The Magic this year will feature two teams at the Orlando Summer League. One team, the White team, will include all of their past and newly minted draft picks, as well as a few more interesting undrafted free agents. The second team, the Blue team, is more of an amalgamation of the Erie Bayhawks with some other, older free agents. Here's what both of those teams look like.
THE BLUE TEAM
Players who will absolutely be on the team in 2015-16
- Position: Power Forward
- 2014-15 team: Magic
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 100 percent
Analysis: The No. 4 overall pick in 2014 had an injury-riddled rookie season, but when he was healthy he was really solid for the Magic. He'll look to build upon that start in Orlando, as he works on just getting more comfortable with the game and potentially developing as a shooter.
- Position: Point guard
- 2014-15 team: Magic
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 100 percent
Analysis: The former Louisiana-Lafayette product took the league by storm last season, making the All-Rookie team and generally performing better than expected. His ceiling is limited if he can't ever develop a jump shot, so look for improvement there and look for a better comfort level in running an offense.
- Position: Point guard
- 2014-15 team: Magic
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 100 percent
Analysis: The No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft, Hezonja will be one of the must-watch players of Summer League in Orlando. He's fun to watch, an athletic freak, and has a flair to his game that is tailor-made for this type of environment. Miss his games at your own peril.
Players with a good chance to make the team
- Position: Shooting guard
- 2014-15 team: Eastern Washington (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 65 percent
Analysis: Harvey can really shoot the ball, as he led the NCAA in scoring last season and knocked down 43 percent of his 600-plus 3-point attempts in college. To make it in the NBA, he'll need to shot that he can either be a lead ball-handler or that he can defend, though. He was the Magic's second-round pick this season, so they'll likely want to see what they have.
- Position: Shooting guard
- 2014-15 team: Magic
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 75 percent
Analysis: Marble played in 16 games last year before suffering a detached retina in March and missing the rest of the year. His contract is non-guaranteed for next season, so look for him to want to prove his worth during his time in Orlando. If he can ever improve his shot to above-average levels, he's an NBA player.
Former NBA players or D-League guys that could surprise
- Position: Point guard
- 2014-15 team: Erie Bayhawks (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 15 percent
Analysis: Siva started the year on the Magic's roster before being cut at training camp and heading to Erie, where he performed well. He's a pass-first, defense-second point that wouldn't give the Magic anything they don't already have, but he's a borderline NBA talent that could easily find himself in the league next year.
- Position: Forward
- 2014-15 team: Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Chalon (France)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 20 percent
Analysis: The former BYU player split his season between the NBA and Italy last year after being traded from the Sixers to the Nets, who cut him. He's a hard worker that can play in the NBA athletically, but still needs to develop his skill set to get there full-time.
Drew Crawford
- Position: Guard
- 2014-15 team: Erie Bayhawks (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Five percent
Analysis: Crawford had a strong year in Erie last season, scoring 16 points per game on efficient shooting. He doesn't really do much else though unfortunately, and those other skills tend to be the differentiating factors for guys like him.
Interesting undrafted free agents
- Position: Power Forward/Center
- 2014-15 team: Minnesota (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Three percent
Analysis: Walker is a big bruiser inside that had a solid year for Minnesota. He was in the top-six in the Big Ten in rebounding this season, and has a pretty solid touch for big man around the rim. Still though, hard to see how he fits in the NBA right now without significant improvement.
- Position: Shooting Guard
- 2014-15 team: Dayton (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Three percent
Analysis: Sometimes, shooters just make it in the NBA. That's what the undrafted Sibert will try to do with the Magic. He'll need to improve the rest of his game, especially on defense, but even if he doesn't make it in the NBA, he'll have a long career in Europe if he wants it.
- Position: Center
- 2014-15 team: Illinois (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Five percent
Analysis: For my money, Egwu was the most complete defensive player in the Big Ten last year, able to both defend shots around the rim and move well laterally in pick-and-roll coverage. I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually made the NBA. But he needs a lot of work on offense to get there.
- Position: Power Forward/Center
- 2014-15 team: Oklahoma (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Five percent
Analysis: Thomas was the No. 87 player on my final big board pre-draft, and he's a really skilled big man with soft hands and a long wingspan. He might be a bit too much of a big man tweener to play in the NBA, but he'll make money overseas regardless.
- Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
- 2014-15 team: Georgetown (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Three percent
Analysis: Trawick is a defensive stopper on the wing with an improving jump shot. He made 40 percent of his limited 3s last year. If he can show some improvement there, he'll have a chance in a 3-and-D-starved league. Still, he'll need to improve all over the floor as well to make it in the NBA.
One-percenters or guys that I needed to Google
Terrence Drisdom
- Position: Shooting Guard
- 2014-15 team: Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Drisdom was a Division II All-American last season. He's a strong athlete, but he faces an uphill climb to making the NBA. It's likely he'll play professionally somewhere, but the highest level would be quite a surprise.
Daniel Coursey, C, Erie
- Position: Center
- 2014-15 team: Erie Bayhawks (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Coursey was solid in Erie last year, and is physical in the paint, particularly around the rim. He's probably not an NBA-level athlete, but he should make quite a bit of money playing overseas if he decides to make the trip over.
