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Orlando Magic Daily Podcast Episode 90: The Draftermath, or too much length for one guest

By Philip Rossman-Reich

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Mohamed Bamba looks on after being selected sixth overall by the Orlando Magic on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Mohamed Bamba looks on after being selected sixth overall by the Orlando Magic on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic took Mohamed Bamba to begin setting the course for their defensive identity. What else comes next and how do we evaluate the team now?

The NBA Draft became a projection of everyone’s hopes and dreams for the upcoming NBA season and, indeed, for the Orlando Magic’s entire future.

With the sixth overall pick, the Magic had the opportunity to transform their team in a major way. This was a draft and a selection that would change the team’s direction in one way or another.

Rumors on Draft night began to swirl and fans got excited with the prospects of moving up. Luka Doncic quickly became in the crosshairs. It almost felt like an inactive draft would somehow be a failure.

Maybe that explains some of the lukewarm reaction to drafting Mohamed Bamba — or not getting a chance to draft Trae Young. Offense certainly still sells in this league. But Bamba is another player who can change the game and will help set the team’s defensive identity.

Orlando needs a player with elite skills and potential to force teams to gameplan around him. No matter how good Aaron Gordon got last year, he was not that player. Neither was Victor Oladipo in his time with the Magic either.

Teams will have to gameplan around Bamba’s presence defensively. And even then it might not matter. He can be that much of a gamechanger defensively with his length. Orlando wanted a foundational piece and, even if he does not have the name recognition or offensive firepower, they appear to have gotten one.

Despite the anticipation for Draft night, Orlando ended up with one of the top guys on the team’s board in the end. And then added more length and defensive ability later on in the Draft.

Thursday began setting the team in motion. But it was just one step. One step of many. Orlando was not solving all of its problems in the Draft or on one night. There are still plenty more dominos to fall even before the season begins in October. And many more to fall there.

As the Draft is completed, we begin to turn toward the summer and what free agency might hold in store and how the Magic make sense of their roster now — yes, they added another center.

It will be a busy summer. And obviously, the Magic will have a lot to get to.

As the Draft wrapped up, I spoke to Zach Oliver of Orlando Pinstriped Post and Danny Thompson of Around the Association about what comes next for the Magic.

On This Episode:

  • What was at stake in this NBA Draft and whether length can solve it?
  • Why adding Mohamed Bamba to Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac is different from the Serge Ibaka experiment…
  • What trade opportunities the Orlando Magic might have considered… or passed on?
  • Did the Orlando Magic make the right pick with Mohamed Bamba? Who else was on the board for them? Could Bamba become an All-Star?
  • Did the Orlando Magic miss out on a point guard in the second round? How did they do with their two second-round picks?
  • How do the Orlando Magic solve their point guard problem now? Does it make sense to attack it in free agency?
  • How do the Orlando Magic balance chasing their needs and keeping financial flexibility?
  • Is Kemba Walker or another star an option for the Orlando Magic in a trade?
  • How Mohamed Bamba adds an elite skill to the Orlando Magic.
  • What grade do you give the Orlando Magic’s draft?

Be sure to follow Danny Thompson on Twitter @nbadt29 and check out his work and his podcast at Around the Association.

You can follow Zach Oliver on Twitter @zacholivernba and be sure to listen to him on the Do You Believe in Magic podcast and over at Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Next: Orlando Magic select Mohamed Bamba in NBA Draft

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