Melvin Frazier Jr. should make the Orlando Magic’s 10-man rotation

Melvin Frazier Jr. has impressed throughout the preseason. With his improving offensive game, Steve Clifford should insert him into the regular rotation.

Orlando Magic rookie forward Melvin Frazier Jr. is a superb athlete. That is the first thing anyone will notice about him. His long arms and length are always used at their full disposal. He was a terror on defense throughout Summer League and has shown no sign of stopping as the preseason has begun.

The Magic’s second-round pick from last year has rough edges. But a lot of promise.

It feels like the only major knock on his game is his shooting. And even that has felt less of a concern as the preseason has gone on. Frazier is shooting 10 for 17 (58.8 percent) so far, although still struggling from beyond the arc at 1 for 6.

The question is whether Frazier can overcome his shooting woes and become a two-way player with the Magic.

That question remains to be answered. But he has put up some good offensive numbers this preseason. Enough that he should be in new Magic coach Steve Clifford’s regular rotation.

Prior to start of the preseason, this was an afterthought. It was presumed Frazier would spend most the season with Orlando’s G-League affiliate in Lakeland because of his lack of shooting. His defense was the only way he would get meaningful minutes.

Defense has always been Frazier’s bread and butter ever since his college days with the Tulane Green Wave. Much of that comes from his great length — a 7-foot-2 wingspan at just 6-foot-6, which was the longest wingspan measured at last year’s combine for any player 6-foot-6 and under. Frazier’s length gives him a great advantage defensively. It must be imitating for opposing wings to face off against such length out on the perimeter.

His teammates want him on their side instead of playing against him.

"“All my teammates, they love me,” Frazier said at media day.  “And they want me to play defense. They want me to check the best player on the team. So, they push me on defense too.”"

Frazier seems up for the challenge on that end. He said when he got drafted he enjoys the challenge defensively. And Frazier has not backed down yet this preseason.

But the concern for Frazier was whether he could be productive enough offensively.

Through four preseason games, Frazier is averaging 7.0 points per game on 58.8 percent shooting from the field. Impressive numbers for a player that was not expected to be a factor offensively.

Although, Frazier’s preseason got off to a slow start, scoring only two points in his first preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers.  Frazier bounced back and had a career night against Flamengo, scoring 11 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field.

And against the Miami Heat on Monday, Frazier continued to play well. He stole the show as he climbed the ladder and threw down an impressive alley-oop from Aaron Gordon, and even knocked down a corner three on a dish from Jonathon Simmons. If Frazier can continue to knock down jumpers, he will most certainly play meaningful minutes in the regular season.

He followed the Heat game with a 10-point showing against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.

His offensive game is still a work in progress, but it is on an upward trajectory.

Frazier improved offensively every year at Tulane. He improved from 5.2 points per game as a freshman to 11.5 as a sophomore and 15.9 last season as a junior. His 3-point field goal percentage sky-rocketed from 26 percent to 38 percent in his final year in college.

If previous history is any indication on the future, then the odds are on Frazier’s side. He will continue to improve his jump shot and he will find different ways to score the basketball. Whether it is in transition or cutting to the basket.

He has elite speed and jumping ability, which goes a long way in the NBA.

Frazier is one of those players who will have to learn how to put all his physical tools together.

Perhaps Jeff Turner and David Steele put it best during the broadcast of Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies, if he can put his jumper together he could be in the NBA a long time. With his defense, that certainly seems true. Quickly he may find himself in Clifford’s rotation and contributing to this team.

And the seeds are planted now for a long career.