NBA mock drafts are coming out fast and furious. Sites are releasing them for the first time or refining them almost daily. With two lottery picks, the Orlando Magic are right in the thick of things. Here are what some other sites are projecting for the team currently, along with an explanation if there is one.
Bleacher Report
4. Orlando Magic: Dante Exum, PG, Australia
The Magic have an interesting choice to make here—do they go with a point guard to pair with Victor Oladipo at No. 4 and seek a big man at No. 12 or vice versa?
The talented Dante Exum will make it hard to pass on the former option. A combo guard who would likely be the primary ball-handler for Orlando, he would free Oladipo to play his more familiar role at the 2 and give the Magic one of the most dynamic young backcourts in the NBA.
12. Orlando Magic: Dario Saric, PF, Croatia
The Magic would likely be quite pleased if Dario Saric was awaiting them at No. 12 to fill the power forward position. A true talent and a player who would likely go in the top 10 were he guaranteed to come to the NBA next year, he would be a great get here and cap off a truly international draft for the Magic.
Draft Express
4. Marcus Smart, Point Guard, Oklahoma State
12. Jusuf Nurkic, Center, Bosnia
NBA.Com (Consensus Mock)
4. Dante Exum, Point Guard, Australia
12. Gary Harris, Shooting Guard, Michigan State
HoopsHype
4. Dante Exum, Point Guard, Australia
The Magic are said to be extremely high on Marcus Smart, who would figure to be a great match with Oladipo. They need talent, and Exum provides the most upside of any player at their pick. Exum is the biggest wild card of this year’s draft. He’s a terrific kid with a great deal of talent, but without question he’s still very unproven as his biggest accomplishments have been in the form of international matches playing against low level of competition. He was very impressive playing for his Australian national team in competitions such as the U19 World championships in Prague. He’s got a ton of upside due to his versatility, potential to play either guard position and extreme quickness off the dribble, and has drawn comparisons to Penny Hardaway. He may scare away some teams due to unfamiliarity. He has some kinks to work out such as a shot that lacks much trajectory. Is he a PG or SG at the NBA level? Scouts appear to be split down the middle on this. He must learn to either become a facilitator or learn to play off the ball. But surely a kid with a bright future.
12. Rodney Hood, Small Forward, Duke
Hood provides outside shooting and length at the SF position. How much a dismal tourney performance will hurt his stock remains to be seen, but some scouts do not have him pegged as a lottery pick. We are still high on him due to his versatility and scoring ability. One of Hood’s main areas of weakness is lack of physicality and strength so that will be something that he will need to focus on leading up to draft workouts. Despite impersonating a ghost in the NCAA tourney, Hood stands a chance to grab a spot in the late lottery, though after the top 6-7 picks things become extremely murky.
FoxSports’ Reid Forgrave
4. Marcus Smart, PG, Oklahoma State.
It’s no secret that the Magic would have taken Smart with the second overall pick a year ago if he had chosen to enter the draft. Instead, Orlando took Victor Oladipo. So why wouldn’t the Magic take Smart a year later? Most mock drafts have Dante Exum, the hyper-athletic Australian combo guard, going to the Magic, but Smart makes more sense. With its young front office, this is an analytics-centric team, and Smart is a player analytics guys love. Sure, there are holes in Smart’s game – his shooting leaves a lot to be desired, he can be streaky, and one talent evaluator told me his ballhandling is “sloppy” – but there’s not a better perimeter defender in this draft. Also, you can’t teach hustle, and no one outhustles Marcus Smart.
12. James Young, Small Forward, Kentucky
After taking a point guard with their first pick, the Magic should draft Young, an explosive driver who can flat-out shoot. Could he become a poor man’s Ray Allen? One coach who has known Young since eighth grade made that comparison.
CBS Sports
Gary Parish- 4. Dante Exum, Point Guard, Australia; 12. Adreian Payne, Power Forward, Michigan State
Zach Harper- 4. Dante Exum, Point Guard, Australia; 12. Nik Stauskas, Shooting Guard, Michigan
Matt Moore – 4. Julius Randle, Power Forward, Kentucky; 12. Dario Saric, Forward, Croatia
Basketball Insiders
Alex Kennedy- 4. Dante Exum, Point Guard, Australia; 12. Jusuf Nurkic, Center, Bosnia
Joel Brigham- 4. Dante Exum, Point Guard, Australia; 12. James Young, Small Forward, Kentucky
Steve Kyler- 4. Marcus Smart, Point Guard, Oklahoma State; 12. Dario Saric, Forward, Croatia
Yannis Koutroupis- 4. Marcus Smart, Point Guard, Oklahoma State; 12. Julius Randle, Power Forward, Kentucky
Overall
Player |
Times Picked
Dante Exum
Seven
Marcus Smart
Five
Dario Saric
Three
James Young
Two
Jusuf Nurkic
Two
Julius Randle
Two
Rodney Hood
One
Adreian Payne
One
Gary Harris
One
Nik Stuaskas
One