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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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Jawun Evans, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Feb 3, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) is fouled by Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Keenan Evans (12) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

The Interviews

The league does its official measurements and records scores on agility drills and conducts five-on-five games with some of the lesser-known prospects trying to make a name for themselves. This is essentially the “combine” part of the NBA Draft Combine. This is what gets aired on TV and what everyone thinks about.

But the most important thing that will happen this week are the interviews. These are essentially job interviews and the first opportunity that teams have to sit down with prospects.

It is easy to look at a player’s game tape and understand his skills and see how he fits in with the roster or the vision of a roster. That is one aspect of the decision-making process. The other part is learning about who the player is as a person. That is where the interviews in the next two days come into play.

The interviews are limited. They amount to something like speed dating. There are only a certain amount of interview slots and the interviews are limited to roughly 30 minutes. These interviews are more introductions rather than full-on interviews.

But that first impression is important. Those introductions are important.

And the Magic are likely to get more out of these sit-down meetings than anything else. The Magic have a lot of information to gather at this Draft Combine. And the interviews will take on added importance as they sort through the candidates — and likely take notes for the new president of basketball operations once he is hired.