Khem Birch is trying to expand his game and keep his spot with the Orlando Magic

Khem Birch displayed an offensive game with hints of more diversity in Canada’s warmup games to try to keep his spot with the Orlando Magic.

Khem Birch got the ball at the top of the key during Canada’s game against the United States on Monday. This is where centers get the ball from time to time, waiting for a guard to cut back out to the perimeter and take the ball from them, initiating the next action in the offense.

But Khem Birch was surveying the court. Myles Turner was playing far off him — as he should because Birch is not a 3-point shooter at all and not even a threat from mid-range. It was the perfect opportunity to spring his trap.

Birch took a hard dribble to his left, crossed back over to his right and took a jump stop, planting two feet more comfortably in the paint. He gave Turner a pump fake, getting him up in the air. As Turner came down, the window opened for him to shoot.

Birch took his chance.

It was not the most aesthetically pleasing move. It was still mechanical and clunky. But Birch was able to get the ball to land comfortably in the hoop.

This is not the Birch the Orlando Magic are used to seeing. And it would be odd if he did not try it again and succeed at it again in the second half. But there was Birch putting the ball on the floor and driving to the basket from the perimeter.

He was doing a whole lot more than cleaning up the glass and setting hard screens. He was showing an expanded version of his game.

Canada did not have the firepower to keep up with the United States in the end. From the start, the United States was scrambling and forcing Canada into tough shots. The offense was a struggle, but the U.S. bounced back from their shocking defeat to Australia with an 84-68 win over Canada in Sydney, Australia.

Birch was one of the bright spots for Canada.

The team’s only NBA player scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. As has been reminiscent of his other games in Canada’s exhibition games, he shot 5 for 12, a percentage far lower than he is used to shooting. He missed a few floaters around the basket and tried his hand on some of those forays to the basket.

He did not take a 3-pointer against the United States, but Birch has taken 3-pointers in previous games. Regularly. Even though he has not made any.

These are all new dimensions to his game.

Whether Birch is still willing to try these things when the games start to count this weekend — Canada opens its World Cup run on Sunday against Australia — remains to be seen. But Birch clearly understands something for his staying power in the NBA and with the Magic.

He has to expand his game. He has to become more versatile. He has to add some semblance of an offense to his game.

Birch made his mark with the Magic in the 2018 season as an energetic shot blocker and rim roller. He set hard screens and crashed the basket. He did not need much of an offense to make an impact. Just flying around the paint and blocking shots was enough to make a huge impression.

In both the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the Magic were five points per 100 possessions better on defense with Birch on the floor.

Coincidentally, perhaps, the Magic’s season turned around the moment Birch stepped onto the floor. It is clear he can be a big player on the defensive end. He did not need much offense to make good on that — he averaged roughly four points per game in both of his seasons.

That defensive energy alone helped him earn a new two-year deal from the Magic. And should keep him as a valuable trade chip.

It is not clear though whether Birch will retain that spot as the backup center despite his previous success.

Mohamed Bamba is the sixth overall pick from the 2018 Draft. The Magic have a lot invested in him. And it was his injury that finally brought Birch into the lineup, despite statistics saying he was the better choice.

Mohamed Bamba is back from injury now. It is widely assumed he will retake the backup center spot — or, at the least get the first crack at it. He showed in his lone Summer League game that he has some offensive versatility, especially with his ability to stretch out to the 3-point line.

That is no guarantee he will win the job from Birch. But it is clear Birch has to be willing to expand his game. He has to be more than a defensive specialist to stand out. Competition is clearly making him work on his game.

And that is where his newfound offensive confidence is coming from.

Birch spent at least a part of last season working on his jumper. After practices, he could often be seen working with Magic coaches on his jump shot. It was not anything he would ever unleash in a game.

Orlando Magic

Working some off the dribble or trying out any semblance of a post-game would also be something new to add to his game. And it appears Birch is trying to add those slowly into his game.

He knows he has to keep up and earn his spot.

Birch still has a long way to go to employ those moves in games that will actually mean something. Canada needs to get some offense from Birch outside of putbacks and rolls. And so this is a perfect time to experiment and put them out in the world.

But he still has to do the things he is good at, of course. He has to be strong defensively and an energetic presence.

That was perhaps the one thing missing from this exhibition game against the United States. He had six rebounds — five in the first half — and even blocked a dunk. But he was not particularly active on that end. It was easy for Birch to fade into the background.

That was never something that occurred often in Orlando.

But it is clear Birch took this offseason to try to expand his game. He is trying to stand out and make sure he can compete and make a bigger impact to stay in the Magic’s rotation.

He will be doing all he can to help Canada win, first and foremost. But this will also be an opportunity to show how much his game has expanded.