"The person who now wears No. 15 for the Orlando Magic looks and sounds just like the guy who wore No. 15 during the team's run to the 2009 NBA Finals. Same goatee. Same smile. Same accent.

But which Hedo Turkoglu did the Magic receive in their recent blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns? Is he the same playmaker, deft ball-handler and clutch shooter who helped spark Orlando to the Eastern Conference title a year-and-a-half ago? Or is he the guy who has struggled since then with the Toronto Raptors and the Suns?

"I know myself," Turkoglu said. "I know what I can do. All I have to do is go out there and try to play as hard as I can."

So far, though, the jury's out.

On one hand, he reeled off eight assists in the Magic's loss to the Dallas Mavericks the other night.

On the other hand, in that same game, he also botched a fastbreak dunk attempt when he didn't elevate high enough and he jammed the ball on the front of the rim.

Turkoglu is 31 years old now, an age when many players' physical skills begin a steady decline. But his game has never been predicated on jumping ability, quickness or sheer strength.

Instead, he flourished under coach Stan Van Gundy because Van Gundy utilized Turkoglu's height advantage and Turkoglu's ability to make smart decisions on the fly."