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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Josh Okogie, from scorer to role player

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 28: Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket freshman guard Josh Okogie (5) breaks away to score the game winning buzzer beater during the game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Yellow Jackets defeated the 14th ranked Fighting Irish 62-60 on January 28, 2017, at the Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 28: Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket freshman guard Josh Okogie (5) breaks away to score the game winning buzzer beater during the game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The Yellow Jackets defeated the 14th ranked Fighting Irish 62-60 on January 28, 2017, at the Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Josh Okogie, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Clemson Tigers
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 12: Josh Okogie #5 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets works against Donte Grantham #15 of the Clemson Tigers during the game at Hank McCamish Pavilion on January 12, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Comer/Getty Images) /

Final Word

Josh Okogie has the length and defensive versatility teams look for in a guard. He should be able to switch onto almost any player on the perimeter and use his skills to stick with them. If he turns into an elite defender, he will find a place in the rotation.

The question is whether his other skills will translate. Whether he will be able to get his shot off or attack the rim with as much effectiveness. Like with most athletes, it is about putting all those athletic skills into something he can use.

Okogie showed plenty of signs he can do that at Georgia Tech with the ball in his hands. He is not a raw athlete without any definable NBA skills. Or scoring ability. Okogie has some things very well developed on the offensive end.

But it is always difficult to get scorers, especially ones who dominate the ball, to scale down and find a role. That is the big question with Okogie. What does he scale down to?

Defining a NBA role is always the trick with these late first round picks.

Okogie will make waves in the league with his length and defensive acumen. He will find a place on the court if he commits himself to that end and proves effective. He has all the physical tools to do so.

Offensively, he is a good enough shooter to make an open jumper and cut himself into open space. If he gets a straight shot at the rim or space to attack, he will finish above the rim. It might be asking too much to use him as a playmaker. That is not his forte.

So the question then becomes finding a place for Okogie to fit. The question is about finding that role and finding that fit in the NBA.

Next: 2018 NBA DRaft Preview: Who is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

There is clearly a way for him to do so. The rest is about him fitting into a role and succeeding.