The offensive play of Magic rookie point guard Cole Anthony during the 2020/21 season proved he could be a valuable long-term addition for Orlando, writes Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel.
Anthony, who stepped into the role of starting point guard after Markelle Fultz tore his ACL early in the season, averaged 12.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, and 0.6 SPG across 27.1 MPG for the year. Anthony was an inefficient shooter, with a first-season slash line of .397/.337/.832, but that’s generally par for the course with rookie guards.
Depending on where the Magic land in the upcoming draft, there is a chance that Anthony could get extended run as a starter for at least part of the 2021/22 season while Fultz recovers. He will enjoy his first true offseason with the club this season, as COVID-19 precautions precluded a Summer League and limited offseason activies last year.
There’s more out of Orlando:
- Do-everything Magic swingman Dwayne Bacon helped stabilize the Magic amid injuries and roster churn during his first season with the club, writes Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. Bacon was the sole Magic player to suit up for all 72 games for the team. Parry wonders if, thanks to the addition of rookie guard R.J. Hampton at the trade deadline and the possibility that the Magic could draft a high-upside young wing this summer, Orlando’s front office will opt to guarantee the second year of Bacon’s deal. Bacon’s limitations as an off-ball shooter could factor into this decision.
- Magic center Mohamed Bamba finished the season on a high note, following the trade of Nikola Vucevic and the release of Khem Birch, writes Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. Operating as the primary backup behind new Orlando starting center Wendell Carter Jr., Bamba exhibited intriguing flashes of his offensive upside, plus some defensive promise as a rim protector.
- Magic team president Jeff Weltman is reluctant to speculate about how long it will take his youth-heavy rebuilding club to develop, writes Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel. “I don’t apply timelines,” Weltman said. “I don’t know what one person’s development is going to look like juxtaposed next to another, but I just believe that we have a lot of talent on this team, and a lot of character and a lot of guys that want to win and we have a lot of ways to add more of those guys.” Weltman will get to add some exciting new additions this offseason, with the Magic expected to net two lottery picks (their own and the Bulls’ selection, provided it does not move into the top four in the draft lottery).
I love Cole Anthony. I think he was an amazing pick up where the magic drafted him. Turning out quite a bit better then I expected. Definitely a keeper. I like Maxey in Philly also. Great future for both these young point guards.
Anthony is not any good. He is nothing more then a volume shooter who misses way too many shots do to poor shot selection.
Give Anthony a chance. 19 yrs old. Why do we expect so much. Up to team to get the best of him. Bamba is guy you need to watch. Carter always liked. But I see him more as a 4. And a small bal center. Magic get a top 5 pick. They will be ok. Fultz has to get healthy and Isaac too.?Isaac is for real. Have patience
Cole was originally projected to be drafted higher, but I wasn’t surprised he dropped. He can score, any which way you can think of – way more than a spot up shooter. Efficiency will likely get better (almost has to), but I think he’ll always be a volume shooter. Bigger problem for me is he’s not a facilitator, and I don’t see those skills. Another one is an athletic profile which suggests he’ll be challenged defensively, without showing any focus on overachieving on that end. A second unit scoring lead guard? Anything more than that is hard to see. Had he fallen to the Knicks at #23, I would have had no problem with them taking him. Although I think Quickley is a better fit for us.
Many good PG draftees as expected. Nearly all are hits though whether good enough to be starters is hard to say.
This next draft has athletic Wings whose fits can be hard to predict, but teams will want them on the floor somehow.