Fantasy basketball season is around the corner too. The Orlando Magic have some intriguing players who could be worth a pickup for your leagues.
As a new NBA season begins, the fantasy world readies itself for yet another year of competitive action.
Ahead of the new season, ESPN writer Tom Carpenter ranked his top 130 fantasy players for 2017. And several Magic players made the list.
Meanwhile, a former Magic player made the top 20, something none of the current crop were able to do.
For the 2016 season, six Orlando Magic players were able to make Tom Carpenter’s “Top 200 Fantasy Basketball Rankings”. They were Nikola Vucevic (23rd), Victor Oladipo (32nd), Tobias Harris (61st), Elfrid Payton (99th), rookie Mario Hezonja (142nd) and Aaron Gordon (148th).
Since then, two of them have moved on to other franchises, while all but Hezonja return on this year’s team. But which Magic player is ranked highest, and which former Magic player has them all beat?
Next: The big men on campus
Bismack Biyombo
2015-16 Rank: Unranked
2016-17 Rank: 109th
Specialities: Shot Blocking, Rebounding
The lowest ranked Magic player to make the list is new signing Bismack Biyombo, making his first appearance in the top 130 (last year he was ranked 138th). With rumors the former Raptor could be gaining the starting spot, it is no wonder the Congolese player has rocketed up fantasy big boards.
Biyombo’s primary contribution will be on the defensive end of the floor, with his block numbers in particular being essential to his fantasy value. But his value for the most part hinges on playing time, as he will be competing with three other quality players in the form of Serge Ibaka, Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon for front court minutes.
Nikola Vucevic
2015 Rank: 23rd
2016 Rank: 52nd
Specialities: Field Goal Percentage, Points per game, Rebounding
Of all the players on this list, veteran big man Nikola Vucevic has the worst position relative to last year, falling 29 places to 52nd.
Despite putting up big numbers again last year — 18.2 points and 8.9 rebounds per game on 51.0 percent shooting — and still being known as a “Fantasy All-Star,” Vucevic falls this largely due to his unguaranteed playing time. Following the arrival of Serge Ibaka and Bismack Biyombo, Vucevic is unlikely going to be able to maintain his 31.3 minutes per game he saw in 2016.
Among these playing time concerns comes the question of as to whether Vucevic will be the starting center for the Magic in 2017. While Ibaka can play the power forward spot in a two big-man lineup, Vucevic and Biyombo can (realistically) only play the center spot, and the latter recently signed a 4-year, $72-million deal.
Vucevic is too good not receive significant minutes, but his playing time will likely be the least it has been with the Magic since he arrived in 2012.
With Vucevic ranked 52nd, only one Orlando player made the top 50.
Next: The dynamic duo
Aaron Gordon
2015 Rank: 148th
2016 Rank: 99th
Speciality: Field Goal Percentage
Third-year player Aaron Gordon could be a sleeper pick this upcoming season, with the former Arizona standout set to have a breakout 2017 campaign with new coach Frank Vogel.
The 20 year old will be looking to develop his offensive game in the new season, while Vogel should help Gordon further reach his enormous defensive potential. That may not help much on the fantasy end.
Like Biyombo, he will to contend for front court minutes, but with Gordon’s development a key goal this season for the Magic, it is likely he could see the most minutes of his career.
Serge Ibaka
2015 Rank: 17th
2016 Rank: 26th
Specialities: Shot Blocking, Field Goal Percentage
The Orlando Magic’s new acquisition Serge Ibaka came in at 26th, making him the highest ranked Magic player on the list. At his best, he is a force on both ends of the floor.
Carpenter expects the power forward to comeback from what was a below-average season in 2015-2016 by Ibaka’s standards.
His block numbers fell to less than 2.0 per contest for the first time since his rookie season, while he failed to follow up on an impressive 3-point shooting campaign in 2015, with his percentage from beyond the arc falling from 37.6 percent to 37.2 percent.
But, as the star acquisition and best-known player on a Magic team that will be looking to make the playoffs, the 2017 will be a season that should give Ibaka a chance to shine. Notably, the campaign will be an important one going forward for the 26-year-old forward given it is a contract season — and one that will hopefully be fruitful for both Ibaka, and the Magic.
Next: The guards
Evan Fournier
2015 Rank: Unranked
2016 Rank: 83rd
Specialities: Field Goal Percentage, Three Point Percentage, Three Pointers per Game
Of all the players on this list, swingman Evan Fournier’s position is the most questionable. With the departure of Victor Oladipo, Fournier figures to be a major part of the offense, being the team’s best volume 3-point shooter and potentially the second best offensive player in Orlando’s presumed starting five.
Aside from his scoring, accuracy, and 3-point shooting, Fournier is likely to contribute as a secondary playmaker, and will generally be a good all-around procurement. It is surprising to see him this low on the list — Carpenter’s fellow ESPN writer, Jim McCormick, even highlighted Fournier as a potential great fantasy pick up this season.
Elfrid Payton
2015 Rank: 99th
2016 Rank: 59th
Specialities: Assists, Assists-to-Turnover Ratio
The Magic’s starting point guard, Elfrid Payton, ranks somewhat higher than expected in Carpenter’s list. This is likely due to his skilled passing and resultantly high assist numbers. Payton somewhat disappointed in 2016, and thus 2017 will be a huge year for the point guard.
Aside from his defense, another area of concern with Payton is his notoriously poor shooting, and he will have to improve on percentages of 43.6 percent from the floor, 32.6 percent from beyond the arc and 58.9 percent from the foul line to have real value.
However, if he should be able to (without having to shoot even fewer threes per game), then Payton will be a solid pickup at the point-guard spot.
Next: Former Magic stars
Former Magic Stars
Three other notable former Magic players made the top 130 — and, notably, one of these unranked every other Magic player on the list.
Point guard Brandon Jennings came in at 111th, while combo forward Tobias Harris, who was traded for Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova mid-season, came in at 73rd.
However, the one player who outranked all other players was shooting guard Victor Oladipo.
The 24-year old came in at 19th, seven places better than Ibaka. Thus, according to Carpenter, the Magic may not have been the winners of the Ibaka-Oladipo trade (although even if this were the case, the Thunder are still reeling at recent developments regarding a certain Kevin Durant).
From a fantasy perspective, the Magic certainly downgraded as many of their acquisitions traded away offense for defense, which is not captured in fantasy statistics.
Next: A plethora of options
A Plethora of Options
In the upcoming fantasy season, there are a number of good options on the Magic despite these meager rankings.
Elfrid Payton is an excellent passer who can rack up assists at the point guard spot, Evan Fournier is a sharpshooting swingman who is excellent from 3-point range. With minutes, Nikola Vucevic is an effective scorer and rebounder.
Serge Ibaka is a potential high scorer who is effective on both ends of the floor. With a larger role, Bismack Biyombo can score well in defensive categories.
Aaron Gordon is the true wild card, who could be a heavy scorer if he has a breakout 2016-2017. And that is not even to mention Mario Hezonja, who could himself have a big season in 2017.
Next: Orlando Magic: Top five duos for 2017
The Orlando Magic have a number of solid fantasy options this upcoming season. Now, they have to hope this contributes to team success, and a potential 2017 playoff run.