featured-image

2016-17 Magic Position Breakdown: Power Forwards

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton
Sept. 19, 2016

ORLANDO – The Orlando Magic had one of their busiest offseasons in franchise history, hiring a new coach and drastically overhauling the roster through trades, free agency and the draft.

Now, with training camp set to open next week, it’s time to delve deeper into the roster and evaluate the team’s strengths and weaknesses.

The Magic stacked their roster with experience and talent this offseason by trading for Serge Ibaka, Jodie Meeks and C.J. Wilcox, signing Bismack Biyombo, Jeff Green and D.J. Augustine and drafting center Stephen Zimmerman. That group, combined with the returning core of Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton, Mario Hezonja and C.J. Watson, gives the Magic the belief that they will be a playoff team this season.

Training camp opens on Sept. 27 (at the Amway Center), the first preseason game (in Memphis) is Oct. 3 and the regular-season opener (vs. Miami at home) is Oct. 26.

Today, we look at the power forward position, one that was dramatically improved on draft night back in June with the bold acquisition of Ibaka. GM Rob Hennigan made the difficult decision to part with Victor Oladipo, Ersan Ilyasova and No. 11 pick Domantas Sabonis for the shot-swatting forward who should give the Magic their best defensive presence since the 2011-12 season. The Magic can also go big at power forward with center Nikola Vucevic filling that slot or cat-quick small forwards Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green muscling up to play there.

Without further ado, let’s break down how the Magic look at power forward:

POSITION: Power forward

PLAYERS: Serge Ibaka (6-10, 235, 7 NBA seasons); Nikola Vucevic (7-0, 260, 5 NBA seasons); Aaron Gordon (6-9, 220, 2 NBA seasons); Jeff Green (6-9, 235, 8 NBA seasons); Damjan Rudez (6-10, 228, 2 NBA seasons); Cliff Alexander (6-8, 245, 1 NBA season); Arinze Onuaku (6-9, 255, 2 NBA seasons).

PROJECTED STARTER: Ibaka (2015-16 stats: 78 games, 12.6 ppg., 6.8 rpg., 1.9 bpg., 47.9 FG percent, 32.6 3FG percent, 75.2 FT percent).

PROJECTED DEPTH: Vucevic (2015-16 stats: 65 games, 18.2 ppg., 8.9 rpg., 1.1 bpg., 51 FG percent, 75.3 FT percent); Gordon (2015-16 stats: 78 games, 9.2 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 1.6 apg., 47.3 FG percent, 29.6 3FG percent, 66.8 FT percent); Green (2015-16 stats: 80 games, 11.7 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 1.7 bpg., 42.9 FG percent, 31.4 3FG percent, 74.5 FT percent); Rudez (2015-16 stats: 33 games, 2.3 ppg., 0.6 rpg., 0.3 apg., 40.3 FG percent, 34 3FG percent, 100 FT percent); Alexander (2015-16 stats: 8 NBA games, 1.3 ppg., 0.8 rpg., 0.3 bpg., 50 FG percent); Onuaku (2015-16 stats: 17 games in Philippines Basketball League, 18.7 ppg., 17.4 rpg., 1.47 bpg., 65.8 FG percent, 48 FT percent)

STRENGTHS: The Magic have tremendous depth and versatility at the power forward position, something that should give head coach Frank Vogel a host of options on a nightly basis. First and foremost, Ibaka is an all-star level player who can affect the game on both ends of the floor, especially as one of the game’s best shot-blockers. If there is foul trouble or an injury, Vucevic can play at the power forward position alongside of center Bismack Biyombo because of his ability to stretch the floor with his tremendous perimeter shooting. And on the nights when the Magic are in need of matching up with the smaller ``space and pace teams,’’ Gordon and Green give them two dynamic choices as players who can play inside or out and guard multiple positions.

WEAKNESSES: The Magic don’t have any glaring weaknesses here, but if there is one below-the-radar issue it’s that the team doesn’t have a true ``stretch-four’’ because of the subpar 3-point shooting from the group. Ibaka worked to become a solid 3-point shooter, but he is coming off a season where he shot a career-worst 32.6 percent from beyond the arc. Also, he is just a 35.5 percent shooter from 3 for his career. Vucevic was the NBA’s best shooter from 15-19 feet last season and he’s worked this offseason to expand his range. He drilled a handful of 3-point shots from the international line in EuroBasket qualifying while playing for his home country of Montenegro. In his NBA career, Vucevic has made just seven of 26 3-point shots – most of them coming hurriedly at the end of the shot clock or at the end of quarters. Gordon (28.9 percent career 3-point shooter) and Green (33.9 percent career 3-point shooter) also need to show improvement from the 3-point line to give the Magic more offensive weapons.

ANALYSIS: After experimenting with Glen Davis, Channing Frye and Tobias Harris at the power forward position in recent years, the Magic went out and solved their issues at that spot with the bold acquisition of Ibaka. Ibaka, who turned 27 years old on Sunday, was unhappy with his complementary role in Oklahoma City and the Magic believe that he will flourish now that he is given more responsibility on both ends of the floor. Critics point to Ibaka’s scoring, rebounding and shot-blocking production falling each of the past three years, but the Magic’s belief is that he will be reinvigorated with his new team. The veteran has been in Orlando working out with his new teammates and trainers for six weeks and he seems poised to have a career year. Doing that could very well guarantee him the long-term security that he is seeking.

Vogel will be trying to use three players – Ibaka, Vucevic and Biyombo – at two positions and Vucevic’s versatility will allow him to be utilized at two spots. If Vucevic can stretch the floor out to the 3-point line with consistent accuracy, it will help the Magic become a much more diverse offense. Orlando will likely need Vucevic’s scoring and shooting abilities on the floor as much as possible this season.

Gordon and Green give the Magic great flexibility with their abilities to play both inside and out. When they are playing at the power forward position they will be asked to use their quickness to make plays out of the pick-and-roll and their speed to outrun foes down the floor.

Onuaku, a Syracuse product who spent last season playing in Israel and Philippines, is an intriguing player to watch in training camp because of his massive size, rebounding abilities in traffic and his soft touch with his left hand. He was the MVP of the Southwest Airlines Orlando Pro Summer League after leading the Magic’s White squad to a 5-0 record and the league championship. In those five games against mostly D-League and rookie talent, Onuaku averaged 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds while making 62.5 percent of his shots. His ability to score on gritty post-up plays could land him one of the final spots on the regular-season roster.

Note: The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Orlando Magic. All opinions expressed by John Denton are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Orlando Magic or their Basketball Operations staff, partners or sponsors.