Melvin Frazier craves defense, but his future depends on everything else

Melvin Frazier loves defense. It is how he cut his teeth and built his NBA resume. But it is everything else that will determine his NBA future.

It was a Summer League without many highlights for Orlando Magic second-round pick Melvin Frazier. He has spent most of the week trying to find his footing and gain some traction.

His length and athleticism were on full display throughout the Magic’s Summer League games. But, as advertised, his offensive game needed some work.

All of this was on full display in the Orlando Magic’s first game against the Brooklyn Nets. Frazier got a steal and had a free lane to the basket. Perhaps a mixture of nervousness overcame him in that moment. As he went up for the uncontested layup, the ball slipped out of his hands. A rookie moment indeed.

Frazier through the next three games showed plenty of defensive potential but all the offensive struggles that marked his collegiate career and led him to slip to the second round.

Then came that moment of brilliance and potential.

In Thursday’s loss to the Utah Jazz, Frazier sped in front of a pass and stole it, finding nothing but open space in front of him. He was not going to mess this one up. He calmly jumped off two feet and threw down a windmill dunk, drawing gasps from the crowd and a custom call from the public address announcer.

Frazier had his Summer League moment. It came exactly how he likes to play.

"“I always grew up coming from New Orleans the one thing I was always taught was defense,” Frazier said. “I  knew that was what was going to get me on the floor was my defense. I always took pride in my defense. It gives me a thrill to always want to guard the best player and be a stopper. Not everyone can do that. But not everyone is able to move how I move and I take advantage of that.”"

Frazier finished Summer League averaging 5.5 points per game, but shooting just 8 for 28 from the floor (29 percent). It was not an impressive statistical performance.

But now the real work begins for him. Now he has to find his way into the NBA and onto a NBA roster. He has to show what made him a coveted draft pick in the first place.

It seemed like a far cry from the junior year with the Tulane Green Wave that saw him burst onto the scene. He averaged 15.9 points per game and shot 38.5 percent from beyond the arc that year. It was his first time shooting better than 30 percent on 3-pointers.

Frazier said he learned a lot his first two years. But it was the hiring of former NBA coach Mike Dunleavy that helped take his game to another level.

His real value throughout his three years in college. And that was his real value in Summer League.

"“I bring defense first and foremost,” Frazier said on Draft night to describe his play. “I always like to check the best player. I know for sure I can impact the team from day one with defense. I just get everybody engaged, I talk a lot. I just try to be a good teammate and do whatever it takes to win. I’m that kind of player.”"

Frazier spent much of his time talking about defense and how he can use that to impact the game. Indeed with his long wingspan — measured at 7-feet at the NBA Draft Combine — it is easy to see how he can do that.

During Summer League, Frazier certainly impressed with his defense. He was able to keep players in front of him and disrupt opponents. The team’s overall length was a real hindrance to a lot of teams the Magic faced. And Frazier was certainly a part of that.

The Magic certainly saw that potential. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said on Draft night they had Frazier much higher than the 35th pick they used to draft him.

When they looked at him, they saw a player who may have been a little bit older, but someone who grew and developed quickly when given a larger role with Tulane.

"“I think it’s a big part of scouting is you always want to know what the kid’s curve was,” Weltman said on Draft night. “That’s a lot of the background work that we do because it helps you gain an understanding of his path so you can understand where he is on his development curve. Obviously, age is part of that. But even experience, pedigree, was this kid supposed to be this player from 13 or did he come out of nowhere. Was he recruited or was he a self-made player. Hwod id he come in front of us today? That is a big factor.”"

Frazier was lightly recruited coming out of college. According to 247Sports, he was a three-star prospect with only two scholarship offers. This is not the profile of a guy who was bound for the NBA. And his small role his first two years in college certainly did not project to a NBA career.

Frazier’s breakthrough year last year offensive made him a potential NBA player. But his defense is ultimately what his NBA skill is. His willingness and joy in defending will endear him to coaches quickly.

As clear as his defensive strengths might be in Summer League, his offensive shortcomings remain.

Weltman spoke about his growth curve and how he continually got better. Frazier can still get better. But now the competition is stepping up. That growth curve will need to continue in a major way.

Frazier has a NBA skill, but it will take a lot more than that for him to make his mark in the league. And that will remain the big question for him.

Loving defense is a good first step. That is an easy way to endear yourself to coaches and get a chance to see minutes on the floor. Frazier’s defensive ability will help him a lot.

Next: Orlando Magic's G-League crew still looking to impress

It is the other parts of his game that he needs to develop that will determine what kind of career he will have.