Orlando Magic adjusting rotation smoothly around trade

The Orlando Magic made a significant trade two weeks ago at the trade deadline. Their transition to a new rotation has been relatively smooth though.

The Orlando Magic calculated this possibility when they made the decision to trade Tobias Harris.

The starting lineup needed a bit more freedom, Mario Hezonja needed some more playing time, the team needed help in several different areas. And not to mention, the team needed some cap relief to make a big splash and take more clearer steps forward in the summer.

There might have been many reasons for why the Magic moved to acquire Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova for Tobias Harris, but the more immediate reason given and the more immediate consequence of these deals was a major change to a team trying to keep up in the Playoff race.

“Just trying to get some consistency,” Elfrid Payton said of the adjustment to the new players and rotation. “It’s tough on a night-in, night-out basis kind of knowing when you are going in and when you are going out. That’s been the toughest thing for everybody. They fit in perfectly.”

It was fairly easy to slip Jennings and Ilyasova into the lineup. Ilaysova slid in behind Aaron Gordon off the bench as Jennings slid in behind Elfrid Payton at point guard (or Victor Oladipo at shooting guard, depending on how technical you want to get with positions).

There is still a bit of getting used to everything as the team re-learns plays and the new players adjust to their new coaches and systems. But comfort is slowly taking hold.

Still, there have been a few instances where changes have had to be made and the process has not been seamless.

Payton has perhaps had the biggest adjustment with both C.J. Watson and Jennings trying to compete for playing time and get their opportunity. Scott Skiles said at some point he may have to stop experimenting with the two of them playing together and make a clearer decision on their roles.

The guard rotation has taken the biggest adjustment as the Magic sort through their three point guards while still trying to compete. All three guards have finished games at various times in the past two weeks.

It was not as easy as plugging and playing different players in.

And the team has struggled with Jennings and Watson in at the same time — -14.2 net rating in 74 minutes together including a 117.2 defensive rating. Skiles said he still wants to give both a fair shot.

“It has basically just been the C.J.-Brandon area,” Skiles said. “We’ve got to stay with it. C.J. can play either spot, but we’re kind of small when we do that. I want to keep getting them both minutes. It may come to a point where I have got to make a decision on who I want to devote those minutes to. I’ve got to give them a fair shot.”

The adjustment to the new rotation and new lineup is going to be ongoing. Through eight games, the Magic have had some difficulties — going 4-4 in the games so far — and there is definitely some consistency issues.

Orlando has had to slide Evan Fournier to small forward, which might be a bit out of position. Fournier typically struggles with bigger forwards, but can largely play the position. Trading Harris was certainly done in part to ease that logjam between Oladipo, Fournier and Harris.

Whether or not Fournier can play small forward long term — he has played 39 percent of his minutes this season at small forward according to Basketball-Reference — is a question that might get left up to the summer and the offseason. His effectiveness there certainly leaves some question marks — Orlando’s current starting lineup has a -2.5 net rating in 85 minutes together since the trade deadline.

But Fournier has also proven capable of fitting in wherever the Magic need him and providing good floor spacing.

Mario Hezonja has had to take on that role the last two games and teams have attacked the rookie pretty quickly, as they should. The Mavericks especially attacked him and he, like most of his teammates struggled. He, again like most of his teammates, recovered against the Bulls as Hezonja did well chasing Mike Dunleavy and Doug McDermott around.

Hezonja too is not quite a natural small forward. He has the size, but has not quite put on the muscle. He is still figuring out the best way to defend at this level. Hezonja is finding his place in the league still and learning the challenges ahead.

“That’s just one of the things with being a rookie,” Skiles said. “He has natural athleticism, but his technique defensively needs a lot of work. Each night if you are at the 2 or 3 positions it’s a different wing player. One night, it’s a spot-up shooter and all you have to do is run him off the line. Next night it is a guy with movement, next night it is a post-up guy. But he is willing and he is working on it, there is no reason to think he won’t improve.”

Hezonja is learning through those challenges. So too are the Magic. They are particularly thin at small forward now after the Harris trade and have had to piece together a rotation, particularly since Fournier went out. There have been a few three-guard lineups with Victor Oladipo platooning at that position for short stretches. Even Devyn Marble has gotten some playing time the past two games.

Overall though, the Magic have had few major adjustments to the trades.

Their rotation has largely remained intact. There is definitely a need for a more athletic and long small forward, but Fournier fills the role well. And Hezonja has his moments.

The point guard situation behind Elfrid Payton — and sometimes with Elfrid Payton — will slowly sort itself out. And the Magic are continuing to play and give themselves chances to win, if not win outright. There are bigger problems on the team aside from adjusting to a new rotation.

Next: It will take defense for Orlando Magic to sniff Playoffs

But so far there seems to be little issue with integrating the new players and adjusting to new roles in the weeks after the trade.