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Aaron Gordon is the best option to adjust the Orlando Magic starting lineup

By Brett David Roberts

Oct 30, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and forward Aaron Gordon (00) react on the bench as the Washington Wizards beat the Magic 105-98 at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Elfrid Payton (4) and forward Aaron Gordon (00) react on the bench as the Washington Wizards beat the Magic 105-98 at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Shabazz Napier (13) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Toney Douglas (16) and forward Alonzo Gee during the fourth quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. The Magic won 104-89. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Shabazz Napier (13) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans guard Toney Douglas (16) and forward Alonzo Gee during the fourth quarter of a basketball game at Amway Center. The Magic won 104-89. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Who poses the best case to be a starter?

There are cases to be made for all three players. Napier can be a superb ball distributor and is capable of knocking down shots starter Elfrid Payton would mostly misfire on.

Hezonja cost a No. 5 overall pick and has merely shown flashes, while many of the other notables of that draft class are making heavy waves already.

And Gordon, simply, is the Magic’s best one-on-one defender and a guy whose offense is slowly starting to catch up with his defense.

Of course, this trio is not the full contingent of a very productive bench.

The revitalized Andrew Nicholson has shown himself to be worthy of the rotation spot he has gained. Nicholson at times is so effective it really leaves us to wonder what he could do with starter’s minutes.

Dewayne Dedmon also gives a full 110-percent effort on the court. It is hard to sit a guy who plays his heart out each and every possession. Jason Smith is also in the mix for a starter’s role, though he is likely best suited to be a Nikola Vucevic-lite in the second unit. Smith is shooting the second-best from mid-range in the NBA, and the Magic are probably best saving that not-so-secret weapon for the second unit.

Victor Oladipo seems too well suited as a sixth man to re-insert him into the starting lineup. Some may object to that on the grounds he is Orlando’s most dynamic athlete. But that same argument can be turned back around as to why he is vital to the second unit. In the end, it mostly matters who closes games, and Oladipo has been consistently on the floor in the waning moments of games.

So, where does that leave the team?

Next: Decision Time