Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Vol. 29: Back to the future

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 10: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic walks backcourt during a game during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on January 10, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - JANUARY 10: Aaron Gordon #00 of the Orlando Magic walks backcourt during a game during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center on January 10, 2018 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 7
Next
Khem Birch, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers, Boban Marjanovic
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 10: Khem Birch #24 and Wesley Iwundu #25 of the Orlando Magic box out Boban Marjanovic #51 of the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half of the NBA game between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center on March 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. 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. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

This question came shortly after the Orlando Magic’s trade of Elfrid Payton. Everyone was trying to figure out how the Magic were going to sort through some of the rotational problems. Especially when it came to managing young players vs. old players — the present vs. the future.

Orlando also had several options on the G-League roster they wanted to explore. The 10-day contract and the two-way contract come into play. After the G-League season ends, Jamel Artis will surely come to the team. And Rodney Purvis is already here.

To say the least, if the Magic call up any players, they want to play them. That was part of the reason they released Rashad Vaughn early and threw him into games when they could.

Wesley Iwundu has seen his minutes go up and down over the last few weeks — 13.9 minutes per game since the All-Star Break. Khem Birch has only found his way into the rotation with Aaron Gordon injured.

At this point, it is safe to assume Arron Afflalo and Marreese Speights are not going to play unless it is an emergency. The Magic are focused more on the players that are likely to be back next year and the established rotation players. They are trying to find room to get young guys like Wesley Iwundu and Khem Birch time.

But even that will be tough.

There are only so many minutes in a game. And only so many players coach Frank Vogel can play.

Nikola Vucevic should be playing because he is still the best center on the team. And they have to increase his trade value. Bismack Biyombo is not going anywhere. The team has no reason to shelve him — maybe an argument to make Khem Birch is better for winning.

And throwing Jonathan Isaac back into the mix — and eventually Terrence Ross — is going to make things all the more difficult.

For now, I think the Magic are managing things fine. The starting lineup that is playing should be the team’s starting lineup, assuming the goal is to win. Vogel is still running a 10-man rotation. That is not necessarily conducive to winning on its own. So the Magic are doing something to try to develop players.

Yes, injuries are starting to slow things down. Evan Fournier could very well be done for the year. I suspect Aaron Gordon will return. And from there, the Magic will try to get him minutes with Jonathan Isaac on the floor as Isaac increases his minutes.

It will be difficult to manage for sure. The Magic probably need a set plan to do it. So there are no easy answers to this question. It is one of the more difficult things Vogel has to do the rest of this year.

At some point, the scales will tip the other way. Isaac will start. Iwundu and Birch will get major minutes. Jamel Artis and Rodney Purvis will get their chances.