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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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ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 6: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles Evan Fournier #10 and Khem Birch #24 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL – FEBRUARY 6: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers battles Evan Fournier #10 and Khem Birch #24 of the Orlando Magic during the game at the Amway Center on February 6, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Cavaliers 116 to 98. 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 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

Still hunting for opportunity

As good as Khem Birch was last year and as much as it seemed he was ready to knock down the door and become a critical component for the team, he finds himself again in a roster crunch.

Just like there seemed to be no way for Khem Birch to guarantee himself playing time on a team stacked with centers — Nikola Vucevic, Bismack Biyombo and Marreese Speights — the same thing faces him again this time. Vucevic is still hanging around. The team traded off Bismack Biyombo for Timofey Mozgov. And the team drafted Mohamed Bamba with their first-round pick.

Khem Birch certainly has a much more secure place in the lineup — although coach Steve Clifford has suggested Timofey Mozgov will have his chance to get playing time this year too. But that place still feels like it is on the periphery and on the edges. It is hard to pinpoint where Birch’s minutes will come from.

Certainly, Vucevic will start the year. And certainly, the Magic have every incentive to play Bamba as much as they feel comfortable with. How many minutes does that leave Birch to play?

He played only 13.8 minutes per game last year. And hit more than 15 minutes in just 21 games last year. That is, first, not a whole big sample size and, second, is about all that Birch seems to expect. That is unless he completely blows everyone away in training camp.

It feels like Birch is going to have a very similar path he had last year. He is going to have a hard time finding minutes and breaking through. Again, unless his defense is that much better than he was last year.

It raises the same question everyone had for Birch last year when he jumped back into the NBA. Why is this the right opportunity?

Clifford suggested in an interview with John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com he could play Vucevic and Bamba together some. That might suggest he is open to “twin tower” lineups depending on the matchup. It is not a real promising suggestion.

Birch played 47 percent of his minutes at power forward last year according to Basketball-Reference. According to 82Games.com, his net rating in those minutes (they record them differently than Basketball-Reference, crediting him for just four percent of his total minutes) was very poor.

There is a real possibility Birch will again get retrofitted into the power forward spot even if he is not best there. It then becomes imperative that he gains a stronger jump shot to go along with his strong defense. But even then it does not feel like a perfect fit. Not for him.

Birch again feels something of an odd man out. Not until the team thins out the ranks some at center.