Wesley Iwundu quietly impressing Orlando Magic

Wesley Iwundu knows his role is relatively small and that his job is to play defense and fit in. He has done that and has turned some heads this preseason.

On offense, it is the simple things that can evade your eye with Wesley Iwundu. Because, frankly, Iwundu does not seem to do much on offense.

The guard entered the league as a defender first who needed to improve his jump shot. His Summer League showed exactly that. He was a strong defender who made life hard for opposing players, but his offense was wild when he turned up his aggression.

After making 42.7 percent of his shots and averaging 8.1 points per game as a rookie, he seemed to be much of the same in Las Vegas. There, he averaged 9.0 points per game and shot 32 percent. The team put the ball a lot more in his hands and let him try to attack off the dribble. Those results were decidedly mixed.

With Jonathan Isaac missing the last two preseason games recovering from a sprained ankle, the Orlando Magic had a lot of different directions they could have gone to continue the team’s development. Jonathon Simmons would have been the best guess to fill in as the starter, even with him working his way back from an injury.

But coach Steve Clifford turned somewhere slightly unexpected. He gave Iwundu the chance to start, likely keeping some players in their same roles as they will play in the regular season to some extent.

But Iwundu impressed in his own right, even if it did not show up clearly on a box score. Simply, he played his role and did it effectively.

The decision was not done lightly. Iwundu is someone the coaching staff likes so far. And, by all accounts, he has rewarded the team for its confidence in him. At least in what they have asked him to do.

"“He’s smart,” Clifford said before Friday’s game against Flamengo. “He plays within himself. You have a chance to execute with both ends of the floor when he is out there. Those are important things. Plus he has the versatility and positional size so you can switch things.”"

It was undeniably an opportunity for him. One he seized if you look closely.

Through three preseason games, Iwundu has scored 15 points, making 50 percent of his 10 shots. He hit his only 3-point attempt of the preseason so far. That is obviously not a huge sampling of offense or offensive production.

Iwundu is not the kind of player to go hunting for his offense. His role, no matter where he plays is not to find his shot. But his ultimate success as a player is dependent on his ability to make shots.

Steve Clifford said Wesley Iwundu has put in plenty of work with assistant coaches Bruce Kreutzer (the team’s designated shooting guru) and Tyrone Corbin to improve his shot and his offensive skills. Iwundu said he watched some old clips of Corbin (a career 9.2 points per game as a big small forward for the Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz in a 16-year carer).

Corbin is the exact kind of grinder of a player Iwundu wants to be or that the team projects Iwundu to be. Corbin staked a claim as a good defender throughout his career, never really showing any expanded range.

Orlando Magic

Iwundu is not likely to start long term. He is a strong insurance policy who can come in to play his role and not disrupt other players’ rhythm.

With Jonathan Isaac returning to the lineup for Wednesday’s game, Wesley Iwundu will likely return to the bench. And he will likely play behind Jonathon Simmons, filling in for Terrence Ross‘ minutes while he recovers from his own foot injury.

That is ultimately what his role will be for the team. To fill in and be the Swiss Army Knife for the team. Whatever the Magic need, Iwundu seems capable of filling in. And he understands that to be his role.

"“Just being a smart player out there,” Iwundu said in describing his role. “A player who doesn’t make too many mistakes and can guard the hottest guy on offense at any time and shut them down. Just go out there and make energy plays, fill in the corners and hit threes. ”"

That defensive confidence is ultimately what the Magic drafted Iwundu for. He was a versatile defender who could switch to multiple positions and lock down his man. That was his biggest skill coming out of college.

But he would only go as far as that jumper would take him. And the Magic did him no favors drafting an eerily similar player in Melvin Frazier with their second-round pick this year. Both players had the same reputation out of college — great perimeter defenders who lacked a consistent outside shot.

As the team entered the season, Iwundu had to prove himself and fight for his minutes as any young player on a non-guaranteed contract would. It seems like Iwundu has done plenty to prove that to this point, evidenced by the playing time he has received.

Whether he can squeeze himself into the team’s final rotation remains to be seen.

Undoubtedly, Iwundu has proven himself as a valuable defensive asset. His decisionmaking and understanding of his role will also help him offensively. He should make few mistakes.

While he has taken few shots so far this preseason despite plenty of playing time, Iwundu knows that is not his role. But throughout the preseason he has been unafraid to take open shots when given the chance. His ability to hit those open shots will determine just how much he plays overall.

Even though Iwundu is not making a huge box score impact in the preseason, it is clear his coaches see the work he is putting in. And they are rewarding him for it.