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2017 Orlando Magic Draft Preview: Who is Jayson Tatum?

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 8, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Jayson Tatum (0) controls the ball against Clemson Tigers forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) during the second half of an ACC Conference Tournament game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Final Word

Jayson Tatum has all the makings of a becoming a strong star in the NBA. He can isolate with the best players in college and score in a variety of ways. he can work his way to the basket or create space to pull off a quick step back or sidestep jumper.

Tatum has a lot of innate tools that make him a very promising prospect next year.

It is not just his offensive and mid-post repertoire that make him intriguing. Tatum is a strong rebounder for his position and can contribute even when the ball is not in his hands. He has good size and length to attack the glass and uses it well defensively.

But you are drafting Tatum for his offense.

What is more promising is he got better as the season went on. In March — a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels, the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament — Tatum averaged 19.1 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 48.9 percent from the floor.

When Tatum is on, he can score seemingly at will in isolation.

That is not the direction the league is going. And Tatum may be a dinosaur when he enters the league.

He will have to improve his passing and, most importantly, his 3-point shooting to become a true star in the NBA. In that same stretch in March, Tatum shot 30.9 percent from beyond the arc.

Tatum still has plenty of room to grow. He can still get significantly better by adding these skills. He should be a solid defender too.

Tatum has a lot of tools to draw on to become a successful player in the NBA one way or another. There is a reason he had some buzz to go with the top overall pick for a while and seemed like a lock to go in the top five.

Next: Mock Draft Roundup: The final list is set

The Magic are just on the outside of it, but one slip would make this promising player very available to them.