Hoops Habit
Fansided

Orlando Magic: 3 players looking over their shoulder after the NBA Draft

By Luke Duffy

ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 26: Gary Harris #14 of the Orlando Magic drives past Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Amway Center on April 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - APRIL 26: Gary Harris #14 of the Orlando Magic drives past Kyle Kuzma #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Amway Center on April 26, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic players looking over their shoulder: 3. Dwayne Bacon

Dwayne Bacon just pips Michael Carter-Williams to the unenviable position of number three on this list. For Carter-Williams, who is in the final year of his current deal and in line to make $3.3 million this coming season, he may have done just enough while with the Magic for another team to take a chance on him.

He looked like he was on his way out of the league and couldn’t stick anywhere, until being reunited with former head coach Steve Clifford in Orlando. From there, Carter-Williams became a defensive specialist who could come off the bench and shut all manner of players down. His role was specific and unique, but it worked for the Magic in places and it could elsewhere in the future.

For Bacon, however, things are a lot murkier. He was signed last season to try and create some scoring and offensive punch for a team that at that time had been to back-to-back postseasons and needed more scoring from other guys on the roster. Bacon started 50 of the 72 games he played for the Magic and averaged a career-high 10.9 points per game.

All in all, though he underwhelmed, shooting 28.5 percent from just under three attempts per game from deep. Any hopes that he could use this opportunity (he averaged 25.7 minutes per game, compared to 17.6 the year before with the Charlotte Hornets) to really kick on were extinguished pretty quickly, and by year’s end, it was clear the roster was moving in a different direction.

Any hope Bacon had of proving himself took a hit when Suggs and Wagner were drafted. Both will be in direct competition with him for minutes (Wagner may be used in a number of ways), while the aforementioned Anthony and Hampton need playing time. Gary Harris, another who could have made this list, is surely ahead of him on the depth chart, and there is still Markelle Fultz to come back as well.

Most worryingly of all for Bacon, he could still yet be waived. Even if he is kept around, he is in the final year of his current deal and right now it is unclear where the next contract comes from. During his time with the Magic, he did little to show that another organization should even sign them to the end of their bench.

Home/Orlando Magic