Orlando Magic basketball is back! Sort of. Summer League begins in only a few days and there are a few names Magic fans should pay close attention to.
The Mountain Dew Orlando Pro Summer League kicks off July 1 and it will be the first chance to get a sneak peek at the Orlando Magic.
Every year, Summer League is also major deal for Magic fans. Yes, the games are all played in Orlando’s facilities on the practice court at the Amway Center. But fans get their first glimpse at the team’s newest draft picks in the team colors. Or practice gear.
For the players, Summer League is the perfect opportunity to make an impression on NBA front offices. Players who have been paying their dues in the D-League have the ability to make a NBA roster through strong play during this stretch of games. Or at the very least they have the chance to impress someone around the league or even in Europe for their next contract.
This season’s Orlando’s Summer League roster is led by first-round draft pick Jonathan Isaac. Standing at 6-foot-10, it will be hard to miss the former Florida State Seminole.
Along with Jonathan Isaac, is second-round pick Wesley Iwundu. He was the other player the Magic selected in the 2017 Draft. Wesley Iwundu is a guard from the Kansas State Wildcats and should provide some strong defense for the club.
The rest of the roster is mostly comprised of undrafted free agents or D-League players. They may not have the expectations or the notoriety of the Magic’s draftees, but they have the ability to make a major impact next week.
From lottery selections to former second-round picks, here are a few players to keep an eye on during Summer League.
Jonathan Isaac, Forward
For Magic fans, it has become a tradition to see a top pick for the first time during Summer League. From Victor Oladipo to Mario Hezonja, the Magic have had plenty of stars during these exhibition games in recent years.
The sixth overall pick is going to have all eyes on him.
Isaac spent one season at Florida State and showed enough promise to be picked with the sixth overall pick. His size and athleticism mirror Giannis Antetokounmpo, but so does his unpolished skill set.
Many feel Isaac has a long road ahead of him before he reaches his potential. In his first action with the pros, fans should be hoping for Isaac to keep healthy and gain some confidence.
Fans are going to have crazy expectations for Isaac. But he will need to focus on just playing smart basketball as he continues to improve on his already impressive game.
Wesley Iwundu, Guard
In more ways than one, Wesley Iwundu is the polar opposite of Isaac. He spent four seasons at Kansas State and is a well-developed player. The potential for greatness may not be there, but Iwundu is ready to play a role for Orlando fairly quickly.
For the past few seasons, the Magic have struggled at defending the perimeter. Iwundu should be able to help out in that department. With a high motor and high basketball IQ, Iwundu can work his way up the depth chart quickly.
At Summer League, Iwundu may not light up the stat sheet. But fans should be paying attention to how he fits into the offense and handles himself defensively.
It would be nice to see Iwundu hit a few three-pointers when he is on the floor. If he can shoot the ball from the outside, it would allow him to get meaningful minutes in the NBA quickly.
But Iwundu’s main contributions at the start will beon the defensive end. Against NBA competition the Magic will certainly want to see him assert himself there if he is to make the contribution this year everyone believes he can make.
Stephen Zimmerman, Center
The 2016 second-round pick could take major strides this offseason. He saw some time in the NBA last season. But for the most part, he looked overmatched.
Even with a strong Summer League, Stephen Zimmerman is still a likely G-League candidate due to the Magic being crowded at center. Even so, Zimmerman needs to show he can be a viable option if Nikola Vucevic or Bismack Biyombo fall to injury.
With the Erie Bayhawks, Zimmerman averaged a solid 13.4 points per game along with just fewer than nine rebounds per game. His development is still ongoing. But a strong stretch this week could also get the fan base on his side. It certainly would help get him a clearer spot in the Magic’s future.
The key to look for in Zimmerman is his defense. He will be playing some talented big men and he needs to hold his own physically. If he gets bullied, there is still much work to do on that end.
For Zimmerman, showing steady improvement is the key. The Magic are going to give him the time to develop, he needs to cash in on the opportunity.
Patricio Garino, Guard
To this point, Patricio Garino is known best for appearing in the infamous “whiteboard” picture last season when he signed his contract with the Magic at the end of the season.
Many are not aware of the talent he possesses. Garino has a real shot to make this roster and is a name to remember.
Last season, Garino was a member of the Orlando White Summer League squad and made some noise as many were surprised he did not make the final roster. Garino was a solid defender and player for the team. It seemed certain he would get his shot somewhere in the NBA.
He did join the San Antonio Spurs in training camp and was the final cut before the season started. He played for their D-League affiliate in Austin.
During his time in the D-League last season, he averaged 11.2 points per game, 3.4 rebounds per game and 2.0 assists per game. The numbers show he is a versatile player and at 6-foot-6, he can play both guard and forward spots.
Marcus Georges-Hunt, Guard
Marcus Georges-Hunt is in the same boat as Garino. The Magic seem to like both players and are going to give both of them a real shot to make the roster this offseason after signing them in April last year.
Georges-Hunt played in a few games for the Magic last season and is another player who can play at both guard and forward positions.
In the D-League, Hunt put up strong numbers. He averaged 15.8 points per game 6.2 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per contest. Playing well enough for the Magic to give him a call as their season winded down.
Even with the Magic, Georges-Hunt showed a lot of potential too. He had some solid performances in his limited minutes and showed plenty of potential versatility to keep eyeing this offseason.
Georges-Hunt needs to show he can fill a role for Orlando. If he can prove to be a sharpshooter or someone who can distribute the ball well, the Magic will give him a shot. He has the skills to develop into a role player, but he will have to accept that if he wants to make it on an NBA roster.
Derrick Walton Jr., Guard
Last season, Derrick Walton Jr. was the heartbeat of a Michigan Wolverines team that made it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.
Walton spent four years with the Wolverines and is the only player in school history to have 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds and 400 career assists according to Brendan F. Quinn of MLive.com. Clearly, he had one of the best careers in Michigan basketball history.
With the uncertainty surrounding the team’s point guard situation, Walton could sneak onto this team.
At the moment, Elfrid Payton and D.J. Augustin are going to be taking the bulk of the minutes at the point. C.J. Watson is on a non-guaranteed deal and likely is not going to remain on the team. If Walton plays well the Magic could opt to go for the younger Walton as the third point guard.
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He has the intangibles, distribution skills, and outside shot to play in the NBA. Fans should already be familiar with Walton. Hopefully he can put together a strong stretch to push for a roster spot.