2015 NBA Draft: Magic’s 51st Overall is Gamble Land
5. Rakeem Christmas
Rakeem Christmas is a four-year player from Syracuse who will be a solid power forward in the NBA.
He boasts a 7-foot-3 wingspan and is a well-composed 250 pounds. He will thrive blocking shots, because he has great timing and the Magic need that rim protection in the worst way.
Christmas initially could make a difference defensively and, in a dream world, he is a poor man’s Serge Ibaka. He is every bit as good rotating on weak-side defensive plays.
Christmas offensively presents a unique challenge given his strength and deceptively quick first step. He is most likely going to be about what Tyrus Thomas was, without coming at the risk of a high lottery pick.
In other words, for the 51st pick, Christmas would be a nice heist. He should be better than fellow Orange Fab Melo who was a first round pick of the Boston Celtics.