Orlando Magic general manager John Hammond: Team plans to take best player available at No. 6

The Orlando Magic have some big decisions to make heading into the NBA Draft. The sixth overall pick could shape the franchise. The Magic have a plan.

The Orlando Magic have kept relatively mum since president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond came to town. The word about workouts have slowed to a trickle and even the direction they want the team to head are a bit of mystery.

For sure, Weltman and Hammond had a lot to learn about their team in those early days to get a sense of what direction to head.

They always had an extremely valuable asset up their sleeve. The sixth overall pick in this Draft should net a pretty solid building block piece for the team. Certainly, a player that can kickstart the rebuild some.

This Draft, as everyone seems to agree, is a very good draft. Particularly at the top. The Magic will have an opportunity to make some big waves in this year’s Draft. Especially since they also hold three other picks in the first 35 picks of the Draft.

Everyone is trying to predict exactly what the Magic will do. They want to believe Hammond and Weltman have a type of player they like to take — and that is, at least, partially true. But they appear set to carve their own path.

The logic when picking this high is to take the best player. And it seems that is the direction Weltman and Hammond want to take the Magic. At least at the start.

Hammond joined Scott Anez on ESPN Orlando 580 AM on Wednesday to discuss how he is settling in with Orlando and some of the basic parameters of the Magic’s draft strategy:

"“You hate to get cliches like that, but I think we do,” Hammond said. “That’s how we think and that’s what we’re looking to do right now. We’re going to take the best player on the board and hope this player can develop into a core player that we can help build around for the next few years and eventually turn into a championship-caliber team. But it’s one step at a time. This is a big step. To have the sixth pick, it’s one you don’t want to miss on.”"

Hammond said if the team is doing things right, this player will be one that will have developed into a “name” player in two or three years. Or he will be one who is clearly growing into that kind of player.

Now, who are the Magic targeting? The team is holding that close to the vest still. But Hammond, when asked about drafting long, athletic players said he would like to take players like that if possible. It is where the game is headed, he said. But, the Magic will take what is best available on the board.

But Hammond, when asked about drafting long, athletic players like Thon Maker, Malcolm Brogdon and Giannis Antetokounmpo said he would like to take players like that if possible. It is where the game is headed, he said.

But, the Magic will take what is best available on the board.

Either way, Hammond said the team is very comfortable they will get a good player at the sixth pick. And it is hard to argue with that.

Hammond made the rounds on the local media. He also appeared on The Sports RX on 96.9 The Game in Orlando.

He shared the reasons he left the Milwaukee Bucks for the Magic and his relationship with Weltman. In addition, he commented on his evaluation of the team so far and the early tea leaves as the Magic enter the Draft.

Next: OMD Podcast: The State of the Magic Fan

Both he and Weltman have been very busy as the Magic prepare for the NBA Draft on June 22.