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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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TJ Leaf, UCLA Bruins
Jan 14, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) dunks the ball during the first half against the Utah Utes at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports /

Focus on 25

Admittedly, the focus for many fans is on that high Lottery pick. The Magic went through a lot of suffering to land the fifth-best odds in the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery. And the team will have plenty of focus on it once they know where that pick lands.

The reality is that many of the top prospects for the upcoming Draft are not going to show up in Chicago. Among the expected top six or seven picks, only De’Aaron Fox and Markelle Fultz will attend this week. The Magic will certainly try to land interviews with them.

Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic /

Orlando Magic

And neither of these players will not go through any of the agility drills. They are just there for the interviews.

But most likely, the attention for the team will have to turn to the team’s second pick in the first round. That means focusing on players like Syracuse’s Tyler Lydon, Oklahoma State’s Jawun Evans, Gonzaga’s Zach Collins and UCLA’s TJ Leaf among plenty others.

All these players will go through the agility drills and some may participate in the five-on-five games too. The Magic will see plenty of them on the court. But they will also want to get them in the interview room and beginning talking with them.

Unlike that top five pick, there are a lot of options later on in the draft. The team will have to sort through a lot more players to figure out the ones they want to target — both at 25 and early in the second round.

The week in Chicago is going to be spent less focused on the guys at the top and more focused on the guys for late in the first round.