Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft: Memorial Day check up
Troy Brown is already a good defender. But his scoring leaves a lot to be desired. He will have to prove he can find ways to score in the NBA, especially from the perimeter. Finding the right team for him will be the biggest key for his success.
The last two years for Chandler Hutchison has completely changed his outlook. He averaged 20.0 points per game last year and shot an efficient 52.8 percent effective field goal percentage. Hutchison will have to show he can hit 3-pointers. But he has already generated some buzz about his early workouts and, maybe, a first-round promise.
Mitchell Robinson was a McDonald’s All-American two years ago and someone everyone was high on. A suspension at Western Kentucky led him to leave the team eventually. No one has really seen him play for a year now. But Robinson is an athletic, shot-blocking big. He clearly has elite athleticism. He could easily climb draft boards as teams get a closer look at him.
Kevin Huerter was the most impressive player at the NBA Draft Combine to many scouts. He displayed some strong shooting ability. With the Maryland Terrapins, he averaged 14.8 points per game and shot 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. He may not have the biggest ceiling, but he is quickly improving and could easily fill a role as a late first-round pick.
Jacob Evans seems like a solid supporting player. He showed he could hit open 3-pointers in his time with the Cincinnati Bearcats and has a great build to be a strong defender for any team.
Dzanan Musa never really got off the bench for Cedevita in the Croatian League. That is typical for young players. But scouts like his shooting ability. He will have to quickly get up to speed when he comes to the NBA.
Donte DeVincenzo is the kind of grinder any team wants late in the first round. He can hit shots and is perfectly happy coming off the bench. His performance in the NCAA Tournament final really propelled his draft stock.
Jontay Porter is still a raw defender out of the post. But that seems to be the kind of players the Golden State Warriors like to draft — especially with the prospect of losing Kevon Looney in free agency and the need to get a little bit younger off the bench. Porter is a good shot blocker. But he will have to round out the rest of his game.
De’Anthony Melton is the long 6-foot-6 point guard teams make themselves fall in love with. This happens all the time. Melton is intriguing from a physical standpoint. A scandal involving an assistant with the USC Trojans forced Melton to sit out the entire year last year.
Melvin Frazier is a good defender. That will be his calling card in the NBA if he makes it. His offensive game is solid, but he will have to improve his shooting to play more off the ball.
Next: OMD Roundtable: Sixth is a Magic number
The Orlando Magic will also have the 35th and 41st pick in the Draft.