By John Denton
Nov. 25, 2015
ORLANDO – There was a time in the days and weeks leading up to last June’s NBA Draft when 7-foot-3 forward Kristaps Porzingis thought he might ultimately be a member of the Orlando Magic this season.
That scenario never materialized, of course, when the New York Knicks drafted the sweet-shooting big man with the No. 4 pick. The Magic were more than happy to use the No. 5 pick on 20-year-old guard/forward Mario Hezonja – a player that they scouted for years and targeted in the draft.
Porzingis, a native of Latvia, worked out in Orlando and dined with head coach Scott Skiles prior to the draft and he came away quite impressed with the Magic’s management and front office and the state-of-the-art facilities at the Amway Center.
“I worked out for them. The facility is great and everything is in the same place, the city is nice and everything went well,” Porzingis said of the Magic. “I guess they were interested, but obviously my No. 1 option was New York. That was my dream.”
Despite being vociferously booed by Knicks fans on draft night, Porzingis has blossomed into a star in New York, averaging 13.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.53 blocks a game coming into Friday. Meanwhile, Hezojna has shown great flashes for the Magic in limited minutes – something that Porzingis saw the last few years when the two played against one another in the Spanish League.
“I played against him a few times and we played against each other in Juniors – I remember him from there,” Porzingis said. “Later on, he was in Barcelona and he wasn’t playing that much, but we used to talk before the games and both of us knew that we were going to the draft. So I talked to him a little more than I did with other players.
“He’s that type of (confident) guy and that’s a great asset that he has,” Porzingis said of Hezonja. “He’s never low on confidence and he’s always shooting with confidence. He can zero for 15 and he doesn’t care and he’ll have the same mentality and stay aggressive.”
OLADIPO’S ADJUSTMENT: Pro sports aren’t always fair, and that certainly applies to Victor Oladipo’s removal from the starting lineup and new spot on the second unit, head coach Scott Skiles said on Wednesday.
Since the beginning of the season, Skiles has been preaching to the Magic about the need to play better defense both on the ball and when helping teammates. Skiles has said for weeks that Oladipo has been Orlando’s best defender this season and he noted that the guard had been so good on that end of the floor that he should be a candidate for the All-NBA Defensive team.
Skiles pointed out that it wasn’t exactly fair to remove Oladipo from the starting lineup when he’s done everything that the coach has asked for the defensive end. However, Skiles’ shifting of the lineups isn’t so much a punitive action as it is a search to balance the first and second units. His hope is that Channing Frye can provide more shooting to the starters and Tobias Harris and Evan Fournier will be more comfortable at their natural positions, while Oladipo can bring offensive and defensive energy coming off the bench.
“Unfortunately, it just happens to be Victor who is the victim of the decision,” Skiles said of the rotational jostling. “We’ve been preaching play better defense, play better defense and I’ve commented multiple times that (Oladipo’s) been our best defender on and off the ball and, oh by the way, you’re out of the lineup now. So, it’s not an easy decision and in some ways not right even. And yet we’re hoping somehow it works out for us.”
MAGICAL REUNION: With Knicks in Orlando late Monday night, all of Tuesday and Wednesday for the game, center Kyle O’Quinn was able to catch up with many of his former teammates that he played with the past three seasons with the Magic.
O’Quinn, a second-round pick by Orlando in 2012, signed an offer sheet with the Knicks in July and he was ultimately dealt to New York in a sign-and-trade transaction. That move meant that O’Quinn would be in New York near his parents’ home in Jamaica, Queens, but he also would be separated from teammates he grew exceptionally close to. On Tuesday, O’Quinn visited for hours with Magic guards Elfrid Payton and Oladipo.
“That was great because we just hung tight. We didn’t even watch the TV; we just talked and caught up on old times,” said O’Quinn, who came into Friday averaging 4.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.1 blocks a game. “I saw those guys a little this summer, but we’ve all been looking forward to this game. We’re going to compete. Most importantly, we just wanted to see each other and get in some good laughs.”
THANKSGIVING MORNING TRADITION: For a 23rd straight year, the Magic will be giving back to those most in need on Thanksgiving when members of the organization’s management, front office, coaching staff, players and staff members serve breakfast at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
CEO Alex Martins, players C.J. Watson and Devyn Marble, Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw and dozens of staffers are expected to serve breakfast to approximately 700 homeless men, women and children on Thursday morning at the Coalition.
Following the breakfast, the Magic will host a special carnival for children. Festivities include: a guest appearance by STUFF, the Magic Dancers and the Magic Blue Crew; a Magic Fit exercise station, Pop-a-shot and Bounce House; caricatures, games, face painting, balloon art; and music by 104.5 The Beat. Adults and children will be treated to haircuts by Paul Mitchell The School.
