Kristaps Porzingis Becoming a Popular Pick for Magic in Mock Drafts
Many reputable mock drafts are linking Kristaps Porzingis to the Orlando Magic.
We have given extensive time to Kristaps Porzingis at Orlando Magic Daily, beginning with an initial prospect evaluation when the Magic landed the No. 5 overall pick.
In many senses he is exactly what the Magic need, but given his immense upside there is a good chance that he goes before Orlando ever selects.
The worst case scenario decidedly is that the Magic are not able to get Justise Winslow or Kristaps Porzingis. If Kristaps is on the board, it’s looking more and more like that will be Orlando’s guy.
Alex Kennedy, Joel Brigham, Moke Hamilton and Steve Kyler all chose Porzingis for Orlando in the Consensus mock on Basketball Insiders.
I personally also selected him for a mock draft being conducted this week by the MVP Network podcasts. Winslow was off the board at No. 4, but it is tough to say he would have been the choice had he been there at any rate.
Was told today Porzingis is in the hunt at #3, #4 and has a floor at #5... Does not get past Orlando if he's on the board.
— Steve Kyler (@stevekylerNBA) June 18, 2015
Such a range of analysts and writers see him fitting in Orlando, and at this point his stock is too high to imagine him falling out of the top-five.
There is just one week until the NBA draft, and at this point it is becoming clearer which players are being valued the highest.
Live Feed
Swarm and Sting
Fortunately for Orlando, all four Insiders feel the Philadelphia 76ers will go with either Emmanuel Mudiay or D’Angelo Russell. That may end up leaving both Justise Winslow and Kristaps Porzingis on the board, which is essentially Orlando’s dream scenario.
Porzingis would have to be the more attractive option, but Winslow has received immense support from the fan base and may have the highest upside of any non-center in this draft.
ESPN’s Chad Ford has Porzingis going No. 3 to Philadelphia, D’Angelo Russell to New York — and Mario Hezonja going to Orlando. We already took an in-depth look at the international scouts’ opinions of Hezonja, and it ranges high. Team in the high Lottery will covet his shooting ability, and he is a versatile wing who should be able to play the 2 and 3 spots.
NBADraft.net has Orlando taking Porzingis at No. 5 overall, with Winslow going No. 6 and Hezonja No. 7.
Draft Express has Porzingis at No. 3 to Philadelphia again, Russell at No. 4. Orlando then opts to go with Willie Cauley-Stein. This is basically the absolute worst case scenario, though it stands to reason with Winslow on the board that he would be considered along with Cauley-Stein.
The Magic would be hard pressed to pass on Winslow’s high upside and his potential to be a No. 1 option. Orlando is too poor offensively not to consider its need more carefully this year.
Live Feed
Hardwood Houdini
So, there would have to be an indication here the Sixers are likely interested in Porzingis on some level. Chad Ford is a mock drafter whose reputability ranks very high, and Draft Express is usually pretty on-point with its draft predictions.
With the news Joel Embiid had a setback in his recovery and could potentially be out for the season, that would give Philadelphia the option of playing two power forwards between Porzingis and Nerlens Noel. There is no sense pretending any of us have a concept of what Sixers GM Sam Hinkie is thinking though. His rebuild has been one of the most haphazard and aimless seen in NBA history, it seems.
Even so: The hope is that Philly decides to go with a point guard.
Porzingis has to be atop or near the top of Orlando’s draft board, though how high he is remains a matter of speculation.
Cauley-Stein most closely fits the motif of Rob Hennigan’s rebuild thus far — but it is time to consider more than just athleticism and defense. With so much speculation that Orlando is set on Porzingis, it seems fitting that he’s the one taken if Hennigan has the chance.