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Five players the Orlando Magic must talk to at the NBA Draft Combine

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Skal Labissiere (1) drives to the basket against Stony Brook Seawolves forward Jameel Warney (20) during the first half in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 17, 2016; Des Moines, IA, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Skal Labissiere (1) drives to the basket against Stony Brook Seawolves forward Jameel Warney (20) during the first half in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /
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Skal Labissiere, Kentucky

Thumbing through all the mock drafts early on this draft season, and it is clear many people see Skal Labissiere, the Kentucky freshman, as a good match for the Orlando Magic.

The 6-foot-11 center had an inconsistent season for the Wildcats. He averaged just 6.6 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game in 15.8 minutes per game. He was not even playing half the game for the Wildcats this season. He did post 1.6 blocks per game.

This is a guy who is still raw and reliant solely on his athleticism to make an impact. And it took him a while to figure out the college game. It seemed like he was figuring some things out — he recorded a 12-point, six-block game in the NCAA Tournament against Stony Brook — but he is undoubtedly still very raw.

There is undoubtedly all the physical tools there for him though. He has long arms and great athleticism. Plus good defensive instincts.

He just is a project. He did not seem completely ready for the collegiate game and that showed in his stat line. Drafting him is recognizing he can develop into something but may not be able to contribute it consistently right away.

This is why sitting down and talking to him is so important immediately. If the Magic are at all interested in drafting him — and yes, the team desperately needs a rim protector — they need to get a sense of who he is as a person. What caused the struggles his freshman year at Kentucky? How did he react to them? How does he view himself as a player?

For a young player with potential and middling stats, these are more important. Because character will ultimately determine whether he cashes in on that potential.

Next: Jakob Poeltl