Jamal Cain is transforming from a two-way grinder into a high-flying rotation staple, bringing gritty rebounding and floor-spacing gravity to help anchor Orlando’s ambitious supporting cast.
It isn’t just Paolo Banchero who has pressure to exceed expectations for the Orlando Magic. Players like wing Jamal Cain also have something to prove after taking a major jump.
Full Court Magic Host and Roundtable contributor Don Strouble recently discussed the trends of Orlando Magic's supporting cast for RJ Saunders of 1010XL Magic. Here is what he had to say:
"Cain is the embodiment of a slow and steady approach. This is a 27-year-old who spent the first four years of his career on two-way contracts before finally getting converted to a standard deal last season. It's been because of the effort and the grind that he's willing to put in—he's never gotten complacent, never felt like he just naturally belongs, and has always had to go and earn it. As you said, no one will soon forget that poster over Jalen Duren—that was one of the great dunks of all time in a high-level moment!
Cain brings elements that the Magic can use: he's 6'7", sub-200 lbs, so he's tall but not big, yet he plays bigger than his frame and bigger than his position. He is willing to go crash boards and fight for loose balls. That type of athleticism, aggression, and effort is what the Orlando Magic love to see in a player, especially a role player. He can also space the floor—he's a good enough three-point shooter, career 38% and a little bit over that mark.
Like the other guys, he needs to take another step. The thing that Cain has working against him is he doesn't have the benefit of so much youth—he's still a young guy, but he's not Jase Richardson or Noah Penda, who just entered their 20s; he's on the back end of that. He was asked to do a lot in the playoffs after Franz went down: he started three of those seven games and he struggled. His energy and effort was welcome, but as a shooter and an offensive presence, he struggled pretty mightily. He has to take another step, continue to lean into his strengths, and develop more, and I think that he can become a really, really good reserve role player for this team."
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