Fansided

Re-drafting the 2015 NBA Draft

By John Buhler

Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Heat forward Justise Winslow (20) dribbles the ball against the New York Knicks during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Heat won 95-78. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (23) spins against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (23) spins against Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) during the second quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Mario Hezonja. 5. player. 38. . Shooting Guard/Small Forward. FC Barcelona (Spain), Croatia

While he didn’t have the best rookie season with the Orlando Magic, Mario Hezonja was too good of a pro prospect for the Magic to pass on him with this re-draft. He rarely saw the court for some reason during Scott Skiles’ lone season as head coach at the small forward.

With whoever the Magic hire as their next head coach to replace Skiles, he will have to consider the possibility of playing Hezonja at his natural position of point guard alongside shooting guard Victor Oladipo. However, cutting ties with point guard Elfrid Payton still seems a tad premature.

Hezonja has outstanding raw athleticism and offers something that the Magic simply don’t have now that they traded Channing Frye to the Cleveland Cavaliers: a stellar jump shot from the outside.

With the right coaching and increased playing time, perhaps Hezonja taps into some that great potential scouts loved with him coming out of Croatia. Hezonja is only 21 years old and like most of his Magic teammates, he has tremendous upside. Eventually it is going to click with the Magic and it would be immensely difficult to overlook Hezonja’s skill set at No. 5 in this re-draft.

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