Jason Maxiell, the 6-foot-7 big man the Orlando Magic acquired in free agency, will start Tuesday night against the Indiana Pacers.
Magic coach Jacque Vaughn was tight-lipped on who he would tap as the starting power forward, but the feeling was that either Maxiell or second-year big man Andrew Nicholson would get the start.
Maxiell averaged 6.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with the Detroit Pistons in 2012/13. But the box score doesn't account for the defensive toughness that Maxiell brings to a Magic front line that struggled on that end of the floor last season.
Before the lineups were announced, the media notes had Nicholson as the "probable starter." Vaughn joked to a group of reporters that he didn't know who wrote Nicholson's name in, but that it wasn't him.
Alongside Maxiell in the front court is seven-foot center Nikola Vučević and 6-foot-9 small forward Maurice Harkless. Jameer Nelson and Arron Afflalo will man the back court.
Vaughn said the coaching staff wanted to be smart with playing time.
"You have to be smart," the second-year head coach said. "We've got a long season to go. It's a marathon for sure."