2018 Orlando Magic Summer League Recap: Isaiah Briscoe intrigues with versatility

The Orlando Magic’s point guard position is still a major question mark. Newly signed guard Isaiah Briscoe gave a taste of what he has to offer during Summer League to fill that spot.

The Orlando Magic’s need for a play-making point guard has come and gone full circle once again, as the team did not have the cap room to target a big-name free agent guard and neglected to use the mid-level exception on one either.

At the end of the day, though, how can you blame the Magic for the former?

The team needed to find a way to keep power forward Aaron Gordon in town, and they were able to do just that. Signing Aaron Gordon to a four-year, $76-million deal was certainly team friendly, rather than what could have been a max contract. But it still dried up the Magic’s available funds.

The Magic could wriggle up some cap room for the 2019 offseason, and use that on a point guard. As of now, Kemba Walker and Ricky Rubio headline the class. But until then, Orlando will have to use what they already have on the roster at the point guard position.

The team still has a hole at that position that fans and pundits clearly point out. D.J. Augustin is solid, but not a full starter. Jerian Grant remains intriguing. And then there is Isaiah Briscoe the team’s recent signee.

The newly acquired guard offers some potential to be a playmaker for the team. The Magic were not able to dish out cash to any top-tier point guards in free agency. But they did make an under-the-radar signing in bringing in former Kentucky Wildcats point guard Isaiah Briscoe on a four-year deal worth just less than $6 million, with various non-guaranteed years involved.

Briscoe went undrafted after two years of playing for John Calipari. He struggled with shooting consistency during his freshman season playing the wing. He made  48.1 percent of his shot but only 13.5 percent of his 3-pointers. His sophomore year saw some improvement in a true point guard role.

During his second season at Kentucky, the 6-foot-3, 222-pound guard averaged 12.1 points per game with a shooting percentage of 47.0 percent. While he improved compared to his freshman year, shooting beyond the arc remained a concern for the guard. He saw his 3-point percentage move from a miserable 13.5 percent to a slightly better 28.8 percent, on 1.6 3-point attempts per game. Briscoe added 5.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 0.8 steals per game onto that stat line, with 3.9 of those rebounds coming on the backcourt.

His shooting would remain the big concern as he tried to make it in the NBA. That would be the ultimate weapon to complement his driving ability and his ability to get to the basket.

Briscoe signed with the Philadelphia 76ers after going undrafted, and averaged 5.5 points and 2.2 assists per game during Summer League play. He did not stick around with Philadelphia. Shortly after he signed a training camp contract with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he appeared in six preseason games before being waived. He notably put up eight points in one minute during his Trail Blazers’ preseason debut.

But Briscoe was left without a NBA job or a NBA opportunity.

With little hope of sticking around in the NBA in 2017, Briscoe made his way to Europe, signing with Kalev in the Estonian League.

There, Briscoe began to turn things around and show a new side to his game. He averaged 18.5 points, 4.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game in 39 games, winning the VTB United League Young Player of the Year award.

A little more in-depth: Briscoe posted a 48.7 field goal percentage, and saw a huge improvement beyond the arc shooting 39.0 percent on three attempts per game.

These were all promising signs. His shooting started to match the driving ability that made him a highly coveted recruit.

Briscoe’s performance overseas put him on the Magic’s radar. Orlando signed him on the same day they re-signed Gordon, and he went on to start three games for the Magic during their Summer League play.

In his first game, Briscoe put up 17 points on 53.8 percent shooting, going 1 for 3 beyond the arc. Adding three rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes to that, Briscoe had himself a solid debut in the Magic’s first Summer League game. But he did turned the ball over four times, showing how much his point guard skills had to grow.

Onto the Memphis Grizzlies game, Briscoe saw 24 minutes on the floor. He went 3 for 7, missing a shot from beyond the arc, for nine points with four rebounds, three assists and three turnovers. He flashed crafty handles with a behind-the-back cross and drove for a bucket.

Briscoe suffered a shin contusion in the Orlando Magic’s third Summer League game against the Phoenix Suns. In three minutes, he grabbed two defensive rebounds.

In total, the Magic saw Briscoe play 55 minutes during Summer League. In those 55 minutes, Briscoe found crafty ways to drive and score and move the ball around. The team as a whole looked dominant defensively. And Briscoe certainly contributed to that with three steals and eight defensive rebounds.

Briscoe is not going to be the sharpshooter this team has been looking for. That is just not his game.

But he appears to have grown as a consistent 2-point scorer who can move the ball around and contribute on defense. This is important in head coach Steve Clifford’s defense-heavy coaching philosophy.

He may be no saving grace at the Magic’s point guard position, but Isaiah Briscoe is a perfect fit as a role player at the point while the team continues to develop their home-grown talent in Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba.

A year from now, the Magic very well may target a big-name point guard. This could be with their available funds in free agency or in the draft lottery. But for now, the Magic seem content with what they have in D.J. Augustin, Jerian Grant and Isaiah Briscoe.

Next: OMD Roundtable: Summer League takeaways

Briscoe is a fun project player who will certainly have a role on this team this year as the Magic continue to rebuild. His ability to contribute as a two-way player will be important as the Magic begin to build their new identity around Mohamed Bamba, Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon.