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Orlando Magic Mock Draft Roundup: Past the deadline, end on the horizon

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 17, 2017; Starkville, MS, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) brings the ball up court against Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (11) during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2017; Starkville, MS, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) brings the ball up court against Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (11) during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /
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Malik Monk, Kentucky Wildcats, Ole Miss Rebels
Jan 17, 2017; Starkville, MS, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Malik Monk (5) brings the ball up court against Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (11) during the first half at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports /

The NBA Draft is on the horizon with three weeks to go before the big day. With June on the horizon and the final list out, let’s tour the mock drafts.

The final list is just about set.

The NCAA’s deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the NBA Draft and retain their eligibility passed last week. Some surprising names — including steady riser Hamidou Diallo of the Kentucky Wildcats — opted to return to school. Some surprising names decided to stay in.

With Memorial Day passing on the calendar and the NBA Finals getting set to begin Thursday, Draft preparations are sure to pick up. There are now three weeks until the June 22 NBA Draft. Teams will be working to get players in for workouts and interviews — the Magic have only had Dennis Smith in among the top prospects.

More are sure to follow.

The NBA Draft’s game of media misdirection is already beginning, although we may not yet know it. Are the Los Angeles Lakers locked in to pick Lonzo Ball? Are the Philadelphia 76ers targeting De’Aaron Fox? Is Josh Jackson really sliding down draft boards?

Nobody really knows if any of these rumors are any true. And they are going to continue to spin and spin until the teams finally line up and pick at the end of the month.

Already, Orlando Magic fans are lining up behind their favorite prospects. Everyone has something they want for this team.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

With the Magic hiring president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond, there is a new direction for the franchise. Nobody is quite sure what direction the Magic want to take.

By now, a week into the job, Weltman has likely had some long discussions with coach Frank Vogel about the state of the team he has taken over. He has likely reviewed the plans and notes on the prospects from former interim general manager Matt Lloyd.

Now Weltman takes the helm and likely makes his own notes and thoughts about the direction the team will take.

The only thing that seems fairly clear is the Magic plan to take the best player available with the sixth overall pick. The team is in need of so much of a talent upgrade that this makes sense. Especially with the talent at the top of this Draft.

As we get closer to the Draft, it is time to update our NBA Mock Draft roundup and look at who the various mock drafts have the Magic taking at this point int he draft season.