PG: Elfrid Payton/Tyler Harvey
SG: Victor Oladipo/Evan Fournier/Ben Gordon
SF: Mario Hezonja/Maurice Harkless/Devyn Marble
PF: Aaron Gordon/Channing Frye/Andrew Nicholson
C: Nikola Vucevic/Dewayne Dedmon
2015 Free Agents
F Tobias Harris (RFA)
C Kyle O'Quinn (RFA)
SG Willie Green
What The Did On Draft Night
Drafted Croatian wing Mario Hezonja 5th overall
There isn't a more perfect fit of team need and skillset that Mario Hezonja and the Magic. The Magic have a bunch of athletes that defend very hard but cannot really shoot, while shoot is what Hezonja does best. I actually like that Hezonja will be coached by Scott Skiles, who definitely has his flaws but he should be able to get the most out of Hezonja on the defensive end. When Hezonja is locked-in and trying on defense, he can be really really good at it; Skiles will require him to play defense to get on the floor. How Skiles deals with Hezonja's shot selection is another matter, but they are both such intense guys hopefully they'll respect each other. Both Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo are excellent creating off the dribble, so the hope is as they draw attention, Hezonja can work open behind the arc. If the defense over-commits towards him, Hezonja is more than capable of taking the ball to the basket off the dribble.
Drafted Eastern Washington combo guard Tyler Harvey 51st overall
Harvey is very similar to current Magic guard Ben Gordon in that he can shoot, and shoot really well, but nothing else. Both are undersized to play shooting guard but lack the creation skills to play point guard. Because he is such a good shooter, Harvey can stick on the roster as a shooting specialist that comes in and spaces the floor. In favorable match-ups, I could see Harvey defending point guards while Oladipo or Payton take the shooting guards as well as primary creation duties. This will work against some point guards, but it is questionable if you'd want Harvey defending Derrick Rose or Kyrie Irving. Last season Orlando was so putrid shooting the three that Harvey, if he makes the roster, could have a bigger impact than the average last second round pick.
What to do next?
Unless Orlando is really looking to shake up their roster via trade, they should have a relatively quite offseason. Their one big decision is whether or not to re-sign restricted free agent Tobias Harris. Harris could really help Orlando's scoring starved offense and would compliment Aaron Gordon's defense well off the bench, but Harris and Skiles clashed when both were in Memphis so it is unclear if either is interested in re-uniting. Another factor is that Harris might be offered big money that the Magic are unwilling to match. Beyond that, Orlando's big need is a backup point guard, preferably one that can shoot. Aaron Brooks would be an interesting option who could run a devastating pick-and-pop with Channing Frye.
A bonus trade sure not to happen
Channing Frye to Washington for Nene
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