2018 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Mario Hezonja

2 of 5

Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics

BOSTON, MA – March 31: Mario Hezonja #8 of the Orlando Magic goes up for a lay up against the Boston Celtics on March 31, 2017 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What To Look For

This is probably the most pivotal basketball season in Mario Hezonja’s life. Hezonja has a chance to prove he is a NBA-caliber player. And, if he fails to do that, he could very well find himself back overseas next year.

But Hezonja has proclaimed time and time again that playing in the NBA and being great is his dream. Hezonja will not give up easily. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the challenge.

The big thing to look for will be the battle between veteran Arron Afflalo and Mario Hezonja for what one would think would be the last wing minutes available to Orlando off the bench. You can pencil in Evan Fournier, Terrence Ross and Jonathon Simmons as wing players for Orlando that will certainly be in the rotation.

Based on last year’s rotation, Frank Vogel is unlikely to rely on only three players to play on the wing. That leaves Arron Afflalo, Mario Hezonja and an outside shot for Jonathan Isaac to play the remaining wing minutes.

Afflalo is an established NBA veteran who is a proven threat from the corners but his defense has slipped dramatically the past four seasons or so. Afflalo is also more of a shooting guard only due to his size. This is where Hezonja can potentially knock Afflalo out of the rotation. Hezonja, for all his faults last year, significantly improved on the defensive end during the year.

Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

Hezonja, is also significantly bigger, longer and more athletic than Afflalo. Mario Hezonja fits the mold of what Jeff Weltman wants in this players: Multi-positional players with size and skill. Hezonja even recorded some minutes at power forward last year. He certainly fits that bill better.

But the thing that could hold Hezonja out of the rotation may be the simplest thing in basketball: Shot-making.

Hezonja was thought to be a good shot-maker coming into the draft. The Magic even saw some of it displayed during his rookie year. Unfortunately that all disappeared last season. Hezonja is going to have to light it up during training camp to prove that last year’s disappearing act was a fluke.

Having a rotation player shoot 35/30 just is not a viable option for a team that had an anemic bench and possesses alternative options.