Orlando Magic Daily
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2018 Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Second-Round targets for the Orlando Magic

By Philip Rossman-Reich

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 23: Villanova Wildcats guard Jalen Brunson (1) makes a run at the basket past West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jevon Carter (2). During the Villanova Wildcats game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, MA.(Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - MARCH 23: Villanova Wildcats guard Jalen Brunson (1) makes a run at the basket past West Virginia Mountaineers guard Jevon Carter (2). During the Villanova Wildcats game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, MA.(Photo by Michael Tureski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Melvin Frazier, Tulane

UCF Knights fans probably know just what kind of terror Melvin Frazier can be on the defensive end.

Frazier was the driving force for the Tulane Green Wave last year as his scoring and efficiency. He averaged 15.9 points per game and shot a 61.0 percent effective field goal percentage.

Offensively, he was good at driving to the basket and scoring around there. He was not a great 3-point shooter. And he had the ball in his hands a lot. That is not likely his role in the NBA.

His 3-point shooting has shown marked improvement over his three years. He shot 38.5 percent from beyond the arc after two seasons shooting worse than 30 percent from there. It certainly seems like Frazier has room to grow offensively.

But where Frazier will make his mark is on the defensive end. He is one of the better defensive players in the NCAA. A team that is picking Frazier is picking him for his potential on that end, especially if his offense continues to grow and he can develop a consistent 3-point shot.

Among guards at the NBA Draft Combine, the 6-foot-4.5 guard had the second-biggest wingspan at 7-foot-1.75, behind combo wing Ketia Bates-Diop. This is a guy with a lot of physical tools and a desire to play defense that will be hard for teams to pass up. Particularly if they come in the second round.

Frazier put up some good numbers in the NBA Draft Combine scrimmages too. He was someone who stands out on the court. He scored 14 points, four assists and four steals in his scrimmage game in Chicago. That is a good showing.

What will determine whether he makes it in the NBA is whether he develops that jump shot to complement his defensive abilities. But having that intangible defensively is a good place to start. And that will always attract attention.