Jordan Morgan, C, Italy
- Position: Center
- 2014-15 team: Virtus Roma (Italy)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Morgan had a solid season in Italy, starting most of his games and playing reasonably efficient. But he's still a bit too small and not quite athletic enough to play in the NBA.
THE WHITE TEAM
Former NBA players or D-League guys that could surprise
Keith Appling
- Position: Point Guard
- 2014-15 team: Erie Bayhawks, Los Angeles D-Fenders (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 10 percent
Analysis: Appling was very impressive in the 10 games he played in Erie this D-League season, scoring 17 points per game on efficient scoring. But more than that, he's a steady hand at guard that may eventually be able to make the league.
- Position: Shooting Guard/Small Forward
- 2014-15 team: Washington Wizards, Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: 40 percent
Analysis: Rice is Summer League royalty, having won last year's MVP award in Las Vegas. He'll likely put on another great performance here and earn a preseason contract with someone, given that he's the best player on this team. The question is just whether or not it's with the Magic.
Chris Singleton
- Position: Small Forward
- 2014-15 team: Oklahoma City Blue (D-League), Jiangsu Nangang Dragons (China)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Eight percent
Analysis: Singleton has always been a defensive stopper that can't really do much competently on the offensive end. Maybe in an increasingly positionless, defensively-motivated NBA, he can find a spot? It'll be tough, but it might not be crazy.
Jordan Bachynski
- Position: Center
- 2014-15 team: Eskeshehir (Turkey), Westchester Knicks (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Three percent
Analysis: Bachynski played limited slightly under 20 minutes per game last year, but protected the rim well by averaging over two blocks per game and grabbing five rebounds. He's 7-2 and size always tends to work well, but he might just not be enough of an athlete for the NBA.
Keith Benson
- Position: Power Forward/Center
- 2014-15 team: Neptunas (Lithuania), BC Kalev-Cramo (Estonia)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Three percent
Analysis: A former Atlanta Hawks draft pick, Benson has been a true basketball nomad over the last three seasons, playing in five countries since 2013. The size is intriguing, but he's never been able to put it all together on the professional level like he did at Oakland, largely due to defensive deficiencies.
Interesting undrafted free agents, either this year or in years past
Jahii Carson
- Position: Point Guard
- 2014-15 team: Illawarra Hawks (Australia), KK Metalac Valjevo (Serbia)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Four percent
Analysis: Carson is an explosive little jitterbug guard that spent most of his season in Australia before signing in the Adriatic League for the rest of the season. The former Arizona State guard is a good scorer, but struggles to shoot and finish, which is a problem at 5-10.
Scottie Wilbekin
- Position: Point Guard
- 2014-15 team: Cairns Taipans (Australia), AEK Athens (Greece)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Five percent
Analysis: Man, the Magic are really trying out a lot of backup point guards. Wilbekin has already signed another deal in Australia for next season, but he'll try to make his mark in Summer League. He's a steady, smart guard that really defends, and also has NBA size.
Youssou Ndoye
- Position: Center
- 2014-15 team: St. Bonaventure (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: Six percent
Analysis: Ndoye has a crazy wingspan, and at 6-11 has enough size to play the center spot in the NBA. But he's still pretty raw offensively despite averaging a double-double last year. He'll likely play overseas next season, given that he told NBA teams predraft he was willing to be stashed.
One-percenters or guys that I needed to Google
John Bohannon, C, Erie
- Position: Center
- 2014-15 team: Erie Bayhawks (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Bohannon is a skinny near-7-footer that played last season off the bench for Erie in the D-League. He's a strong rebounder, and would do well to continue to expand his ability to space the floor as a shooter.
Taylor Braun
- Position: Forward
- 2014-15 team: Okapi Aalstar (Belgium)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Braun had a great year in Belgium, averaging 14.5 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. He's a bit too much of a tweener athletically for the NBA, but he's very skilled with the ball, so he'll play for a while overseas if he chooses.
Dondray Walker
- Position: Shooting Guard
- 2014-15 team: Newberry College (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Walker went to Division II Newberry, where he knocked down 16 points per game on 46 percent 3-point shooting on a lot of attempts. Who knows how he'll adjust to the massive step up in competition.
- Position: Shooting Guard
- 2014-15 team: Auburn (NCAA)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Anthony Mason's son, Antoine can really score the basketball due to his ability to get to the line. However, he's undersized, doesn't really defend well, and can't shoot from distance. He'll make money elsewhere, but likely not in the NBA.
Lenzelle Smith Jr.
- Position: Shooting Guard
- 2014-15 team: Erie Bayhawks (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Smith is a former starter at Ohio State that can shoot it a little bit and defend. Basically, he's a glue guy, but he's one whose talent level probably just fits better in Europe than in the NBA.
Jarvis Williams
- Position: Shooting Guard
- 2014-15 team: Erie Bayhawks (D-League)
- Odds he's on team for 2015-16: One percent
Analysis: Williams is a pretty good athlete that largely came off the bench for Erie last season. Probably not an NBA player, but maybe he'll make a mark in Erie next season and continue to grow?
