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Orlando Magic hold workout with Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 08: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners drives on Jonah Mathews #2 of the USC Trojans in an 85-83 Sooner win during the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Staples Center on December 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 08: Trae Young #11 of the Oklahoma Sooners drives on Jonah Mathews #2 of the USC Trojans in an 85-83 Sooner win during the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at Staples Center on December 8, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic had their first major prospect (that we know of) in for a workout Thursday. Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young got his look from the Magic.

The Orlando Magic held their first major private workout as they make preparations for the sixth pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

Oklahoma Sooners guard Trae Young was in town, meeting with president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond on Wednesday night and then working out for the team and its staff in an individual workout Thursday at the Amway Center.

Young is one of the most intriguing prospects in the Draft and expected to go in the top 10, at the very least. Few mock drafts have him slipping past the Magic at No. 6, especially considering their need for scoring, for playmaking off the dribble and for a point guard. The fit seems very natural.

But the proof is in the pudding. And nobody really knows someone until they can sit down in a room and have a chat. That was a big part of the workout the Magic likely put Young through as all the Magic’s bigwigs — including Jeff Weltman, John Hammond and coach Steve Clifford — were on hand. Surely a few of the players still in town dropped in too.

It is hard not to be drawn to Young’s play. He led the NCAA in scoring with 27.4 points per game and led the NCAA in assists with 8.7 per game. He put up gaudy scoring totals to go with incredible highlights that had everyone talking like he was Stephen Curry. ESPN certainly promoted him as such.

Young has been about as divisive as a player can be. Some buying completely into his shooting and playmaking as the second coming and a perfect fit in this wide-open, spread-out NBA. Others wondering if he can truly finish or defend against NBA athleticism and keep his turnovers down after having heavy usage in college.

Those are not questions anyone can answer during a pre-Draft workout. All he could do was show him a bit of his personality.

Young spoke to the media in Orlando after his workout:

No matter what anyone else thinks about Young, he carries himself well. He spoke that his competitiveness is something he hopes shines through and is the main thing he wants to display in his individual workouts.

As one of the top picks in the Draft, Young is being selective about where he works out. He has reportedly limited his workouts to the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic and Chicago Bulls.

Young said his game would help the Magic out a lot because his shooting would help spread the floor for the team’s athletic wings. He seemed to know the Magic well — saying he knew Jonathan Isaac from AAU games and had met D.J. Augustin in Texas — and undoubtedly the fit seems very natural.

Young said getting picked by Orlando at No. 6 would mean a lot. He said he hopes to help his team win right away and, “shock the world.” It seemed a pretty boilerplate answer — he might say that about any team that takes him. But it is hard not to dream about the possibilities with his talent and ability.

And he knows he can still improve. Young admitted he can still make improvements on defense. He said his play last year did not do much to quiet those doubts.

Individual workouts are hardly the time to completely draw conclusions about anyone’s games. It is just a chance to get to see the guy work and put him through his paces. The interview likely revealed more information for the Magic.

Orlando still has a lot of prep work to do before the Draft. Duke Blue Devils center Wendell Carter Jr. told the media in Chicago following his workout with the Bulls he will be in Orlando for a workout. That will likely come next week.

The Magic are surely looking at a few other players with their sixth pick too. They may come in for a workout or the Magic may visit them for an interview or a pro day. Michael Porter Jr. hosts his pro day Friday in Chicago.

Next: 2018 NBA Draft Preview: Who is Khyri Thomas

But the Magic probably had one of their bigger targets in town Thursday. File it away as the draft inches closer.