Magic notes: Key injuries, rookie play define first week of camp
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic are a team which has been on the move since the start of training camp last week, even if their every move hasn't exactly been a subject of conversation on a national scale.
With a roster heavy on players 25 or younger, it didn't take long for coach Jacque Vaughn to attempt transforming the Magic -- who were a middle-of-the-pack defensive team, at best, in most categories last season -- into a group which will place greater emphasis on pressuring the ball. Converting steals into scores at the other end would help make up for the sort of established shot-blocker the Magic have lacked in the two years since Dwight Howard's departure.
But there remains plenty of work to be done in that area. In their preseason opener Tuesday night at Miami, the Magic recorded only four steals in a game which went into overtime. While too much shouldn't be read into a victory where they were missing a couple key players and went with a multitude of lineup combinations, it shows the transformation which they hope to achieve won't just happen overnight.
Fans wanting to see the new-look Magic in person for the first time can do so next week at two home preseason games or a free open practice Oct. 20 at the Amway Center.
Here are a few of the more noteworthy items of interest going into Friday night's game at Indiana:
CHANNING FRYE, VICTOR OLADIPO RECOVERING
The Thursday after camp began, the Magic got a scare involving their top offseason free-agent signing. Frye, who is expected to supply the 3-point shooting at power forward the Magic haven't had since the days of Rashard Lewis and Ryan Anderson, suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee after bumping knees with teammate Ben Gordon.
One day later, Oladipo sprained the MCL in his right knee. Neither he nor Frye played against the Heat.
"I'll know when I'm ready to return," Oladipo told reporters Thursday at Magic practice.
Oladipo led the Magic in steals as a rookie and, with both Arron Afflalo and Jameer Nelson no longer with the team, is far and away their returning leader in assists. Oladipo played 80 games with the Magic and Frye all 82 with the Phoenix Suns last season, so there is a history of durability with both of them. But in a worst-case scenario, this could be a repeat of when Tobias Harris sprained his left ankle last October and wound up missing the bulk of the first six weeks of the regular season.
ROOKIES COMING ALONG
Aaron Gordon, Elfrid Payton and Devyn Marble all hit the ground running. The athleticism of Gordon, a forward who turned 19 last month, and Payton, who could be paired with Oladipo in the starting backcourt before too long, are a large reason why the Magic are counting on an improved defense after giving up an average of 102 points a game on their way to finishing with a 23-59 record.
"If we can build good habits now and carry them into the regular season, that's going to be big for us," said Gordon, whose minutes could be greater than first anticipated if Frye is out for an extended length. Vaughn said he was impressed by Payton's composure against the Heat, although the 6-foot-4 guard from Louisiana-Lafayette had to hoist up at least one shot with the 24-second clock winding down. There are bound to be nights where he is turnover-prone, as was the case with Oladipo. But it's all part of the learning experience.
"Preseason is very important for us because we're able to make mistakes," said Marble, who came up big in overtime at Miami. "It will hurt us for the time being, but in the long run, I think it will help us more than it will hurt us."
HARRIS AND NIKOLA VUCEVIC IN CONTRACT DRIVE MODE?
Harris arrived for camp in terrific shape and with an improved 3-point shot, while Vucevic played as well as anyone for the Magic in the first half Tuesday night. Considering both players have until the end of the month to be offered and sign contract extensions with the Magic, making a good first impression takes on greater importance.
Both are former first-round draft picks, although neither was chosen by the Magic in 2011. Harris was acquired from the Milwaukee Bucks as part of the J.J. Redick trade, while Vucevic came over from the Philadelphia 76ers in the four-way swap involving Howard.
With the announcement this week of the NBA's new media rights deals worth $24 billion over nine seasons beginning in 2016, it's tempting for players in their situations to wonder how that will benefit them. Vaughn is glad to let Magic general manager Rob Hennigan focus on financial and contractual matters while he makes sure the minds of Harris and Vucevic stay on basketball.
"Rob and his guys have had plenty of conversations to let these guys know they're important to us," he said. "My message to them has been I'm going to coach you. No matter if you're in a contract year or your first year in the league, I'm going to coach you the same. Hopefully that puts a little bit of ease underneath their wings in the sense of, 'Just go play basketball.' "
GETTING TO KNOW EVAN FOURNIER
Depending on how long Oladipo remains sidelined, Fournier could get more of an opportunity in game situations to develop into a player with more than just the potential he occasionally flashed during two seasons with the Denver Nuggets.
Taller than both Oladipo and Payton, the 6-7 native of France can get to the rim and produce a shot for himself or kick the ball out to an open teammate. Almost 44 percent of the shots he took in 76 regular-season games in 2013-14 were from 3-point range, so it's imperative that Fournier produce when either pulling up on a fast break or spotting up.
"I think he showed you (Tuesday night) what we've been talking about -- his ability to shoot the 3, get to the rim, pass the basketball," Vaughn said.
You can follow Ken Hornack on Twitter @HornackFSFla or email him at khornack32176@gmail.com.