Orlando Magic Previews:
5. Will J.J. Redick finally earn a place in the rotation and contribute on a nightly basis?
Surprisingly, yes. Earlier this summer, I firmly believed that J.J. would become a worthy NBA player, just not with the Magic, and as such advocated a trade. But the time he's spent in the gym has paid off, and he's faster, stronger, and more athletic than ever before. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, always known as a candid guy, said Redick had the best preseason of any Magic guard. Earlier, he praised J.J.'s previously awful defense. There's no chance that Redick will crack the starting lineup as long as Pietrus is healthy, but there's a great chance he'll be the first man off the bench on opening night, and may play up to 20 minutes a game. I think he's due for a great year.