2013 NBA Draft: Orlando Magic’s Rob Hennigan Needs to Look to Early Second Round For Hidden Gems

Mar 9, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Archie Goodwin (10) dunks the ball before the game against the Florida Gators at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

3) Archie Goodwin, 6’4″ Shooting Guard, Kentucky

Archie Goodwin is attractive for the same reason he is one Hennigan may avoid him: Early this season, the guard from Little Rock, Arkansas had taken Lexington by storm and he was a part of a Wildcats team with four projected starters in the top-10 of the lottery.

Goodwin has now fallen down into the early second round in most mock drafts, and the reason is because he seems to lack position. GMs would love to believe Goodwin could play the 1, but it’s really just kind of trying to fit a square into a circular hole. It’s basically a question of whether the Magic would be buying a pick to battle with E’Twaun Moore for third-string point guard rights, or if Goodwin could reasonably be a lot more like Eric Bledsoe and develop into a coveted trade chip.

John Calipari compared Goodwin to Tyreke Evans, and NBADraft.net stuck with that and listed it as one of his comparisons. Evans has experienced mixed success himself, but Goodwin’s frame and length could help him someday become a lockdown defenders.

With many GMs impressed by low cost defenders like Lance Stephenson in Indiana, the market is carved for Goodwin to be that kind of addition to the Magic. Stephenson spent time in the D-League and is now starting on a Round 2 playoff team, while Goodwin could hone is game in Orlando before becoming a featured piece on a contending team several seasons from now. That’s the hope.