Orlando Magic: 4 most intriguing players for 2018-19
By Luke Duffy
2. Terrence Ross
Shifting gears here, swingman Terrence Ross comes into this season with more expectation on his shoulders than most others on the team. This year he will be expected to stay healthy, be a veteran presence and be their best 3-point shooter, among other things.
What’s frustrating is how all of this seems possible when Ross is on the court and engaged. It was easy to forget until that preseason game against the 76ers, but his shooting motion and release are among the smoothest in the league.
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What is unclear, however, is exactly what role he will have this coming year. He could force his way into the conversation to be a starter, although that seems unlikely right now. Given the aforementioned lack of depth at the lead guard position, we could even see him handle the ball more.
That wouldn’t be using his skills properly though, as he is the best player in Orlando at moving without the ball and creating space for others. His ability to run around screens to pop open for a jumper cannot be underestimated either.
The best bet here is that Ross settles into an offensive-minded sixth man role where can get hot off the bench in a hurry. This was a role he had previously with the Toronto Raptors, an organization he once scored 51 points in a game for.
With so much uncertainty about what he could end up being, it’s easy to see why fans should be eager to keep an eye on how he develops in Orlando this season.
If Ross discovers his best form and is everything Orlando needs him to be, what would it take for a playoff team to trade for him? And would the Magic do it? His game is suited to coming off the bench for a better team, and for the right price that could happen.