Orlando Magic Daily’s Final NBA Draft Big Board

Tier 7

The Orlando Magic coming away with more than one player from the following tier should be considered a mild disappointment, as almost none of them have a realistic shot at a second contract as a starter on a good team.

The first few players in the tier at least have some combination of upside intrigue (Anfernee Simons or Donte DiVincenzo as bench shotmakers) or floor (Jevon Carter as a backup that can scale alongside a star or Omari Spellman as a Thaddeus Young fascimile). But beyond that, this tier is most likely non-NBA players.

36

Jevon Carter PG

Scouting Report

37

Anfernee Simons Wing

Scouting Report

38

Omari Spellman Big

Scouting Report

39

Donte Divincenzo Wing

Scouting Report

40

Aaron Holiday PG

Scouting Report

41

Bonzie Colson Big

Scouting Report

42

Rodions Kurucs Wing

Scouting Report

43

Malik Newman Wing

Scouting Report

44

Isaac Bonga Wing

Scouting Report

45

Kevin Hervey Wing

Scouting Report

46

Rawle Alkins Wing

Scouting Report

47

Khyri Thomas Wing

Scouting Report

48

Alize Johnson Wing

Scouting Report

49

Ajdin Penava Wing

Scouting Report

50

Devon Hall Wing

Scouting Report

This final tier is largely upside fliers and likely career backups or starters overseas.

Again, modern wings and players with even a remote chance at an important starting role should be prioritized over players who even at their realistic ceilings will be replaceable in free agency.  This board is limited to 50 players, but this tier could extend farther to include Allonzo Trier, Moritz Wagner, Ray Spalding, Devonte’ Graham, Grayson Allen, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Hamidou Diallo, Jaylen Adams and Chimezie Metu.

In any draft, players selected in this range historically have very little chance of offering above-replacement value to the team who picked them.

Jevon Carter stands out as perhaps the only one who it would be more surprising to see fall out of the league than it would be to see him get a second contract. But there is almost zero chance he is a starter on a good team. Still, for Orlando he could bring a nice cultural infusion with his consistent motor.

The 35th and 41st picks may present some interesting options in the event Elie Okobo, De’Anthony Melton, Mitchell Robinson or Jacob Evans fall, which seems possible given the mock draft ascendancies of Aaron Holiday and Jerome Robinson.

But without that happening, those picks probably will not return much long-term value, and with that in mind they should be actively considered in trade talks.

If there is an overarching conclusion to be drawn from drawing out this board, it is that there is a clear dropoff at two major points: 11 and 36. There is a mid-tier wing surplus and scarcity at the other positions outside of the top of the draft.

Next: 2018 NBA Draft: Where the Orlando Magic might target trades

So perhaps the best strategy is to draft a wing in the 20-40 range and a non-wing at the top.