C.J. Wilcox is an interesting player with a lot of skill as a shooter. The one thing he missed? Opportunity. He should get that in Orlando with the Magic.
C.J. Wilcox unfortunately became one of those players. It inevitably happens to players on their rookie contracts who do not get the opportunity to play. They just become trade fodder — easily movable contracts to fill in space with just enough promise to entice a team to ask for him.
This was C.J. Wilcox’s situation this summer. And eventually the Los Angeles Clippers cut bait, trading him to the Orlando Magic for Devyn Marble — and the cap relief his non-guaranteed deal provided.
And like with any rookie traded while still on their rookie deal, that means uncertainty reigns. There is no guarantee the Magic even pick up the fourth year on Wilcox’s rookie deal before Oct. 31.
The Magic though clearly thought enough of him to give him this shot. Even with what little data the team has from just 44 games played in two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers.
What Wilcox seems to bring is another shooter. And the Magic are certainly in need of more shooting. He was almost exclusively a 3-point shooting in his limited minutes last year, shooting 39.1 percent from beyond the arc. That should mean there is something there.
Orlando Magic
And Wilcox just needs the opportunity. It was something he never got in Los Angeles, playing behind veterans and having to deal with the pressure of that win-now environment. Wilcox needed a little bit more of a slower, relaxed upbringing, so to speak.
Wilcox has not had the opportunity to do much more than take a shot per game. He just never got the minutes.
Wilcox may not get the minutes in Orlando either. He will have to fight for his spot in the rotation. Jodie Meeks and Mario Hezonja will demand some minutes at shooting guard. Meeks is injured right now though. And it is unclear if he will be healthy for training camp.
That gives Wilcox something he may never have had before — opportunity.
And he will have to prove he is worth the Magic’s attention throughout training camp and preseason with his contract status up in the air. Judging by the few times Wilcox was in the lineup, he might very well merit that attention.