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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 22: Drafting a dream

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 24, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; The basketball court for the NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. The court is made from 397 4’ x 7’ panels of Northern Hard Maple, weighing approximately 188 pounds each. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK
Mar 24, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; The basketball court for the NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. The court is made from 397 4’ x 7’ panels of Northern Hard Maple, weighing approximately 188 pounds each. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Josh Jackson, Kansas Jayhawks, Purdue Boilermakers
Mar 23, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Josh Jackson (11) drives up court ahead of Purdue Boilermakers defense during the first half in the semifinals of the midwest Regional of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Sprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

Let me start this off by saying Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball are the clear number one and two guys in this Draft. i do not think that is going to change. Ball may have surpassed Fultz on some boards. I still have not really decided between the two. I do like both and think both can be very good.

There is a reason to like both. There is no doubt about that.

Fultz has just a smooth way about his game. He is a scorer’s scorer. He knows how to create his own shot and put the ball in the basket. Even on a bad knee, he is going to produce points.

With Ball, I just absolutely love the way he controls the pace of a game. When he has the ball, there is an undeniable bounce and rhythm to his game and his team feeds off that. He has that “it” factor you need from a point guard. At least at the college level. And UCLA should have had the ball in his hands more.

For me, my favorite prospect in this draft is Josh Jackson from Kansas. He is the clear No. 3 guy, but Jackson, like Fultz, just knows how to score. Which is incredible considering his jumper is suspect. He is great working in the midrange and has the athleticism to get to the basket. Unlike the two guys ahead of him, Jackson is a pretty committed defender.

What I like most about Jackson is what he does when he does not have the ball in his hands. Jackson seems to have an instinct on where to move when he does not have the ball. He always makes himself a threat and is available for a pass. I really like Jackson as a player and I think his game can translate to the NBA, despite his lagging jump shooting.

Really, in this draft, anyone in the top five is going to be more than fine.

Duke’s Jayson Tatum came on late and he is the kind of player who can score a lot of points even when he is not super involved in the offense. He may seem passive and end up with a double-double.

Malik Monk is a flamethrower and is rarely quiet in a game. The kid can just flat-out make shots and tough jumpers at that.

Dennis Smith of NC State, I am not as high on, but he is a solid scorer. Same with Jonathan Isaac of Florida State.