When you hear Jamal Cain's name, you immediately think of his poster dunk from Game 4 against the Detroit Pistons. But his number was only called in the playoffs because he outperformed expectations every time his number was called in the regular season
Excersizing Cain's team option for next season was probably the easiest decision of the Orlando Magic's offseason
Cain appeared in a career-high 40 games with the Magic last year. He offered a calm and consistent presence and was exceptional at playing within his role. He has played his way into the rotation for the upcoming season.
It sounds simple, but he did exactly what you want role players to do. He made the right passes, took the right shots, hustled, and played good defense.
When asked what players he felt looked like made a big jump early in training camp, Paolo Banchero listed three: Noah Penda, Jamal Cain and Tristan Da Silva.
Jamal Cain will not take Orlando fans by surprise like he did last year. But he is also entering uncharted waters for his NBA career.
Being expected to be a consistent producer in the rotation
"I feel like this is the first year they are looking at me to come back and produce," Cain said at Media Day. "I didn't want to take that for granted and wanted to make sure I was prepared."
Cain did not bask in his celebrity or the opportunity he earned last year. He stayed mostly in Orlando and got to work. This was Cain's chance to break through.
He was not going to let that go to waste with such a big opportunity ahead of him.
What role Jamal Cain could play this season
Jamal Cain has a rare skillset for the Orlando Magic. He can fit in with any player and any lineup.
Cain can play as an off-ball guard or out on the wing. His versatile skill set makes him a valuable player on this roster for a few reasons.
One, is he can play with either the starters or the second unit.
He greatly improved as a 3-point shooter last year, making 38.4 percent on limited attempts for the entire season and 38.0 percent in the final 17 games last season when he was more entrenched in the rotation.
When Franz Wagner left Game 4 with the strained calf, Jamal Cain was called on to fill in his spot and defend Cade Cunningham to secure that win. Cain remained the starter for th rest of the series -- a huge sign of faith.
That is the other reason Cain has so much value. He can fill in a starting spot, instead of shuffling roles and disrupting the team's regular rotation.
Last season Cain only really got his number called when the game demanded it due to foul trouble or a blowout.
Because he stayed prepared, and produced in his sporadic minutes last season, expect him to be a consistent part of this years rotation and to shatter his previous career high in games played
What are Jamal Cain's strengths and weaknesses?
Jamal Cain only took 1.8 attempts from three per game last season, but was the only player outside of Desmond Bane to shoot better than 38 percent on those attempts
He was very reliable at providing spacing for the players he shared the court with because although the number of attempts was low, defenses cannot ignore Cain or he will make the open shot
Cain also does not turn the ball over and averaged only 0.5 turnovers per game last season, so in addition to having the ability to make shots if left open, he also typically makes the correct pass.
The reason for both of those things is that Jamal Cain understands how to play within his role.
Cain has limitations, as should be expected. He is not going to be leaned on to take 15 shots per game or score 20 points. But his willingness to play within his role makes him a very effective player. That is what made him successful as a two-way player graduating to a full contract.
In addition to his ability to shoot, his athleticism and energy allow him the ability to make explosive plays and crash the glass in a way most people at his size cannot
The previously mentioned lineup versatility Cain provides is also a major strength to his game since he can play off of Paolo Banchero or Franz Wagner, or he can share the court with Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva
Most of the work Cain would need to do to receive minutes in what a Sean Sweeney system is expected to look like is on the defensive end
He can tend to watch the ball at times and lose track of who he is guarding. But he has the size the skill to keep his man in front of him. He is still a young player eager to improve.
The good news is the common theme mentioned at media day was Sweeney's "attention to detail" which will help Cain develop on that end of the floor
Who is Cain competing with for minutes?
Who Jamal Cain would be competing for minutes with depends heavily on what types of lineups Sean Sweeney plans to deploy.
Does Sweeney want to go with a big lineup of Anthony Black, Jamal Cain and Tristan Da Silva? Or does he want to go with a smaller lineup of Jevon Carter, Anthony Black and Jamal Cain?
Does Sweeney value size or does he value spacing and motor?
Due mainly to both playing the same position, the most direct competition for Cain is going to be with Tristan da Silva, who, in coach Jamahl Mosley's system, was the player to receive consistent rotation minutes.
But because Cain can share lineups with anyone on the roster, and because he has shown to be a high-quality shooter, his spot in the rotation should be solidified regardless.
At Cain's peak, he offers an athletic, high-motor shooter that the Magic have been desperate for several years
Desmond Bane is a great shooter and of the same mold, but he cannot be expected to be the Magic's only shooter from range. Cain showed last year that he can help carry that workload
Last season, Cain surprised everyone with his ability to consistently produce even when his number was called inconsistently.
This season the fan base will expect Cain to take the next step and consistently produce even when his number is called
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