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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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Erik McCree, Salt Lake City Stars
MISSISSAUGA, ON, CANADA – JANUARY 11: Erik McCree #2 of the Salt Lake City Stars shoots the ball during the game against the Delaware 87ers at the NBA G League Showcase Game 12 on January 11, 2018 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario Canada. 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 Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Erik McCree, VL Pesaro

Credit has to go where credit is due. The Orlando Magic have done a very good job digging for prospects that have gone forgotten in Europe. Their international — and college scouts — have done well to identify players who can continue to improve and fly under the NBA radar.

The Magic have grabbed Khem Birch and Isaiah Briscoe before anyone else could and got two rotation-level players. Both players felt like long-shot signings, but both paid huge dividends. Orlando always seems on the lookout for players that fly under the radar.

There are a few candidates on the Magic’s Summer League roster. The one to watch though is Erik McCree.

McCree played four games for the Utah Jazz in 2018, failing to score in eight total minutes. He spent that season playing with the Sioux Falls SkyForce and Salt Lake City Stars, averaging 17.9 points per game and 5.1 rebounds per game while hitting 38.4 percent of his 3-pointers.

Utah could not find much time for him on the main roster when he was called up. But he clearly could play t the G-League level.

Last year, he ended up playing for VL Pesaro in Italy. There, he averaged 18.5 points per game.

McCree is a strong scorer and has always been. From The G-League to Italy. Even in college, he averaged 17.7 points per game while shooting 36.2 percent from beyond the arc for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in 2017.

The West Orange High School graduate definitely has a reason to want to play for the Magic — along with UCF Knights stalwarts B.J. Taylor and Chad Brown, the Magic have a few local prospects to keep an eye on. Orlando is giving a look at a local guy.

But McCree is more than capable of playing at the NBA level. He is a strong scorer who is looking for a chance somewhere in the league.

It will be interesting to see how the Magic use him in Summer League. He probably needs to play as the primary ball handler and scorer. But that is not the role he will work at best in the NBA. So he has to prove he can continue to improve as a 3-point shooter.

But Orlando is good at finding diamonds in the rough. Here is another opportunity to add one.