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2017 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: C.J. Wilcox

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 31, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard C.J. Wilcox (30) drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Randy Foye (6) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard C.J. Wilcox (30) drives to the basket in front of Oklahoma City Thunder guard Randy Foye (6) during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
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C.J. Wilcox, Los Angeles Clippers
Apr 8, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard C.J. Wilcox (30)reacts after teammate guard Jamal Crawford (11) hit the game winning shot in overtime against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 102-99 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Opportunity

The NBA is a league that is all about opportunity and situation. There is an element of luck involved. The whole Draft Lottery system is a series of random bounces of ping pong balls in a drum.

Players drafted to one team can fail where they would do better on another. Who is to say what Wilcox could have done getting drafted to the Philadelphia 76ers where they would have played him with impunity.

Mario Hezonja is a great example of this randomness. The Magic were not willing to let him make mistakes or throw him into the fire. His development and his ability to contribute suffered for it.

Wilcox is even further on that spectrum. He got no minutes for the Clippers, nor could he unseat the two people ahead of him. He never really had a chance.

Coming to Orlando should be a breath of fresh air for Wilcox. It is, if anything else, an opportunity to get some playing time. Jodie Meeks is not entrenched in the rotation any more than Wilcox is. And with Meeks on an expiring contract, Wilcox easily could prove himself more valuable and get that coveted fourth year.

The Meeks injury only adds to the opportunity. Wilcox should slot in as the backup shooting guard right now. There is a true opportunity for minutes.

Opportunity is very powerful. Wilcox finally has some opportunity to play and have a role on a team.

All Wilcox has to do in training camp is to go out and take it.