Orlando Magic Daily's Final NBA Draft Big Board

Orlando Magic Daily’s Final NBA Draft Big Board

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 26: Michigan State Spartans forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (2) drives to the basket during a Big Ten Conference college basketball game between Michigan State and Wisconsin on January 26, 2018, at the Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, MI. (Photo by Adam Ruff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2 of 6

Luka Doncic, Real Madrid /

Tier 1

Jaren Jackson Jr. Big

Michigan State Spartans /

Heu

Luka Doncic Wing

All NBA /

Scouting Report

It is impossible to feel confident ranking either one of these studs ahead of the other.

Jaren Jackson Jr. vs. Luka Doncic is the closest thing to a tie on this board.

I push Jackson slightly ahead for his Defensive Player of the Year and All-NBA ceiling, uniqueness as a 3-and-D center, 1-through-5 switchability and shooting and ball-handling upside.

Doncic’s recent downtick in performance is excusable due to his massive workload for Real Madrid. But it is enough to raise some small questions about his physical stamina and whether the Doncic we saw at Eurobasket is fully representative of what we will get at the next level.

Doncic is still an excellent prospect. It is marginal differences that give Jackson a slight edge for the purposes of this board.

As much as the Magic could use Doncic’s IQ, passing and shot creation, pairing Jaren JacksonJr. and Jonathan Isaac in the frontcourt could make for the best defense in the NBA. Depending on the other three pieces, it might potentially be an all-time great defense. That is hard to pass up.