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4 big roster decisions facing the Orlando Magic

By Dan Bennett

Orlando Magic center Mohamed Bamba has struggled to get minutes and consistency in is young career. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
Orlando Magic center Mohamed Bamba has struggled to get minutes and consistency in is young career. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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Cole Anthony, Orlando Magic, Matisse Thybulle, Philadelphia 76ers
The Orlando Magic will push Cole Anthony into a bigger role than they were prepared for thanks to Markelle Fultz’s injury. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

4 big roster decisions for the Orlando Magic

Will a point guard have to move on?

It is no secret the Orlando Magic are stacked at point guard.

Coach Jamahl Mosley has Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, R.J. Hampton and Michael Carter-Williams to choose from to handle the point and any number of combinations to play multiple ball handlers at the same time.

Despite most, perhaps all, being able to play other positions too, all have either entered the league or are known primarily as point guards.

Having options is not a bad thing, but the head coach and front office will have some tough backcourt decisions to make moving forward. Developing youth has to take precedence, but there must also be time for the more veteran players too.

On top of that, as the magic showed in Summer League, three-guard lineups can give away a ton of size defensively, making it tougher to rebound and even execute on offense. The Magic may experiment with these kinds of lineups out of necessity this year, but it does not seem like a long-term answer.

Whichever way you look at it, someone is not going to be happy with the opportunity, or lack of, that they receive. Even if three of the five are used a lot at other positions, they will also have to deal with competition at those spots too.

It looks as though the Magic are ready to let the young players fight it out for playing time and see who comes out on top, a bold strategy that could pay off.

But when there are winners, there has to be losers. It is hard to see the Magic moving forward with five players who want the ball in their hands, and a decision will have to be made at some point as to who offers the team the biggest chance of success.