Amile Jefferson is one of the best G-League prospects. The Orlando Magic have an interesting choice for their two-way player.
The two-way contract is still a massive experiment around the NBA. Nobody quite knows what to make of it yet. Some teams used it exhaustively, others struggled to find its place in their plans. It was a good way to develop players and keep quality players close to the NBA but there are obviously limits with the 45 days a player gets with the NBA team.
It certainly has value when the team faces injury. But that was a bit of the confusion with the Orlando Magic and their two-way guys last year. Adreian Payne was cut from the team in January amid the allegations at Michigan State. And Jamel Artis got some time with the Orlando Magic, but quickly got surpassed it seemed by Rodney Purvis, who shined with the Lakeland Magic throughout the year.
It seems the two-way contract is still a matter of guessing. And the hope is that whoever gets those deals will grow into a NBA roster spot the next year. The league is still figuring out the best way to deploy, manage and use these deals.
But if the idea is to guess which guys can grow into NBA roles with these two-way contracts, the Magic may have grabbed the player with the best chance of making the NBA one day. Someone who is literally right on the border of the G-League and a full-time roster spot.
Amile Jefferson is the kind of player who finds a role at the end of the bench or off the bench in a rotation. He is no diamond in the rough. He is all rough, hard-nosed play.
Jefferson was second in the G-League in rebounding with 12.9 rebounds per game with the Iowa Wolves, adding 17.8 points per game (third on his team). Jefferson had plenty of production. He then led the Summer League with 12.6 rebounds per game for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jefferson also averaged 8.6 points per game.
It was honestly a bit of a surprise that Jefferson did not get a NBA contract outright. Jefferson has that kind of talent and potential. And has displayed plenty in his time in the G-League. But that does not mean he should be a starter or anything like that.
Jefferson is very much the same player he was with the Duke Blue Devils in a lot of ways. Overshadowed at Duke by more talented players like Jahlil Okafor and Jayson Tatum, Jefferson was the team’s grinder doing all the dirty work. He averaged 10.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Jefferson’s job was not to collect stats. It was to defend and be the anchor defensively for those strong teams. Jefferson is a role player and embraces and relishes that role.
Since turning pro, he has only increased those skills. He looks like the kind of grinder every team needs coming off their bench.
That is what he did at Duke and what he has continued to do throughout his G-League and Summer League runs. He has prepared himself for this opportunity.
Jefferson’s offensive game is very rudimentary. He has a few post moves and decent agility. There were a few highlights of him in the G-League and Summer League of him getting a steal or an outlet pass and driving to the hoop from midcourt. It does not look pretty, but he has the capability to take up space with the dribble and get to the basket.
Do not count on him to take anyone off the dribble or face up against anyone. His jumper still needs a lot of work. His offensive game is going to get limited to these athletic-type plays in space and rolls to the rim.
But Jefferson is a very smart player too. He is a better passer than some might give him credit for and has a good feel for the defense and how to make the right play. The fact Jefferson rarely goes for the flashy play helps him in this regard.
Jefferson is on a two-way contract for his defensive potential and solid player on that end.
He is not a big and burly player, but he has the strength to bang around the block and finish around the basket. That is a plenty good place to start, especially for someone coming off the bench.
Where Jefferson really makes his pay is on the defensive end. That is where his length and athleticism come into play. It is not otherworldly by any means — he is not Jonathan Isaac or Mohamed Bamba or anything like that. But he knows how to use his skills and physicality effectively.
He will not take too many risks with his shot blocking. But that makes him all the more solid, even if it means he rarely stands out. At least among NBA players.
The problem with Jefferson likely seems to be his lack of size. His inconsistent shooting — he made just 45 percent of his shots in Summer League although he hit on 62.5 percent of his shots in the G-League, mostly around the rim — likely limits what he can do and how a team can use him. He is a center at 6-foot-9, which is not as much of an impediment as it used to be.
Jefferson is among the elite prospects in the G-League. It was really a surprise he did not find a contract somewhere to be on the main roster. He should have a place somewhere in the NBA.
Orlando Magic
Him signing a two-way deal with the Magic was even more confusing. Especially for someone so close to the league as him.
Orlando does not have the open roster spot to give him a full-time deal if they use all of his NBA days. And on top of that they have a loaded rotation at center for the moment with Nikola Vucevic, Mohamed Bamba, Timofey Mozgov and Khem Birch all fighting for time.
It makes sense for any team to go with one guard and one big with their two-way contracts. After all, these are most likely guys that fill in minutes as needed. It is good to cover their bases.
But Jefferson is right on the cusp of the NBA. This seems to prevent him from taking that step this year. Jefferson is going to get limited time on a NBA court while he dominates the G-League once again.
If the Magic have their way, they are probably keeping the relationship and hoping to bring him up full-time next year when the center position is a little more sorted out.
Or maybe not. The Magic did not retain either of their two-way guys last year — not that either established themselves as guys they had to keep. This is the low-risk nature of the two-way contract.
Jefferson will play a small role this year for sure. He will get some opportunity but not likely a ton on a NBA court. And he will continue to shine in the G-League.