2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Jarell Martin

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Jarell Martin, Memphis Grizzlies, LA Clippers

MEMPHIS, TN – JANUARY 26: Jarell Martin #1 of the Memphis Grizzlies dunks the ball during the game against the LA Clippers on January 26, 2018 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What Could Go Wrong

Whenever a player is traded in his rookie deal there is always something fishy going on. It is rare for a team to give up on a player that quickly and that suddenly. There is some expectation that is not met.

When Jarell Martin was taken with the 25th pick in the 2015 Draft, he had few expectations. He was a solid athlete and big body who still had to smooth out those rough edges. Those rough edges still seem pretty rough.

As I am sure you could tell from the previous slide, there are a lot of things to like about his game in spots. But they are hardly consistent enough to rely on.

Martin can step out and hit mid-range jumpers. But the numbers do not support he should be relied on that. He can attack the basket and finish above the rim. But according to NBA.com, he shot worse than 50 percent on layups.

At 6-foot-9, Martin has good size if the traditional power forward were still in fashion. But it is far from fashion. Especially on this Magic team that seems to favor more athletic, versatile power forwards like Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon.

There are going to be plenty of situations where Martin is not going to be a player they can rely on for that position. And it is easy to see the Magic try to run Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon for the majority — if not all — of the team’s minutes at power forward.

Yet, Martin is probably too small to play center. Although maybe that will change.

The definition of a tweener is someone who does not really have a position he can defend effectively. It is less about offensive skill now. But Martin fits the definition of tweener in almost every sense of the word. Especially if the power forward position is moving away from the enforcer model he seems to favor.

Martin has struggled to find his niche in the NBA. That is a big reason why he struggled to get minutes in Memphis — until this injury-filled year for that team — and why the team eventually traded him in a salary dump to Orlando. The Grizzlies ended up cutting Dakari Johnson’s non-guaranteed deal anyway.