Orlando Magic: 2017-18 player grades for Wesley Iwundu

Strengths

Wesley Iwundu’s biggest strength in his rookie year was his defense. At 6’7″ with a 7’1″ wingspan, he has the right athletic build to be a disruptive defender against guards and small forwards. Iwundu’s 104.6 defensive rating was the fourth-best on the Magic. He also came away with a 0.29 defensive real plus-minus, ranking him 217th out of 521 players.

By itself, those numbers aren’t very impressive. However, Orlando ranked 20th in the NBA in defensive rating, allowing 107.7 points per 100 possessions. Being on a team that collectively struggles defensively ultimately dragged down Iwundu’s individual impact.

Iwundu is also adept at attacking the basket, shooting 61.7 percent at the rim. He possesses several spins and Euro-steps in his arsenal to elude defenders. As a result, he can be dangerous in transition, capable of taking it coast-to-coast to the bucket.

Wes also has the tools to be a secondary playmaker, equipped with solid ball-handling skills and good passing vision. He can even dish out a flashy pass on occasion. Iwundu averaged 3.5 assists and 2.3 turnovers per game his senior year at Kansas State. That positive assist-to-turnover ratio carried over to the pros, averaging 2.0 assists and 1.1 turnovers per 36 minutes his rookie season.