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5 things to watch for at the NBA Draft Combine

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 1, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) shoots a layup against the USC Trojans during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 1, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) shoots a layup against the USC Trojans during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Markelle Futlz, Washington Huskies, USC Trojans
Feb 1, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies guard Markelle Fultz (20) shoots a layup against the USC Trojans during the first half at Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

The NBA Draft Combine begins this week marking the first turn toward the NBA Draft. The Orlando Magic will have a lot of work to do in Chicago.

The NBA Draft process begins its first public turn as the league’s teams descend on Chicago along with 67 of the league’s draft prospects for the NBA Draft Combine this week.

The NBA Draft Combine is not as much of a spectacle as the NFL Draft Combine has become. Most of the major players still skip the agility drills. And some of the very best prospects are not even bothering to show up.

That is their prerogative to control the process. At this point, Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball are fairly confident they will be the top two. With Josh Jackson and Jayson Tatum feeling comfortable to fill out the top four.

They will have their chance to get out on the court in individual workouts at their leisure.

The NBA Draft Combine presents the first time for team personnel to interact with the prospects throughout the draft. It has more importance than just the drills and the five-on-five games for players to showcase themselves just a bit.

The next few days will be an exhaustive process as teams add more information to their ledgers and turn at least a more serious eye toward the NBA Draft.

As ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla likes to say, this is a job interview for the prospects. That is how they should treat it. And largely the most important aspects involve the interview process. That first interaction with team personnel.

The Orlando Magic will have a lot of work to do in Chicago this week.

Coach Frank Vogel and interim general manager Matt Lloyd will lead the team’s delegation at the Draft Combine. They will be reviewing prospects and interviewing them at the various interview sessions.

The Magic have a lot of work to do at this year’s combine.

They have potentially four picks in the top 35 picks to scout and prepare for. They have their first pick — the fifth best Lottery odds — and the 25th pick in the Draft. Two first round picks is a lot of weight and responsibility to deliver on. The Magic also have the 35th pick and potentially the 33rd pick, depending on if the Los Angeles Lakers land in the top three or not at next week’s NBA Draft Lottery.

There are a lot of prospects to see and prepare for and possibly meet. The teams are limited to how many interviews they can do. But they certainly will set up a good chunk of their individual workouts and their target list in Chicago this week.

There is a lot to get to and plenty to watch as the NBA Draft attention descends upon Chicago a week before the NBA Draft Lottery next Tuesday.