Orlando Magic Daily
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Orlando Magic Daily Mailbag Volume 23: Draft to the Future!

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 13, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) looks to pass the ball over Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) looks to pass the ball over Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dennis Smith Jr., NC State Wolfpack
Feb 25, 2017; Raleigh, NC, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Dennis Smith Jr. (4) handles the ball in font of Virginia Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (11) during the first half at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Usually, we sit here at the NBA Draft and identify needs the team needs to add to improve next season. After last year’s 29-win season, it is hard to say the team has a specific need.

The team needs everything.

But, yes, there do seem to be a few specific things the Magic need. I would characterize them less as position-based and more just a general need.

The Magic need 3-point shooting. They need a playmaking scorer. Really, they need a star.

In that sense, yes, grabbing a point guard is more a want rather than a need. It is hard to say exactly how the new management feels about Elfrid Payton. At the very least, Elfrid Payton has shown in three years he is a serviceable starter. He can deliver on occasion, but he has lacked consistency.

That has had plenty of people eyeing the point guards in this year’s Draft. And there are plenty.

But that does not necessarily mean the Magic should target and draft a point guard for sure this year. If a player like Jayson Tatum or even Josh Jackson slips to No. 6, the Magic have to consider taking them. They should not be married to a position at all.

With the sixth overall pick, the Magic should absolutely take the best player available.

A player like Tatum certainly would seem to bump into Aaron Gordon. Like Aaron Gordon, Tatum is a combo forward who struggles shooting from beyond the arc, although he was better than Gordon was in college. So the fit is far from perfect drafting a player like Tatum.

But fit is not the most important thing for the Magic right now. Right now, the team has to assume every position is up in the air. Gordon maybe less so, but even he cannot feel completely safe.

The Magic need a star. If they believe someone other than a point guard can be that star, they should take him. This is almost a reset. Orlando should not feel committed to anyone and look to move players who do not fit the puzzle anymore.

So for now, a starting point guard is more a want than a need. But more so because everything is a need.