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Scott Skiles Hiring Affects NBA Draft’s No. 5 Pick

By Brett David Roberts

Nov 16, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) attempts a dunk during the second half against the Cal State Northridge Matadors at McKale Center. Arizona won 86-68. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) attempts a dunk during the second half against the Cal State Northridge Matadors at McKale Center. Arizona won 86-68. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) drives to the basket and steps out of bounds defended by Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) in the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men
Apr 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) drives to the basket and steps out of bounds defended by Wisconsin Badgers forward Sam Dekker (15) in the second half of the 2015 NCAA Men /

Willie Cauley-Stein

That is far less easy to discern, because all three bring different abilities to the table.

Willie Cauley-Stein is a big who can defend both 4s and 5s. He is quick and covers the baseline as well as any roving forward in the NBA. He will be an immediate impact player as a three-year college stud for John Calipari at Kentucky. Cauley-Stein comes in with an innate ability to thrive in help-side defense, which is an area the Magic struggled with the entire 2015 campaign.

Cauley-Stein even brings All-NBA first team defense type quality, and has been billed with an upside not dissimilar from prime Tyson Chandler. The Magic could construct championship caliber defense with WCS either anchoring it at the 5-spot, or providing a twin towers look alongside Nikola Vucevic.

Stanley Johnson is the most versatile defender or the three, and he boasts the ability to potentially cover four positions. He’s long enough to matchup against smaller power forwards, while he would thrive full-time at the small forward spot. Given Skiles’ past conflicts with Tobias Harris, it becomes more likely that the Magic draft a 3-man in the draft.

Next: Stanley Johnson