Nicholson was a DNP-CD in Orlando's 110-107 overtime win against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Nicholson has seen fairly limited minutes (13.8 MPG) this preseason and it's hard to project what can be expected from the power forward entering his fourth season in the league. He will open the year behind Tobias Harris, Aaron Gordon, and Channing Frye at power forward. Orlando is loaded with a lot of young talent and Nicholson appears to be on the outside looking in at this point.

Nicholson played a team-low 12.3 minutes per game in a career-low 40 contests and averaged 4.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 0.3 blocks. Nicholson had his best game on the final day of the regular season, scoring a season-high 18 points and corralling a season-high nine rebounds. Other than that one footnote, Nicholson was only called upon in garbage time under former coach Jacque Vaughn and at season's end after the Magic was eliminated from playoff contention. With the glut of forwards entrenched in the Magic's front court, combined with Nicholson's inability to make his mark on either end of the court, next season could very well be a carbon copy of this past season.

Nicholson will start Friday's game against the Pistons, Detroit announcer Mark Champion reports. Nicholson played well in limited minutes the last couple games, so he will be rewarded with his second start of the season Friday night. Nicholson tallied 13 points and six rebounds in his lone other start during the current campaign.

Nicholson will return to the bench Wednesday against the Hawks, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports. Nicholson got the start Sunday with Dewayne Dedmon and Channing Frye out, but both players are available Wednesday, so Nicholson will shift back to a bench role, where he's unlikely to be much of a fantasy producer.

Nicholson started Sunday's game with Channing Frye (illness) out, and was effective in 22 minutes, scoring 13 points (6-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 1-3 FT), grabbing six rebounds and dishing out three assists. This was Nicholson's first start of the season. He is only averaging 11 minutes per game this season, so the expanded role was obviously new for him Sunday. He's been much improved in March, shooting 48.3 percent from the floor so far and averaging 7.3 points and three rebounds per game.

Nicholson will move into the starting lineup for Channing Frye (illness) on Sunday against the Nuggets, John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com reports. Nicholson is in line to enjoy extended minutes Sunday but it won't likely last for long as Frye is not expected to miss much time off the court. While the 25-year-old has increased opportunities Sunday, he's still a limited option when given significant playing time.

Nicholson played 21 minutes Friday night against the Pelicans after missing the previous 16 games.Coach James Borrego sent a wave of players at Anthony Davis in order to slow him down. Nicholson has been on and off the inactive roster the past two months, playing 43 total minutes in three January games. He primarily benefitted from Tobias Harris (knee) resting. Minutes will be hard to come by once Harris returns.

Nicholson will be inactive for Friday's game versus the Lakers, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Nicholson's inactive status coincides with rookie lottery pick Aaron Gordon (foot) being available for Friday's contest against the Lakers. With Gordon back in the fold, it's unclear how Nicholson's role will be managed moving forward, but he's played in merely 18 games this season anyways.

Nicholson will be inactive for Wednesday's game against the Pistons, John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com reports. Nicholson was also inactive for Sunday's game and has not played in the team's last four games. Once a promising rookie out of St. Bonaventure, Nicholson has seen his playing time diminish greatly this season, and he's seen time in only 18 games.

Nicholson will be inactive for Sunday's game against the Thunder, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports. Rookie big man Aaron Gordon has finally been cleared to play, so Nicholson will be inactive to make room for Gordon. As long as Gordon and the other Magic big men stay healthy, expect Nicholson to be the first person to be left inactive.