Orlando Magic Rumors: Orlando Magic interview Jawun Evans, Justin Jackson
The Orlando Magic continued their studies and preparations at the NBA Draft Combine. The team reportedly spoke to two likely late-first-round prospects.
The Orlando Magic’s efforts at the NBA Draft Combine continued Thursday as the team watched prospects go through skills drills and five-on-five scrimmages.
One of the most important pieces of this week-long event is the interviews with the prospects. These 30-minute interviews are the team’s first chance to sit down and meet with potential draft prospects.
Even though many of the top prospects are not in attendance in Chicago and the Magic did not get an interview with expected top prospect Markelle Fultz, the team is still gathering a lot of information for their other picks. Orlando has at least two more picks (at 25 and 35) and could get the 33rd pick if the Los Angeles Lakers end up in the top three after Tuesday’s NBA Draft Lottery.
Thursday brought another round of interviews as the team continues to gather information.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Magic interviewed North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson, Oklahoma State Cowboys point guard Jawun Evans, Utah Utes forward Kyle Kuzma and Michigan Wolverines forward D.J. Wilson among others. The Magic are expected to interview 20 total prospects total as the Combine wraps up Friday and Saturday.
Players met with the media Thursday for the first time.
Jackson and Evans are the biggest names the team interviewed on this list. Both are potential first-round picks with Evans a favored target among mock drafts for the Magic with the team’s pick at No. 25.
Evans averaged 19.2 points and 6.4 assists per game last year for Oklahoma State, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament. Evans is a smallish guard at 6-feet, 175 pounds, but showed great athleticism and quickness to get to the basket and create for others.
If the Magic do not take a point guard early in the Draft, Evans is likely the best point guard of the rest of the class and should be available in the 20s. He is a definite target for the Magic with that second pick.
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Justin Jackson from North Carolina is probably the most well-known name after he helped lead the Tar Heels to the national championship last year.
Jackson averaged 18.3 points per game and 4.7 rebounds per game, shooting 37.0 percent from beyond the arc. He had slowly improved in his three seasons at North Carolina. He was a consensus All-American and the ACC Player of the Year last season.
Jackson has good length at 6-foot-8 and an 8-foot-8.5 standing reach. He projects as a solid defender and could continue to improve his offensive game. He is certainly a late first-round option.
The other two players in this report are likely second round picks.
Utah’s Kyle Kuzma has gained notice lately and has had an impressive showing at the NBA Draft Combine. Kuzma 16.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game at power forward. He is more a traditional power forward but has a ton of athleticism.
Kuzma ran the third fastest time in the lane agility drill (a drill where players run and shuttle across the lane in all directions). That is good to hear for lateral quickness defending in the paint. If that drill means anything at all.
Kuzma is an intriguing prospect. But he may be someone who is a bit out of time with the direction the league is headed.
D.J. Wilson is another intriguing power forward prospect. The 6-foot-9 power forward averaged 11.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. His size is impressive and he has a ton of strength. But, again, he may be a player out of time unless he can continue to bulk up and move to center.
The Magic have certainly interviewed more prospects than this as they have gone through the process in Chicago. The NBA Draft Lottery is Tuesday and individual and group workouts in Orlando will follow shortly after.
Next: Orlando Magic must stick to plan to right the ship
The Combine wraps up with another day of drills and five-on-five scrimmages in Chicago on Friday.