Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic: What to watch for after the All-Star Break

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 8: The Orlando Magic celebrate before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 8, 2017 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 8: The Orlando Magic celebrate before the game against the Denver Nuggets on December 8, 2017 at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. 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 Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Jamel Artis, Lakeland Magic
MISSISSAUGA, ON, CANADA – JANUARY 11: Jamel Artis #0 of the Lakeland Magic shoots the ball during the game against the Memphis Hustle at the NBA G League Showcase Game 14 on January 11, 2018 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Growing the G-League

The Orlando Magic’s first year with a nearby G-League affiliate has been a bit of a mixed bag. The Magic roster was always full and the roster was tough to crack. But overall it has to be considered a success.

Wesley Iwundu and Khem Birch have both proven themselves very capable players and potential role players moving forward for this team. They both can point to their time with the Lakeland Magic as a contributing reason to that growth in their roles.

Orlando is expected to send Jonathan Isaac to the G-League for a couple rehab stints — perhaps even this weekend for big-ticket home games and a back to back for the young player. That is how the G-League is meant to be used.

The Magic also now have an open roster spot. They cleared one with the trade of Elfrid Payton. And Orlando has already publicly stated the team would look to sign a third point guard after the All-Star Break.

The team will sign former Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks guard Rashad Vaughn to a 10-day contract in the first player to fill that void, according to Shams Charania of Yahoo! Sports.

The Lakeland Magic do not have a traditional point guard to offer the Magic. Both Rodney Purvis and Troy Caupain, the two stars in Lakeland this year, are more combo guards. They work better as volume scorers rather than playmakers and initiators. But both have played well enough to earn some consideration for the main roster on a 10-day contract, at least.

Caupain is averaging 15.6 points per game and a team-high 5.6 assists per game. If the Magic are going to look for a point guard from their own G-League tam, Caupain would seem to be the guy who will get the first shot.

Purvis is a less natural fit as a point guard. But he is averaging a team-best 20.8 points per game and shooting 38.4 percent from beyond the arc. He has put together some incredible scoring performances already this season.

There are plenty of other avenues to improve the roster too. At a certain point, the Magic should call up Jamel Artis too and use up the rest of his two-way days. He certainly will get a call-up once the G-League season ends in March.

Orlando has some avenues to try out some new talent. And now they have the space to do so.