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2019 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Khem Birch

By Philip Rossman-Reich

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)
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) /
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Khem Birch, Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs
SAN ANTONIO, TX – OCTOBER 10: Khem Birch #24 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball during a preseason game against the San Antonio Spurs on October 10, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2017 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

What Could Go Wrong

The biggest impediment to Khem Birch going out there and showing what he can do is just figuring out where to play him.

Birch is unequivocally a center in this NBA. Really in any NBA. Without a consistent jumper and a consistent offensive game to speak of outside of being around the rim that is really the only place he can go. And again, Orlando is stacked at center with Nikola Vucevic, Mohamed Bamba and even Timofey Mozgov on the depth chart.

Birch has to continue improving and defending at a higher level first and foremost. He was a good defender but it was still not an every night thing. Khem Birch potentially is as good a post defender as any player on the roster currently — even Mohamed Bamba, at least for now.

The question remains how will Birch’s game evolve and what kind of role can he carve for himself. Or better what role can he take.

Birch clearly needed more playing time in the atmosphere the Magic had last year. The team was tanking (for lack of a better term) and needed to throw the big man out there. He largely delivered for the team even if he was out of place.

Finding his place in this rotation is the biggest task left for him. And so he has to find a way to stand out.

For Birch, that means playing defense at a high level consistently. While Birch was never bad defensively last year, his strong games on both ends of the floor came and went. There were moments where he was the best defensive player on the floor for the Magic. And then there were games where he was almost invisible.

And adding some sort of offensive game outside of dunks — even a 15-foot jumper — would go a long way to helping him secure his spot.

Maybe that is all asking too much. It felt like at the end of last year, Birch had more than earned his time. But that time still feels so elusive. It is hard to understand why.