The Orlando Magic have had a clear drafting philosophy under Jeff Weltman. So much so that when they go against their type, it is very notable.
Players who do not meet the team's typical size and defensive requirements are rare on this roster. But the Magic have needed more players who can create and get their own shot. They need more offense on this team.
And sometimes that means going against type.
The skill sets the Magic need are obvious. And they are not the typical things the Magic seek.
As Orlando has gotten closer and closer to true contention, the team's unwillingness to compromise and belief in its ability to teach these gap skills rather than teach players the Magic's culture has been a frustrating shortcoming.
It is what made the pick of Jase Richardson stand out.
Here was a player who did not check any of the Magic's typical boxes.
He was a smaller player at 6-foot-1. He did not have a particularly long wingspan and was not known as a defender. Richardson got to the NBA for his extreme efficiency finishing at the rim and his scoring.
The scoring and shooting were both skills the Magic needed desperately. The question was whether Richardson would find his fit.
Richardson's rookie year, then, was expectedly uneven. Opportunities were limited for the young guard. He played behind a veteran in Tyus Jones to start the year and then Jevon Carter after the Magic added the veteran later in the season.
Richardson was mostly watching in the Playoffs.
That is not atypical for a rookie, especially one taken in the 20s. But a cash- and draft-strapped Magic team needs every pick to hit. They need to maximize these selections.
The fact that second-round pick Noah Penda seems to have a sharper development curve and a clearer path to minutes than Jase Richardson is a concern. Richardson has a lot to prove. But first, he needs an opportunity.
Richardson's upcoming season will be about what he does with the opportunity when it comes. Whether he earns it in training camp or through an opprotunity because of injury or throughout the season, Richardson needs to pounce at the chance.
Richardson with opportunity
In the limited time Jase Richardson got with the Orlando Magic last year, he proved he could deliver many of the skills the team is looking for offensively. That hunt for an offensive driver and creator were not in vain.
When Richardson played significant minutes he scored. Orlando needs scorers and shooters. Richardson provided both.
Last year, Richardson played in 54 games, averaging 4.4 points per game and shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 35.4 percent from three.
One of Richardson's big attractions was his finishing at the rim. Despite his size, he was one of the most efficient finishers at the rim in college. That was not always his role with the Magic, but he shot 38 for 55 (69.1 percent) from inside five feet.
There was a lot to like in Richardson's game. Especially when he got time.
He played at least 12 minutes in 21 games last season. In those 21 games, Richardson averaged 7.6 points per game and shot 61 for 133 (45.9 percent) from the floor and 18 for 55 (32.7 percent) from three.
There were some encouraging signs and some points of concern.
Richardson could get to his spots and score. He made quick decisions and played at the tempo the Magic liked. But it was a hunt for consistency.
Of course, many of his games where he played big minutes came at the end of already-decided blowouts. His two highest-scoring games last year were part of late comebacks that made the final score closer than the game actually was but gave the team a slight chance to steal a win in a 20-point effort against the Washington Wizards and an 18-point effort against the Boston Celtics.
His minutes were all over the place and he really only spent one prolonged stretch in the rotation before the idea was quickly discarded. Richardson never got a chance during the season to earn analysis. There were just these pockets of promise.
How do the Magic get the skill set they need from Richardson and trust him to give him a chance?
What Richardson can work on
The answer to why Jase Richardson could not crack the rotation likely comes down to mistake management and his defense.
That skill the Orlando Magic have so carefully targeted as their foundational backbone was always the big thing Richardson would have to overcome. He has not proven himself a good enough scorer to overcome that lack of the team's chosen identity.
It is not an effort thing either. Richardson played hard. He played with energy. The Magic should have thrown him into the fire to try to spark some energy in a season that was often devoid of it. Richardson earned a closer look.
But that first season gave Richardson some idea of what the Magic need from him.
He approached Summer League trying to be a better creator and playmaker. He needed to take on another need for this Magic team -- a point guard.
That is not something he did in college, despite his size. He was always a scorer first, playing off the ball. Some of his transition into the NBA was that he would have to learn to be that lead playmaker a bit more.
Richardson wanted to use his Summer League to improve on that skill. He wanted to prove he could combine the scoring with the leadership necessary for the position.
He averaged 18.3 points and 4.7 assists per game in three Summer League games. It was an encouraging effort form Richardson. Even if there were still mistakes.
Richardson continued to intrigue as the Magic went 2-1 in the games he played -- and 4-1 overall in their week in Vegas.
That is Summer League. It is not something that translates directly to the NBA. Now comes assessing the results of his entire offseason of work. Now comes seeing whether he can fight his way into the rotation and carve out a role.
Richardson still presents a lot of promise. He found ways to score when he got his opportunity
But opportunity was in short supply last year for Richardson. He must force the Magic to give him opportunity this year. And the Magic must see what they have in the second-year guard.
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