Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

Last six sixth overall picks should give Orlando Magic hope for NBA Draft

By S.W. Guest

Feb 15, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) is fouled by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) is fouled by North Carolina Tar Heels forward Theo Pinson (1) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 8
Next
Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics, E'Twaun Moore, New Orleans Pelicans
Jan 7, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) celebrates a three pointer behind New Orleans Pelicans guard E’Twaun Moore (55) during the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

2014 –- Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)

Of all the players on this list, Marcus Smart is the only one currently having an impact deep into the Playoffs.

Taken sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 2014, Smart has averaged 9.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game while playing 28.4 minutes per game the past three seasons

In a lot of ways, he typifies the type of player commonly taken at this stage in the draft: a solid role player who has the potential to be very good, but whose contribution often gets lost in the box score. The Magic were keenly focused on taking him before he withdrew his name from the 2013 Draft and then again in the 2014 Draft.

That said, Smart had the game of his life on Sunday, logging a career-high 27 points, five rebounds and seven assists, while shooting 8 of 14 from the field and 7 of 10 from deep against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This is significant not just because Smart stepped up in the absence of the injured Isaiah Thomas. But largely because he shot the ball so well – something a lot of teams felt he would never do when assessing him ahead of the 2014 Draft.

There is no reason to think Smart is about to become a superstar anytime soon. But if a team’s role players are able to produce performances like this, especially inhigh-pressuree scenarios like the Eastern Conference Finals, then it bodes extremely well for them.

Quite how his career will pan out given all the options Boston currently has is anyone’s guess. But Smart is currently looking like a very smart pick-up, one the Utah Jazz (who took Dante Exum with the fifth overall pick in 2014) may well regret overlooking.