2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Troy Caupain

The Orlando Magic finally brought Troy Caupain in after a stellar run with the Lakeland Magic. On a two-way contract, he adds depth to the point guard spot.

The Orlando Magic needed a point guard late last season. The team had traded Elfrid Payton and were platooning D.J. Augustin and Shelvin Mack together. They were finding the duo actually worked well together. But they were limited playing them that way because of their realities without a point guard.

The Magic did not have a point guard in their list of two-way players — Adreian Payne had already been cut past the deadline to find a replacement and Jamel Artis was a wing player — but there was an open 10-day spot. And two players from the Lakeland Magic who had proven themselves very worthy.

The going thought was the Magic, who publicly said they were searching for a third point guard at that late stage of the season, would add Troy Caupain to the roster. He was tearing it up in the G-League as a scoring guard and seemed like he was ready for the opportunity in the NBA.

Orlando went with Rodney Purvis, his higher scoring teammate, and stuck with their limited point guard rotation. Caupain had a strong finish to the G-League season. But it ended with the Lakeland Magic’s elimination from the Playoffs.

The Magic were not done with Caupain though. He was added to the team’s Summer League roster and then eventually signed a two-way contract. It was not the 10-day contract he probably should have gotten the chance for last year, but it gets him on the team in training camp once again and a chance to play for the Magic for up to 45 days during the course of the season.

Caupain has done just about everything the Magic could ask of him since joining the organization.

In the G-League last year with the Lakeland Magic, Caupain averaged 15.6 points per game (notably less than Artis’ 19.5 points per game and Purvis’ 20.5 points per game) with 5.8 assists per game. He made 34.7 percent of his 3-pointers.

Caupain showed himself a capable scorer and creator and someone who showed potential to improve as a passer.

This was the case throughout Summer League too. Caupain averaged 13.6 points per game with a 46 percent field goal percentage. He led the Summer League team in assists with 3.8 assists per game. And to boot, he averaged 5.4 rebounds per game. Do not expect that last number to carry over.

Troy Caupain certainly took advantage of Isaiah Briscoe‘s injury, playing through all five games in Las Vegas. But he was impressive in that play.

Caupain displayed all the abilities and skills he had from the G-League with Lakeland. He was good working his way into the paint and scoring around the basket. But his jumper remains a bit suspect as does his ability to generate assists. Maybe some of that in Summer League was because of the team’s poor spacing without any clear-cut shooters.

This was generally the wrap on Caupain coming out of the Cincinnati Bearcats. He was a good scorer with 10.5 points and 4.4 assists per game his senior year. Caupain shot a little better than 32 percent from beyond the arc his last two years. It was no wonder he did not get drafted.

But at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Caupain is a big guy for a point guard who uses his body well on both ends of the floor. It is not unusual to see him in the post sealing a point guard and working the post to get a shot around the basket. He is still agile enough to finish with a flourish around the rim.

Caupain is still finding his way. He is more of a scorer than point guard and distributor. And he is not as efficient as a scorer to merit a larger role — he had a 50.0 percent effective field goal percentage last year. Caupain is not likely going to come to the Magic and steal a starter’s role.

The two-way contract the Magic gave him was certainly a reward for time served within the organization. He was strong for the Lakeland Magic and clearly is a player who should be on a two-way contract. But he is also not quite NBA ready either.

Caupain still has to improve his shot and playmaking if he wants to make the NBA full-time and carve out a clearer bench role.

The Magic have not helped matters by cluttering the point guard position. As weak as it is, the Magic are going to explore three other options ahead of Caupain. It is unclear where Caupain would fit if the Magic are fully healthy.

D.J. Augustin, Jerian Grant and Isaiah Briscoe are all better point guards. And in Jerian Grant and Isaiah Briscoe’s case, they fit the Magic’s vision for versatile, lengthy defenders at every position. They both will get their shot at the backup spot well before Caupain.

Caupain is big and knows how to throw his weight around. But he is not a lengthy or versatile defender. Defense is still something he needs to improve on, although he was a strong defender in college and has the capability to be a solid defender.

Caupain is still working to put all the pieces together for himself and have that big breakthrough into the NBA.

Last year was a big step though. Starring in the G-League is a great place to start. It enabled him to get a look with a NBA team more full-time with the two-way contract. And there will surely be a point during the season where the Magic call Caupain up and give him a closer look in the NBA.

That will be a big audition moment for him. And something that will determine where he goes next in his career. Caupain has patiently climbed the ladder each step of the way.

At the very least this year, Caupain will be a good leader and a quality contributor for the Lakeland Magic in the G-League. That is where he was last year and clearly what he can do. The question for Caupain is what is his next step?

The Magic point guard situation is bad not for depth but for a lack of talent. Caupain is not someone who likely will develop into a starter. He is an emergency option for the team. But the Magic will not get caught short with guards this year.