Orlando Magic Daily
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A way-too-early look at the 2018 NBA Draft

By Ricky Scricca

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 12: Luka Doncic, #7 of Real Madrid in action during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 1 game between Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Real Madrid at Sinan Erdem Dome on October 12, 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Aykut Akici/EB via Getty Images)
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - OCTOBER 12: Luka Doncic, #7 of Real Madrid in action during the 2017/2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 1 game between Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Real Madrid at Sinan Erdem Dome on October 12, 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey. (Photo by Aykut Akici/EB via Getty Images) /
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Michael Porter, Jr., Missouri

Michael Porter, Jr. projects as the most versatile scorer in this draft. Although the Kevin Durant comparisons are hyperbolic, Porter’s scoring ability is undeniable.

He is widely regarded as a top-three pick because he can put the ball in the basket from virtually anywhere on the court. Porter is a good 3-point shooter (36 percent), lethal from midrange, solid in the mid-post and is a threat off the ball. He also shot nearly 68 percent on 2-point field goals last year.

His free-throw numbers, shooting 84.4 percent in 2016, indicates his stroke will translate to the next level. But right now he is best in transition where he can finish at the rim and pull up from beyond the arc.

In isolation, he can hit step-back jumpers and overpower smaller wing defenders. But his handle needs some improvement before he reaches his full potential as a one-on-one scorer in the halfcourt. Fortunately, his nose for rebounding and ability to grab-and-go helps him create his own transition opportunities.

Aside from his handle, the only downside to his offensive game is that with his scorer’s mentality, he sometimes gets tunnel vision and forces bad shots instead of passing to an open man. But as long as he is putting up these impressive numbers and solid overall efficiency, you can’t be too mad at him for that.

He has defensive potential because of his size, speed and length. But he has a lot of work to do on that end. When defending off the ball he tends to over-help. And because he is not great at recovering on closeouts either, this can lead to easy buckets for the other team. That said, he has solid instincts and is rather opportunistic at turning opponent’s mistakes into easy points.

On the ball, he needs to improve his ability to navigate screens and stay in front of his man. His light lower body works against him when defending in the post. If he can improve here he could be a solid NBA 4 like Harrison Barnes. A stout, versatile defender who can stretch the floor and be a good No. 1 or No. 2 option on offense.

Like Bagley, Porter is a dynamic scorer with defensive potential. He is the kind of prospect franchises want to build around. During his tenure with the Missouri Tigers, pay attention to whether he can be a plus defender and unlock his potential for versatility.

Or just sit back and enjoy his highlight reel dunks.