ORLANDO — In an unorthodox move for a team’s lottery pick, the Orlando Magic’s handling of their No. 11 overall selectee, Jett Howard, diverged from the NBA norm.
Rather than allocating him significant playing time with the main squad or having him occupy a bench spot, the Magic opted for a developmental stint in the G League for Howard, assigning him to play with the Osceola Magic.
Howard’s exposure to the NBA with Orlando was limited to just 18 games, primarily during less competitive moments. However, his tenure with the G League’s Osceola Magic was far more substantial, participating in 29 regular-season contests. In those games, Howard showcased his scoring ability by averaging 18.5 points and demonstrating proficiency from the three-point line, shooting over 37 percent.
The Magic envision Howard evolving into a pivotal three-point shooter, which would complement players like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. This G League experience was deemed essential for Howard, especially considering his brief, one-year stint at Michigan before entering the NBA.
Despite a low-impact debut year with the Orlando Magic, the team’s management expresses satisfaction with his developmental trajectory.
Magic president Jeff Weltman lauded Howard’s first year during exit interviews, remarking, “It’s not going to show up to the fans who come to the Orlando games, but Jett had a great rookie year. He got so much better in a lot of areas that we had targeted when we drafted him.”
The hope within the Magic organization is that Howard’s G League experiences will bolster his performance, potentially translating into a meaningful role within the NBA team’s rotation next season. Yet, gauging his future impact remains a challenge based on the past year alone.