The Big Question: Can the Orlando Magic’s bench deliver?

Guards

Perhaps the most exciting thing about the group of guards Rob Hennigan has assembled is their collective versatility, as most of them are capable of both initiating plays and playing off the ball. This should foster plenty of opportunities for the team to experiment with a small-ball approach and perhaps to even play without a true point guard at times if they choose to go big.

C.J. Watson is perhaps the most important addition, as he has plenty of NBA experience, having already spent eight years in the league. Watson could, with a little luck, become the Jameer Nelson replacement Orlando is yet to find by providing leadership for the second unit and, perhaps more importantly, Elfrid Payton, who will undoubtedly benefit from the presence of a 42 percent shooter who also knocks down the three ball at a rate of 38 percent.

Playing alongside him will be Evan Fournier who had an excellent first season in Orlando, averaging 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Fournier’s ability to handle the ball, create his own shot and establish long-range openings off screens should help keep opponents honest when Victor Oladipo is not on the floor. And, if he can take a leap forward defensively under Skiles, the Fournier is likely to see even more than the 28.6 minutes he averaged per game last season.

On the subject of minutes, those remaining will likely be distributed between Mario Hezonja and Shabazz Napier.

Selected fifth overall in this year’s draft Hezonja faces lofty expectations ahead of his NBA debut. Labeled “the only guy in this draft that someday could potentially win either the dunk contest or the 3-point contest” by ESPN international draft expert Fran Fraschilla, the Croatian illustrated both his strengths and weaknesses at Summer League, before going on to average 6.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game at the Eurobasket championship.

Both early impressions come loaded with plenty of intrigue and it will be interesting to see just how Scott Skiles handles Hezonja’s raw talent through both training camp and the eight preseason fixtures the Magic have lined up. Time, hard work and a well-structured training regime conducted under the watchful eye of a patient coaching staff should ensure Hezonja provides plenty of offensive support off the bench when the regular season eventually rolls around though and may even give him an opportunity to prove of those already labeling him a Rookie of the Year candidate right.

Napier, on the other hand, should benefit from the relatively low expectations he brings off the back of a mediocre rookie season in Miami.

For the Heat, he averaged 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists during the course of 51 appearances. Unimpressive as those numbers might be, he did at times resemble the LeBron James-endorsed scorer UConn fans know and love, perhaps most notably during a 25-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs in October. Performances like that were few and far between though and Napier will have to work hard to cement his place on the roster when training camp rolls around, especially with a guy like Tyler Harvey breathing down his neck.

Next: The Forwards