Orlando Magic: 5 bench players most likely to become starters
By Luke Duffy
2. Jonathon Simmons
Although head coach Frank Vogel has used the same starting five that closed out last year during their preseason run of games, Jonathon Simmons looks like he could make the leap.
The former San Antonio Spur is a do-it-all kind of player, and that may actually initially work against him with the Magic.
He appears to be comfortable and happy in any situation that it makes sense to bring him off the bench and see what the team’s current starters can work up together. But already it’s clear that Simmons has a work-rate and energy that other players feed off. Again, it’s only preseason, but the guy is buzzing up and down the court constantly.
With Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac needing minutes as well, it may be hard to accommodate Simmons in this way, but there’s no question if this team has designs on being an elite defensive team, Simmons has to play as much as possible.
Offensively he’s only averaged 6.1 points per game throughout his two-year NBA career to date, but he also only has a usage rate of 18.4 during that time as well.
With more touches you know he’s going to get more points and the most likely scenario for Simmons is that he simply becomes too good to ignore as the season progresses.
It may not happen until after Christmas, but the fact is you can hide below-average defenders when he’s on the court, and he’s the veteran voice this young starting group needs.