The Orlando Magic interviewed Wisconsin star Frank Kaminsky at the NBA Draft Combine. But did not get an interview with Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein.
The NBA Draft Combine completed its second day in Chicago with the beginning of 5-on-5 games for late first and second-round prospects in attendance and the athletic measurements for all the players participating also took place. There will be more drills Friday.
The main purpose of the day was the continuing of interviews for various prospects. The Magic got the chance to interview a number of players — reportedly getting to talk to second round prospects Anthony Brown and Rakeem Christmas.
Orlando got their chance to interview first round prospect Frank Kaminsky along with several second round prospects. However, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic will not be interviewing Willie Cauley-Stein as the team was not selected for an interview by the NBA.
Magic won't interview Willie Cauley-Stein in CHI. The NBA sometimes doesn't grant teams' specific requests if there's heavy demand.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 14, 2015
As Robbins noted yesterday, teams put in requests for players and get the chance to interview 18 players. The NBA tries to accommodate all the requests, but are not able to fill them all. The Magic were not able to interview Stanley Johnson during the Combine, Robbins reported Wednesday.
It would be fair to assume that both Johnson and Cauley-Stein will get individual workouts in Orlando.
Among the players the Magic did interview Thursday was Naismith Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky from Wisconsin, according to Robbins.
Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin said he has been interviewed by the Orlando Magic at the combine.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 14, 2015
Kaminsky is expected to be a Lottery pick, but probably not as high as the Magic are slated to pick.
Despite his extreme college accolades, there are concerns about Kaminsky’s ability to defend at the rim and be a center in today’s NBA. Kaminsky is more like a more mobile Brook Lopez-style of center rather than a big shot-blocker.
Kaminsky is the tallest player at the Combine according to the measurements taken this week. Kaminsky did not participate in the agility drills as part of his Combine experience. Again, few Lottery prospects will if any.
Robbins also reported the Magic will speak with UNLV’s Rashad Vaughn and spoke to LSU’s Jordan Mickey.
SG Rashad Vaughn of UNLV said he will interview with the Orlando Magic tomorrow.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 14, 2015
Vaughn is a 6-foot-5 guard who scored 17.8 points per game for UNLV last year as a freshman. His shooting numbers are not great, shooting 43.9 percent from the floor, 38.3 percent from beyond the arc and just 69.4 percent from the foul line. He measured with a 6-foot-7 wingspan but a pretty impressive 6.20 percent body fat.
He is seen as a borderline first round prospect and really could go anywhere. He has a lot to gain from participating in the activities at the Draft Combine and going through this whole interview process.
Vaughn is not likely to be available when the Magic draft at 51 in the second round, but it is possible.
The Orlando Magic interviewed LSU PF Jordan Mickey today.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) May 14, 2015
As for Mickey, he is a 6-foot-8 power forward who averaged 15.4 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for LSU as a sophomore last year. He checked in with a 7-foot-3.25 wingspan and a 7.20 percent body fat, which is impressive for a guy that small coming in at 280 pounds. He is a big guy to move on the block, in other words.
He blocked eight shots in his scrimmage game Thursday, which surely got teams looking a little closer at this player. He very much could be available when the Magic pick, but could go anywhere in the middle of the second round.
Mickey is probably going to have to work really hard as an undersized forward, but he seems to be like another LSU alum in Glen Davis as a hard-nosed defender. Again, he is a big body to move and a lot of it is muscle.
The Magic are certainly continuing to do their homework as the NBA Draft Combine wraps up Friday from Chicago.