladipo, but it didn’t quite work out for him. Isaac will get minutes and could push for a starting role by midseason. Who he’d replace is another issue, however, especially if Gordon shows more improvement and some consistency.
The other bone of contention may come from seeing Terrence Ross demoted to the bench.
When he joined the team from the Torpor Raptors via trade after the All-Star break, the guy was like a breath of fresh air. He came in and spread the floor for his teammates, and gave the franchise the shot in the arm it needed. The players looked like they were having some fun again.
The case could be made for him to start over Fournier, as he is a more traditional 2-guard who can get hot in a hurry. For a team that shot 32.8 percent from distance last season (29th in the league), that kind of skill-set is important for a team to have.
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For now it looks like it will have to happen off the bench, but he is another to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
That being said, it could go either way for Ross. Push for a starting role or potentially be traded to a contender looking for some shooting if he is deemed surplus to requirements.
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No matter what though, this team has more depth than we’re accustomed to seeing, and that is a major plus heading into the new season.