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A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

Jamal Cain is 26 years old and is listed 6'6" 191 lbs.

Played four years at Marquette where he was a 1-year starter. Transferred down a level in his 5th year to Oakland in the Horizon League. Averaged 20-10 there and won Horizon League Player of the Year.

Went undrafted in 2022 and signed a two-way with the Heat. Played 18 games with the Heat in his rookie year.

Miami signed him to another two-way deal in 2023 and he ended up playing 26 games for them in year 2.

Then in the summer of 2024 he signed a two-way deal with New Orleans and played 37 games for them.

Much like Orlando Robinson, Cain got some actual playing time late in the year for the tanking Pelicans last year.

In April he averaged 25.1 MPG and averaged 14.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG and 1.4 SPG while shooting .487/.364/.708.

He has played NBA games the last couple of seasons.

Seems fine as a 2nd two-way.

Here is where we are at:

Suggs/Tyus/Jase
Bane/ AB/Jett
Franz/TDS/ Jamal Cain
Paolo/JI/ Penda
WCJ/Moe/Goga/Orlando

The LockedOn Wolves guys wanted to sign him.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WSvA79HBG6A

He appears to be a monster athlete...

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6sVLb6F3t_8

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QL5Cd86Wemk

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/qkL2UibC9v0

3ddman23 wrote:A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

We had the most exciting 2-way guy in the league, Mac McClung, and he wasn't good enough to make his mark in the league for a team starved for guards

Cain has been very good in the G-League, but anyone with a pulse pretty much dominates at that level.

23 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL per game and while shooting 53.1% from the floor and 37.2% from 3PT.

3ddman23 wrote:A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

We actually got decent depth guys so far. You aren’t realistically going to get anything more than a 14-15 man if that.

Cain had 25 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL on 8-16 FG and 4-7 3PT against the Heat on April 11th.

The Pelicans lost by 49, but Cain was only a -16 in 35 minutes

CLosP wrote:

3ddman23 wrote:A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

We actually got decent depth guys so far. You aren’t realistically going to get anything more than a 14-15 man if that.

I guess I'm talking more of the guys that go undrafted every year the magic never seem to snag any of them. In the end non of the 2 way stuff matters much.

SOUL wrote:

3ddman23 wrote:A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

We had the most exciting 2-way guy in the league, Mac McClung, and he wasn't good enough to make his mark in the league for a team starved for guards

Has anyone signed McClung yet?

3ddman23 wrote:

CLosP wrote:

3ddman23 wrote:A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

We actually got decent depth guys so far. You aren’t realistically going to get anything more than a 14-15 man if that.

I guess I'm talking more of the guys that go undrafted every year the magic never seem to snag any of them. In the end non of the 2 way stuff matters much.

They want some guys who have some experience under their belts.

Our 14 man roster already had two rookies.

I actually really liked what we have done.

“He’s an NBA player.”

Wolves summer league head coach had nice things to say about Cain.

His stats remind me a little of Konchar. He's the size of an SG/SF, but rebounds like a PF.

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One thing is clear, at least through how they've approached their two-way signings so far, is that the Magic are opting for NBA experience and the (theoretical) ability to actually play if called upon a lot more than younger, more pure developmental types.

And I'm fine with that given what the expectation level should be this season.

Our 2-way guys lack hidden upside, but they have proven they can at least exist on an NBA floor in a pinch, which is fine. Much better than Mac and Thompson IMO.

RichCollab wrote:

SOUL wrote:

3ddman23 wrote:A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

We had the most exciting 2-way guy in the league, Mac McClung, and he wasn't good enough to make his mark in the league for a team starved for guards

Has anyone signed McClung yet?

He's no longer eligible to sign a two-way, so he's gotta get a full NBA contract.

(He is unsigned)

Jamal Cain and Orlando Robinson were teammates in Miami and actually played together a little bit. 111 minutes across two seasons.

They had a +12.3 NET as a garbage time pairing in 22-23.

3ddman23 wrote:A bit uninspiring to say the least.... Why do other teams seem to get interesting 2 way guys every year and we seem to always have blah as our 2 ways?

I think we always do well with our two way players. Our G-League team is usually pretty good. And good teams are usually a sign of good players.

Hmmm

Guard rotation is viewed as stable, front-court insurance is the new pain point.