Orlando Magic Daily
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What the first half taught us about the Orlando Magic

By Ricky Scricca

Dec 9, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward center Frank Kaminsky (44) drives to the basket and is fouled by Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) (left) and defended by forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the second half of the game at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 109-88. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 9, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward center Frank Kaminsky (44) drives to the basket and is fouled by Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) (left) and defended by forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the second half of the game at the Spectrum Center. Hornets win 109-88. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte Hornets
Dec 28, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Charlotte Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) defends a pass from Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game at Amway Center.The Hornets won 120-101. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

This might not be the team for Mario Hezonja

It is hard to improve and develop without getting your share of legitimate opportunities. Practice and occasional garbage-time minutes can only get a young NBA player so far before he reaches a crossroads: to break out, or not to break out?

For Mario Hezonja, 2017 looked to be the season where he might be able to show the Magic and the NBA universe what he is really made of.

Building off of a solid rookie campaign wherein he showed flashes of the dynamic, high-octane scoring that enticed the Magic to draft him fifth overall, a sophomore campaign would theoretically allow him more stability either to start flourishing or to stagnate.

Unfortunately for Hezonja, the jury is still out because he just cannot seem to get on the floor.

He is still a prospect. So naturally, he has his fair share of shortcomings he needs to work through — like his defense. But the win-now Magic have decided they cannot afford to let him make mistakes and learn from them as all prospects need to do.

Until the Magic decide to mail in the season, which probably will not be until the 11th hour with the playoffs completely out of reach, it is safe to say 2017 will not be Hezonja’s year.

Hezonja might just have to hope for a trade elsewhere. He is under contract until the Magic have a club option in 2019.  Of course there is a strong possibility Hezonja simply has not shown in practice what it takes to play real NBA games.

But, in either case, he would probably prefer to play on a rebuilding team that has decided it can afford to let young players like himself make mistakes and lose games until he develops.

If Orlando does not trade him, then he will just have to cross his fingers the front office decides to undergo another rebuild process that will allow him to play meaningful minutes. Or for Hezonja’s hard work to show itself and force his way into the rotation.