Magic Rookies Must 'Earn Their Minutes,' Says Jeff Weltman
ORLANDO - There could soon be a logjam in the Orlando Magic rotation.
After selecting Anthony Black and Jett Howard in the lottery of last week's NBA Draft, there are now two more mouths to feed in the backcourt.
However, unlike the previous two years where Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero were given minutes early given the team's rebuilding situation, Black and Howard won't have as easy of a waltz to the starting lineup and consistent minutes as the rookies of the past two years have had.
"Hopefully our team is growing to the place where it'll be more difficult for rookies to earn their minutes," Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said. "I think that's the expectation that we have is as our team gets better. It's not like we're giving these minutes to 33 year olds, you know, but as our young guys grow and indoctrinate themselves into the NBA and, and in winning ways, hopefully winning habits, winning routines, and with health. Hopefully we're getting to a place where it becomes, uh, you know, rookies have to earn their time."
Black, a 6-8 point guard, will have to compete alongside Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony for minutes. However, given his size and ability to defend multiple positions, Black could fixture in lineups alongside those point guards as well.
Howard, a 6-7 shooting guard, will likely be in direct competition with Gary Harris, but will be fighting for minutes alongside his Michigan teammates Wagner and Caleb Houstan.
The roster already feels jam-packed, and this is before free agency, where the Magic is bound to add another piece or two.
The team is getting deeper, and that should light a fire under every player on the team knowing that playing time will no longer be guaranteed.
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