Some Magic fans had been waiting for Aaron Gordon to leave town. The feeling was certainly mutual when it came down to it. Not only did Gordon ask to leave town, but he later noted he just wanted “to play meaningful games.” Not exactly the most positive regards to your former team, specifically a playoff contender that you helped build. When the Magic gave Gordon his way out of town, he was flipped for Gary Harris, R.J. Hampton, and Denver’s protected 2025 first-round pick.
At first, the haul left a lot to be desired. The 2025 pick still feels light, not only because of its protections but because the Nuggets built a sustainable contender. The fate of that pick seems to lie in whether Nikola Jokić stays happy in Denver. Gary Harris is a solid role player, and his contract opened the door for a straight stop. Harris will provide leadership and guidance to a young team. With Ross, the Magic have assembled a strong bench mob that could steal a win or two.
Yet the diamond in the rough is R.J. Hampton, a first-round pick that fell outside the lottery. In Denver, Hampton received no playing time. In 25 games, he averaged 9.3 minutes per game, 2.6 points per game, and 2 rebounds a game. The contending team did not have space to play him, and as a result, Hampton only found the floor in garbage time. On the Magic, he flourished.
In just 26 games, Hampton scored 11.2 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, and tacked on 2.8 assists per game. He played around 25.2 minutes, but this also included games getting acclimated with the team. His scoring jumped from 13.6 points in Denver to 21.5 points per 100 possessions in Orlando. His assists also climbed to 5.4 assists per 100 possessions from a mere 3.0. He even picked up the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for May.
Hampton’s season turned around because he finally saw the floor. The combination of playing time and trust from Steve Clifford allowed Hampton room to make mistakes. With Fultz out, he slid into a guard role alongside Cole Anthony. Hampton began to develop defensively, where he remains a slightly below-average player. However, at his age, the product was far more potent than many predicted. His athleticism opens the door for more blocks and steals in the future, which will come with more reps.
Hampton’s not a refined playmaker, but again, his assist numbers are not terrible. For comparison, Evan Fournier often handled the shooting guard role for the Magic, and his assist rate was up to 5.9 assists per 100 possessions in the 2021 season. Before this past year, the veteran shooting guard only hovered in the 4s. For Hampton to already have those passing instincts at 20 is key to his development. Additionally, Hampton’s strong rebounding contributed to securing defensive rebounds, already surpassing Fournier and Ross in that respect.
With explosive burst to the rim, Hampton pairs well with Anthony’s shotmaking abilities. Hampton will never shoot like Anthony, but he can get to the cup and finish around the rim. This bodes particularly well for his pick-and-roll game, but as a screener instead of the ball handler. His athleticism will get him to the hoop, and he can clean up shots with his rebounding ability. He’ll also be able to draw fouls, and despite a 65.7% from the strike last year, he should improve moving forward. It’s not something the Magic rely on, but using Hampton as a screener could provide surprisingly deadly scoring opportunities.
Perhaps more important than the play on the court is Hampton’s attitude off of it. During the season, he was tagged in social media posts asking for the team to lose games. He simply replied, “No.” Hampton is not concerned about the future of the Magic because, in his mind, he is the future of the Magic. Management left the team structurally outmatched (you don’t let Khem Birch walk if you’re actively trying to win), but Hampton used that opportunity to improve his game. He never settled for excuses, and he stepped into a role that made the Magic competitive.
Hampton has established himself as a core piece of the Magic’s future, even in just a handful of games. He put up double-digit points in the last 9 games of the season, including two double-doubles and a near triple-double. Hampton’s brought fire and passion to a team that needs it. While losing AG hurt, picking up Hampton has already created a bright new star in Orlando. With enough playing time and development, Hampton seems primed for a breakout next season.
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