Following the NBA Draft Lottery, the Orlando Magic will begin to set up their draft board and take a look at potential players to target with the sixth pick.
It was met with disappointment, but the Orlando Magic have received the sixth pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Luck was not on Orlando’s side and the team will now have to prepare for draft night in June.
Landing the number six pick puts Orlando in an interesting situation. The Magic are likely to miss out on the top prospects in this class. Players like Lonzo Ball and Markelle Fultz are not going to be donning the Magic colors.
But there is still a crop of talented players who will be on the board when the Magic are on the clock.
At the moment, it appears there will be a plethora of guards and forwards to choose from at six including players like Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum and NC State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr.
When taking a look at Orlando’s needs, it appears the team could use a point guard who can stretch the floor. Elfrid Payton’s future is in doubt and finding a replacement for him will be paramount.
The Magic could also use a true small forward. Evan Fournier has tried his luck in that position, as has Aaron Gordon. Neither have had success in that position. And Terrence Ross has yet to prove he can be consistent enough to start.
With just taking a quick glance at the Magic’s roster, there are plenty of potential players that they could be targeting with the number six pick.
Orlando will have to pick from some very strong options.
Malik Monk — G, Kentucky
Arguably the best prospect at shooting guard, Malik Monk can flat out score. In DraftExpress.com’s mock draft, Orlando lands him at six.
Since their rebuild began, Orlando has been searching for a go-to scorer. Monk may be the answer to that problem. Monk spent one season with the Kentucky Wildcats and displayed a natural scoring ability. He averaged 19.8 points per game on 45 percent shooting.
Along with his scoring ability, Monk is extremely athletic. Even with an undersized frame at 6-foot-4, 197 pounds, Monk uses his vertical and speed to find unique ways to score.
The criticism for Monk revolves around his inability to create for others. If he wants the ball in his hands, he needs to figure out ways to get his teammates involved. His defense can use some work too, but he has the athleticism to improve once he reaches the NBA level.
If Monk ends up in Orlando, the team could immediately use his scoring to its advantage. Even if he begins the season on the bench, he can be thsparkplugug to get the second unit going.
Jayson Tatum — F, Duke
On a Duke team that was full of talent and personality, Jayson Tatum quietly had one of the best seasons in college basketball. Earning him the status of a sure-fire top 10 pick in the draft.
With the Magic experimenting with different players playing the three, Tatum would put a stop to that. With his size and strong offensive game, Tatum looks to be a prototypical wing player.
While he has a strong isolation game and an ability to stretch the floor, Tatum projects to be a solid defender. This is so important for wings in today’s NBA.
When taking a quick peek at Tatum’s numbers, he looks like he is going to be a well-rounded player. He averaged 16.8 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game and 2.1 assists per game.
As always, Tatum has his flaws. Physically, he may not match up with some of the small forwards in the NBA. But if he can gain some weight, he could out-muscle players down the road.
Along with his lack of athleticism, Tatum needs some polishing. He can do almost anything on the offensive end, but not at the level of consistency NBA teams would like. If Tatum can polish his offensive game, he could become one of the top-tier wings in the league.
In Orlando, Tatum would fit in nicely next to Aaron Gordon. They have the potential to be a deadly combination with their mix of skill and athleticism. It will be interesting to see how quickly the Magic give Tatum the reigns if he ends up there.
De’Aaron Fox — G, Kentucky
De’Aaron Fox is the second Kentucky Wildcat to make the list. Fox plays in a similar mold to the Magic’s current point guard, Elfrid Payton.
Fox fits the bill for a slashing point guard standing at 6-foot-4 with blazing speed and tight handles. The Wildcat point guard filled the stat sheet with 16.7 points per game while tallying 4.6 assists per game.
Fox exploded onto the scene last year with a tremendous 39-point performance in the Sweet Sixteen against Lonzo Ball and the UCLA Bruins. Fox displayed how effective he can be when his jump shot is right.
During the offseason, Fox should be working on his playmaking. He has the skills, but like Tatum, he needs to polish his passing. Growing pains should be expected fro any rookie point guard, but Fox will need to be able to get his teammates involved from day one.
After the All-Star break, Orlando decided to use their athleticism to their advantage and run the fast break and score in transition at will. If Orlando plans to continue down that path, Fox could be the perfect fit.
Dennis Smith Jr. — G, NC State
In a class that is filled with talented point guards, Dennis Smith Jr. is right at the top of the list. In his only season at NC State, Smith proved that he is an elite prospect.
Out of all the other possible targets, Smith played on the worst team. His Wolfpack squads struggled to win games in a loaded ACC.
When on a team that struggles, it is hard for younger players to stay focused. That was definitely the case with Smith whose season was the definition of up and down. He still managed to average 18.1 points per game and 6.2 assists per game.
Smith would fit the mold as a modern-day point guard. A smooth ball-handler and capable scorer, Smith would be one of Orlando’s best scoring options from the get-go.
If the Magic pull the trigger on Smith, it would be intriguing to see how the Magic handle their point guard rotation. The team still has both Elfrid Payton and D.J. Augustin under contract.
Jonathan Isaac — F, Florida State
Jonathan Isaac has one of the highest ceilings in this class. It is not hard to see the similarities, at least physically, to Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Although the ceiling is sky-high, many feel Isaac is a long-term project. There is a chance Orlando is not in the market for a player like Isaac. Still, he has the skills to be one of the best players in the draft if he lands in the right situation.
Isaac is a unique prospect. The near seven-footer has great mobility and can run the floor like a guard. His tremendous wingspan and reach allow him to finish over the top and shoot over defenders.
Add on a smooth shooting stroke, it is easy to see what this young man can become.
The negatives on Isaac have much do to with his weight. He weighs in just more than 200 pounds and will have to put on plenty of muscle if he is going to play in the frontcourt. He will get taken advantage of by stronger players early on in his career.
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Orlando may not be in a position to take the risk and draft Isaac, but they will have to be patient if they decide to pull the trigger. He has the skillset to be a building block for the franchise, Orlando will have to continue to be patient if Isaac is to be successful.