Realistic Expectations for Mario Hezonja's Rookie Season with the Orlando Magic

Croatian phenom Mario Hezonja has intrigued NBA scouts in Europe for a couple of years, and now Orlando Magic fans will soon have a chance to see what all the fuss is about.

Rob Hennigan and the Magic grabbed the Spanish ACB League's rising star with the No. 5 pick in Thursday's draft, adding more athleticism to their promising young core.

The 6'8" swingman gained favor in NBA circles thanks to his picturesque shooting stroke, end-to-end explosiveness and budding versatility. Most importantly, he displayed no shortage of confidence while competing against the finest international talents.

Hezonja's gifts and potential were only showcased in small doses, however, as he averaged just 15 minutes per game for ACB runner-up Barcelona. He was part of a veteran lineup, and Barcelona started to limit his playing time once it was apparent that Hezonja was a top-tier NBA prospect, per Bleacher Report's David Pick.

How will his playing style and strengths translate to the Association in year one? Where does he fit in coach Scott Skiles' rotation?

The most valuable trait Hezonja possesses for immediate impact is his perimeter shooting talent.

Leading up to the draft, we hear a lot about prospects who "can shoot it" or youngsters who have great long-range potential. Hezonja isn't in that group. He's in the class of players who can really shoot it, and his shooting skills are ready to be unleashed immediately.

He hit 39 percent from the international line in 2014-15, which is rock-solid considering his inconsistent usage. Despite his small sampling of playing time, he recorded 17 multi-triple games and delivered several eye-popping barrages from deep.

Hezonja's nimble footwork, elevation and fluidity as a shooter will enable him to strike from any spot for the Magic. His size will help him shoot over nearly every NBA wing, and he'll fire away off the catch or dribble. Hezonja will likely spend time at both the shooting guard and small forward spots. 

Watch him drill five threes in just 16-plus minutes against ACB power Real Madrid in April:

This combination of ranginess and perimeter accuracy on the wing is just what Orlando needed.

The Magic have several quality guards (Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo and Evan Fournier), and they also have some talented combo forwards (Aaron Gordon and restricted free agent Tobias Harris). But only Fournier and Harris can be counted on to shoot better than 37 percent from distance, and neither of them has the versatility to truly play both the 2 and 3 spots. Hezonja can provide that interchangeability.

Harris' potential departure would leave a huge shooting void that Hezonja could fill, as Harris tossed 3.5 three-point attempts last year. But even if Harris returns to Orlando and the Magic have a squad full of wings and forwards, Hezonja offers a mix of tools the rest of the rotation doesn't have.

Why can he play both the 2 and the 3? Because his game goes far beyond shooting.

Hezonja not only attacks closeouts, but he can also separate into jumpers on the perimeter and attack off ball screens. DraftExpress.com's Matt Kamalsky detailed Hezonja's rapidly expanding repertoire:

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A capable ball handler, Hezonja also flashes the ability to create his own shot, notably as the ball handler in the pick and roll. His ability to explode past the defense with his strong first step off the dribble make him a threat to get to the rim, and he has a bit of shake to his floor game as well, showing the ability to use step backs to create space for his jump shots.

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When Hezonja gets near the bucket in half court and transition, he knows how to score above the fray. He owns the springs and the body control to finish forcefully on drives and fast breaks.

And as previously mentioned, he won't lack for self-assurance and swagger even during his rookie year.

"Whether it's a veteran or young player standing in front of me I always have the same goal," he told Sportando via Croatian sports paper Sportske Novosti. "I want to run over everybody."

Hezonja's defense isn't as prolific as his offense. He didn't always exhibit an intense motor on that end of the floor in Spain, and there's no guarantee how much he'll apply himself on that end when he comes stateside.

With Skiles' defensive-minded coaching style, he could become an above-average wing stopper due to his length and agility. However, it will take him a little while to grasp what it takes to defend at a high level for 82 games, so he'll probably be a below-average guardian during his rookie campaign. And that's fine; most rookies struggle to defend early in their careers.

While Hezonja's strong personality is one of his greatest assets, it's also a question mark.

"Does he have an attitude? Yeah. That's something we have to figure out," one NBA executive told NBA.com's David Aldridge prior to the draft. "Does he get along with people?"

Ultimately, most scouts and prognosticators think Hezonja's attitude will be much more of a positive than a negative, and there's no reason to believe the Magic core won't jell with him.

"Mario has developed a reputation of being cocky. But he is not," Cedevita Zagreb (Croatian pro team) general manager Matej Mamic told Pick. "He is real confident and believes in himself."

Assuming he works to mesh with the team, he'll crack the rotation as a rookie. Harris' return via free agency would limit his opportunities somewhat, but Hezonja's interchangeability at the 2 and 3 spots could earn him 20-plus minutes per game—if he can earn Skiles' support on both ends of the floor.

Bleacher Report's Adam Fromal notes that although Hezonja will face a learning curve during his transition to the NBA, he has a competitive edge that some never have.

"He'll need to learn plenty of offensive discipline in the NBA, but it's easier to get players to tone down the aggression than develop a killer instinct they've never possessed."

If Hezonja plays around 20 minutes per game, he could score 8-10 points and flirt with double-digit scoring on a regular basis. He can catch fire from anywhere, so there will be some nights where he looks like the best rookie in the league. Hezonja will enjoy the benefits of Payton's passing skills, and he'll do some attacking of his own in the pick-and-roll with Nikola Vucevic.

Don't be surprised if the young Croatian is one of the standouts on the All-Rookie second team and contends for first team placement. His inaugural campaign will be just a taste of what's in store down the road, but it will be a sweet taste nonetheless.