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5 players to watch from the Orlando Magic at Summer League

By Philip Rossman-Reich

TULSA, OK - JANUARY 30: Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard DaQuan Jeffries (2) during a college basketball game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Memphis Tigers on January 30, 2019, at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, OK. (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TULSA, OK - JANUARY 30: Tulsa Golden Hurricane Guard DaQuan Jeffries (2) during a college basketball game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the Memphis Tigers on January 30, 2019, at the Reynolds Center in Tulsa, OK. (Photo by David Stacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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John Petrucelli
CHICAGO, IL – MAY 13: John Petrucelli #5 handles the ball during the morning session of Day Two of the NBA G League Elite Mini Camp on May 13, 2019 at the Quest Multisport Sports Training Facility in Chicago, Illinois. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Kamil Krzaczynski/NBAE via Getty Images) /

John Petrucelli, Lakeland Magic

The G-League is still evolving into a true minor league system and so players who work their way through it are not quite feeding onto the main roster. Not yet, at least.

Last year, the Orlando Magic gave one of their two-way contracts to retain perhaps the best player on their G-League affiliate for another year with a chance to crack the roster. Troy Caupain clearly earned that opportunity for last year.

Who gets the Lakeland Magic nod this time around? That is not particularly clear.

The Magic kind of know what they have in Amile Jefferson at this point. He is a coach’s favorite and a hard worker who is still seeking a position he can play consistently. Amile Jefferson was the best player on Lakeland by far last year.

Otherwise? There are a few candidates to watch out for. And they all should fill the Magic’s need to find some shooting too.

The guy I look at carefully is John Petrucelli. He has had a big impact for Lakeland in making the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

He averaged 12.1 points per game and shot 44.2 percent from beyond the arc. He has been with the Magic’s G-League affiliate for the last three years. His 44.2 percent shooting from deep was a nice development in his game.

That will get him on NBA radars more. Especially if he can duplicate those results.

Petrucelli is just a smart player who knows how to play within his role. He will find space and pockets to get his shot, runs the floor well and is solid defensively.

He is not overly long nor does he have great athleticism. His play will be limited a bit by that. Petrucelli in the NBA is likely going to be a 3-point specialist. Again, if he can continue his torrid shooting from last year.

Among the Magic’s Lakeland players, Petrucelli has put in a lot of time with him. He has progressed nicely. And a strong Summer League showing would go a long way to securing his part in the Magic’s future plans — both in Lakeland and Orlando.