Orlando Magic Daily Roundtable: Sixth is a Magic number
What has been your biggest takeaway from the NBA Playoffs and what that means for the Orlando Magic as they try to rebuild?
Henderson: My biggest takeaway from the 2018 NBA Playoffs is how the Boston Celtics are one game away from a NBA Finals berth starring a rookie in Jayson Tatum and a second-year player in Jaylen Brown. They are giving LeBron james all he wants and more. These two guys have taken the underdog role to the heart and have played superb during these Playoffs. If the Magic can take care of business this draft and select a franchise turning player like how the Celtics have, the Magic may be able to make a Playoff.
Rossman-Reich: Switching is everything. Whenever someone says Jonathan Isaac should play center, I still reflexively shoot them down. And I still think that is the case. But these Playoffs are showing just how important it is to have a center who can switch onto guards and stick on the perimeter in the pick and roll. Orlando has Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon who are pretty good defending the paint and protecting the rim. They fit that modern style. And in small bursts — and one day the Playoffs — Isaac will play more center. But the center has become a dinosaur much quicker than any of us could imagine.
Doyle: I agree with Phil here. The ability to switch on defense. The Orlando Magic have the foundation of a very versatile defense with Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac. I see them building off of that in the Draft. Adding athletes with high ceilings who can switch on almost any player are how the Magic should build this roster. Orlando should copy the elite teams around the league. Follow in their footsteps as they try to regain relevance in the NBA.
Scricca: That big, high-IQ wings who can shoot, dribble, pass and defend are the most valuable commodity in the league. Small point guards and big men who cannot shoot at a high level, cannot defend in space or cannot make quick decisions defensively have hamstrung playoff teams in the past few years. That is one reason why I have ranked Luka Doncic, Miles Bridges, Zhaire Smith and others ahead of Deandre Ayton. Not only does this apply to roster construction, but it also applies to trade value and asset management. There is already a massive glut of big men in the league, few of whom can sustain a positive impact during high-level postseason basketball. That specific mold of wing player is immensely valuable in terms of the sustainable and versatile productivity they provide, but also in terms of leaguewide scarcity. Building a team with that in mind is the way to go.
Racine: My biggest takeaway from the Playoffs so far is that team-first basketball still wins games and rookies can make a major impact. The Boston Celtics’ team-first play has taken them to the Eastern Conference Finals. Rookie Jayson Tatum is playing superb basketball. The Orlando Magic should aim to find a coach like Brad Stevens and expect the next rookie to make an impact right away.
Palmer: It seems pretty darn clear that if you cannot defend, then you are going to be exposed in the Playoffs. Right now the Golden State Warriors/Houston Rockets series is just a continual switch and attack the mismatch series. The Orlando Magic have a couple of guys who can do that in Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon, Wesley Iwundu, and Khem Birch. But I am not sure if anybody else really fits that bill. That is one of the reasons you worry about guys like Deandre Ayton, Marvin Bagley, and Trae Young. While Ayton has the physical tools you just do not know if he will put it together on that end. Bagley could not hide anywhere with the Duke Blue Devils and was repeatedly exposed because it seemed like he just does not process the game fast enough. And Trae Young can only defend one position and he is not really twitched up or big enough to defend supreme athletes. That is the real worry you think about drafting these guys.
Flynn: Everyone makes a great point regarding the need to defend. I see the success the Boston Celtics have had with their young, versatile wings and it gives me some hope as an Orlando Magic fan. The Celtics are without their top two stars and are one game away from an NBA Finals appearance. All thanks to the versatility of their young wings they can play positionless basketball. When I see this it makes me skittish on the need to draft Trae Young. I am not convinced his offense ability will be able to overshadow his expected shortcomings on defense or his lack of versatility in an NBA lineup.
Next: Orlando Magic must find star in NBA Draft
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