Evaluating the Magic's haul with Bucksketball

Beno Udrih, Tobias Harris and Doron Lamb have already suited up for one game in a Magic uniform and we have gotten a brief glimpse at what each can do.

In Orlando's loss to Cleveland on Saturday, Udrih showed that he is an adept playmaker and passer, racking up seven assists to go with 10 points in an uneven shooting performance for him. Tobias Harris has already shown that he has a knack for scoring when the ball is in his hands, recording 14 points in his Magic debut. And we have seen all Doron Lamb can do from his days at Kentucky.

One game played with relative strangers hardly makes for a solid sample size. After today's practice, the Magic should begin to see who these players really are and what they can contribute in the future.

With that in mind, I reached out to Jeremy Schmidt of Bucksketball to get a better sense of the new Magic men:

Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily: What kind of player is Tobias Harris? What kind of player did the Buck think he could become? What kept him from gaining consistent minutes this year?

Jeremy Schmidt, Bucksketball: Harris is a super talented offensive player. He has demonstrated some impressive touch and flashes. [The] bursts of athleticism you've already seen in his short time with the Magic.

I think the Bucks had high hopes for him. It seemed like what was holding him back was a lack of awareness defensively and an inability to consistently hit threes or jumpers from the wing. That's what the Bucks really want from their three. He's more of a guy who can attack the rim. He just wasn't a great fit with Jennings and Ellis and in the Bucks current offense.

PRR: What is the biggest thing that Harris has to improve on? I remember from draft talk that he was described as an athletic player, but still very raw.

JS: Defense is his thing to work on. He has got to be aware and he has got to hit the glass a little better. He has a great body and he has got to use it on both ends. He uses it well on offense, now he needs to do more on the other end with it. I think he has long been told he's a poor man's Carmelo, and that might be a bit presumptuous, but that's the direction he may want to continue to take. And that's not bad.

PRR: Doron Lamb, as a second round pick, did not have a ton of expectations heaped on him and he has not played a ton of minutes. But what was the rationale behind drafting him? What did the Bucks think he could provide?

JS: He was billed as a shooter coming out of college. He hasn't had a lot of success there just yet, but we'll see how that plays out. He's really struggled on offense all season, but he was playing a lot more point guard than I'm sure he ever expected to. Most of his minutes came when Udrih was injured, so it was a tough spot.

PRR: What kind of point guard is Beno Udrih? What does he add to the lineup?

JS: Udrih moves the ball very well and has a great mid-range game. He's a bad 3-point shooter at this point, but he's a smart player and he keeps the ball moving. His decisions are typically sharp and they are made very quickly. But his limitations as a shooter are what holds him back.

PRR: How do you see J.J. Redick fitting in with Milwaukee? What was your reaction to the deal?

JS: I"m excited about how he fits, so long as Ellis and Jennings can live with a reduction in minutes. I'm bummed that Harris had to go for Redick to come in, but I don't see Harris as a real superstar kind of player. He's more of a solid starter type. But he isn't that yet, and Redick is that type of player already. His shooting should open things up and it'll be a pleasure to watch him moving off screens and off the ball non-stop. 

My thanks to Jeremy for taking the time to give us his perspective on the trade. Be sure to read everything Milwaukee Bucks over at Bucksketball!