There is a lot that is still a mystery about this Orlando Magic team.
Wednesday's preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies will give fans the first look at the strategy and identity Sean Sweeney is trying to implement. It will be the first time everyone can see this team.
A lot might be familiar, considering this is the same roster with Nikola Vucevic added as a reserve center. Things will work at least a little bit the same. Even if Sweeney tries to arrange those pieces.
The Magic have bet big on the improvement that comes from a new coach and internal growth from their young players. They have also bet big on their starting lineup and staying healthy. The Magic seemingly know what they have in the starting lineup and are eager to see it blossom.
But it will clearly take more. The Magic need other players to step up.
Quietly, one of the reasons the Magic have taken a step back during the past two seasons has been the lack of scoring off the bench and how much injuries have exposed that issue. The Magic will need a surprise player to fill their role to get this team where it wants to be.
In the early days of training camp, several players have stood out, according to the more established players. The test will come in the preseason and in the decisions Sweeney makes to put players in a position to succeed.
These three players have generated early buzz, according to several players:
Noah Penda
No player has likely generated more buzz and intrigue for the Orlando Magic's roster than Noah Penda.
He came to the team last year as a second-round pick who was raw and did not have a defined skill beyond his size and his energy. He made an impact in limited minutes by just gobbling up offensive rebounds and scoring putbacks. He looked every bit as raw and undeveloped as you would expect from a rookie, but there was something to work with.
That was a start.
Penda seemingly took all the right lessons from his rookie season. He began transforming his body, saying he went from 260 pounds last year to 235 pounds to better endure the rigors of the NBA season.
Magic fans got a brief glimpse of his game at Summer League, where he averaged 15.0 points per game, grabbed 20 rebounds and shot 14 for 25 from the floor in his three appearances. He looked much more in control and confident on the ball, made threes (8 for 17). And he was still a terror on defense.
Penda has big expectations placed on him this season.
"I think the biggest takeaway is the NBA is a long season," Penda said at Media Day. "It's 82-plus games. Of course, there are going to be highs and lows and going to be injuries. At the end of the day, you have to stay consistent in the way you approach things. I think I mentioned it last year: The consistency and the way you approach the game is the intangible you want to have for a great season collectively and individually."
Penda has taken that work seriously. He seemingly devoted himself to getting better and getting in shape to get through the season.
The question is whether all of this work and skill development have put him in a position to contribute to this team. He seems like someone who could take backup forward minutes and flip some games in the Magic's favor.
This is a big season for him. And hitting on a big second-round pick would be a huge development for a team that is feeling cap pressure. It would be a boost for a team that relies on its forwards and has a backup center who is not known for his defense.
Tristan da Silva
Tristan da Silva is the most established of the three players on this list. He had a clear role last year and was a key factor in several wins in the rotation.
Da Silva took a solid step in his second year, averaging 9.9 points per game and shooting 37.4 percent from three-point range on 4.2 attempts per game. He was one of the few players on the roster to shoot better than 35 percent from deep.
That is critical. And da Silva's main offensive role will be to spread the floor as a shooter.
The Magic know what they will get from him. Reliability matters.
"This summer was for me to work on the stuff that I'm doing really well already," da Silva said at Media Day. "Trying to fine tune certain aspects of my game. I think last year a big part for me was being aggressive. That will continuously be the theme for this season also. Just playing and being in the flow and making things happen."
Da Silva said the Magic asked him to be more aggressive. But they know that the third-year forward will be steady and play within himself.
There is a lot on the line this season. Da Silva is still looking to establish consistency in that shooting role. And he did not exactly shine in a pair of FIBA World Cup Qualifying games for Germany this summer, although he seemed more aggressive and willing to attack off the dribble.
That has not changed that players have noted da Silva has stood out. Da Silva is certainly one of those players who can change things for the Magic with his shooting and spacing. They need that desperately from him.
Jamal Cain
No player took the Orlando Magic by surprise more than Jamal Cain.
The journeyman started as a two-way player. He was a potentially versatile wing without any clearly defined skill. When the Magic called his number, he quickly made an impact with a big game on the road against the Miami Heat. He established himself in the rotation by the time the Playoffs rolled around.
Cain made a statement with that loud Game 4 dunk over Jalen Duren. But what truly earned his trust was the defensive job he did on Cade Cunningham throughout the fourth quarter to secure that game. Cain started the final three games of that series.
Whether that was the right decision or not, it had the effect of giving Cain loads of confidence heading into the offseason. He did not travel very much, staying close to Orlando to get his work in and was among the first players the new coaching staff got their hands on to work with.
Cain may very well have played himself into the regular rotation this year. He is at least in the conversation.
"With this year, it is definitely different than the other prior years because I feel like I didn't have a real expectation on my play," Cain said during Media Day. "Of course, teams wanted me to come in better. I feel like this is the first year they are looking at me to actually improve in some kind of way. I wasn't taking that for granted. I wanted to make sure I was prepared to help my team, help the coaches and help in any way possible."
Since entering the rotation for the final 17 games of the season, he averaged 9.0 points per game and shot 38.0 percent from three. That was encouraging, especially for a player who has struggled to find his footing in the NBA.
For the first time in Cain's career, he could be settled with one team. He was converted from a two-way to a full, two-year contract. He no longer needed to worry about where he stood.
Instead of resting on his laurels, he appears to have taken that as a directive to work harder.
Cain is coming into the season with confidence this time. And that could lead to a big breakthrough for him and this team.
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