The Orlando Magic took Mohamed Bamba with the sixth pick in the NBA Draft, adding a center with rim protection and surprising athleticism for a big.
The Orlando Magic selected Texas Longhorns center Mohamed Bamba with the sixth overall pick in the NBA Draft, adding a player with impressive and record-setting length to a team that already features long and rangy defenders.
The Orlando Magic selected Tulane Green Wave guard Melvin Frazier with the 35th pick in the draft and traded Kentucky Wildcats forward Jarred Vanderbilt to the Denver Nuggets for the 43rd pick in the draft. They selected Maryland Terrapins forward Justin Jackson with that pick.
Mohamed Bamba is a 6-foot-11 center who measured with a NBA Draft Combine-record 7-foot-10 wingspan. His length is his most impressive attribute and he has the agility to move around the paint. He should make an immediate impact defensively.
That is certainly what happened at Texas. Bamba averaged 3.7 blocks per game and 10.5 rebounds per game last year. Bamba had a +8.9 defensive box plus-minus. He will change games defensively.
Bamba though also showed the agility and ability to step to the perimeter on both ends. He is a decent jump shooter and has remade his jumper to become a better 3-point shooter. The work he has put in with Drew Hanlen during the offseason has seemingly paid dividends. Although making a lot of 3-pointers in an empty gym is promising but not necessarily meaningful.
Still, Bamba has always projected as someone who could grow into one of the best stretch-5s in the league. Someone who can pop out to the 3-point line just as much as he can play near the basket.
Bamba will have to continue developing that 3-point shot. For now, he will be a solid defensive player and culture setter on that end. It certainly fits with the skill set Orlando already has with Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and coach Steve Clifford.
The biggest concern with Bamba is his slight frame. He is not the best rebounder and can get pushed around on the block. He will have to continue adding lower body strength so he can battle bigger centers.
Still, Bamba fits the Magic’s pattern for drafting. He is an ideal player for the team to build a defense around. The team still has holes to fill. But they were not going to fill them all in one draft.
Orlando needed to take the best player available. At the very least, Bamba will change and set the team’s defensive culture on raw offensive ability alone. From there he can continue to grow and improve.
The Magic continued that defensive theme in the second round, selecting Frazier in the second round.
Frazier increased his scoring over his three-year career in New Orleans but made his name mostly on the defensive end. He was one of the best defensive players in the American Athletic Conference. Frazier averaged 15.9 points per game and posted good rebound numbers.
At the NBA Draft Combine, Frazier measured with a 7-foot-1 wingspan. That was the second-longest wingspan among guards at the Combine. He uses it well.
Frazier improved his 3-point shooting and made 38 percent of his threes after hitting less than 30 percent in his first two years.
Like many of the Magic’s picks the last two years, he has a ton of physical tools and natural athleticism but a still-developing offensive game.
Orlando continued to double down on this length theme in acquiring Justin Jackson in the second round.
Jackson averaged 9.8 points per game last year as he struggled to build off a promising freshman year. His shooting dipped below 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Once again, though, Jackson measured out extremely well. He had a 7-foot-3 wingspan at 6-foot-6 with shoes. He is a better shooter than what he showed in his final season with the Terrapins.
Next: NBA Draft Preview: Who is Mohamed Bamba?
It is clear that theme of length is persisting with this team.