FIBA performance could inspire a new role for this Magic star

While Jaren Jackson Jr. is starting at center for Team USA, coach Steve Kerr has been using Banchero, the reigning Rookie of the Year, as his center with the bench unit. True centers Bobby Portis and Walker Kessler have spent time at the five as well, but Kerr likes having a ball-handling center.

"One of the things we really found at the Tokyo Olympics was having a 5 who can push the ball and transition and create plays is very difficult for FIBA teams to handle, Kerr told ESPN after Team USA's exhibition with Puerto Rico. "So he can play some 4, as he showed, but he'll play plenty of 5, as well."

In Team USA's comeback victory over Germany Sunday, Banchero was very productive in his 12 minutes. He made all three of his shots, had three rebounds and three assists, plus two steals and a block, while battling one of his NBA teammates.

FIBA ball can be more conducive to small ball, but Germany actually has quite a bit of size, with center Daniel Theis and Banchero's Orlando teammates Franz and Mo Wagner, who stand 6-foot-10 and 6-foot-11 respectively. 

If Banchero can hold up at the 5 defensively for stretches, it could really help an Orlando team that was 26th in offensive rating last season, 25th in made three-pointers and 22nd in field-goal percentage.

Banchero played only 3% of his minutes at center last season, but he's poised for more. Orlando lost 7-footers Mo Bamba and Bol Bol since February, leaving Goga Bitadze and Mo Wagner as the backups. 

With an excess of talented young guards on the team, don't be surprised if Orlando tries Banchero at center to get more guards — and shooting — on the floor, especially with lottery picks Anthony Black (6-foot-7) and Jett Howard (6-foot-8) joining the team.

If Banchero can juice the Magic's offense like he's helped Team USA's offense playing the pivot, the Magic could see a huge turnaround on that side of the court. The question is whether their 20-year-old star can do it on defense too.