Orlando Magic: 3 candidates for a breakout season in 2018-19

3 of 4

(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

2. Terrence Ross

If Fournier has the potential to be left behind, then the same is even truer for Terrence Ross. A non-displaced fracture of his right leg last year limited him to only 24 games for Orlando. This was a shame, as he was expected to kick on while playing in the pinstriped blue.

When he arrived from the Toronto Raptors before the trade deadline in 2017, his ability to stretch the floor and shoot from deep gave new life and a new dynamic to the Magic’s offensive schemes. He also saw his minutes jump from 22.4 per game to 31.2 to close out that season in Orlando.

His promising start to life there was cut short last year. However, if he can stay fit, Ross too would make even more sense as a sixth man, and he could easily become the Magic’s best shooter from 3-point range (career 37.1 percent from deep) this coming year.

More from Orlando Magic

This is exactly what they need him to be if they want to improve their record and make a better attempt at reaching the postseason. Even by doing this alone, Ross will be deemed to have improved sufficiently, especially with the Magic ranking 28th (35.1 percent) in 3-point shooting last season.

Again, the lack of depth at the guard positions means he could actually begin the year as a starter. Certainly when paired with Gordon, Isaac, Bamba and whatever other guard is on the floor, that is a unit that could cause problems on both ends of the court.

This is where Ross can also really excel in Orlando this coming season, as the kind of offense-first player who fits next to essentially all the other individuals on the roster and doesn’t need the ball a lot to thrive.

It’s something not a lot of other players here can say. Even remaining healthy would make Ross the surprise package here, but if he can surpass his Toronto levels of output, he will be the Magic’s prime breakout candidate for 2018-19.

Home/Orlando Magic