It has been a week since the Orlando Magic added Mohamed Bamba in the NBA Draft and reset the franchise’s course. How did they do and what comes next?
It has been a week since the NBA Draft and the Orlando Magic taking the next step in their rebuild.
It was a big one too. One with a 7-foot-10 wingspan — or at least a 7-foot wingspan. The Magic’s addition of Mohamed Bamba was a big one for the team. He has the potential to change the team’s defensive identity and provide a solid backstop for the team overall.
The promising trio of Mohamed Bamba, Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon seems to have all the tools and pieces a team would want to build a strong defense around. For the first time in a while, the Magic seem to have something to get excited about.
But there are still a lot of questions too. This is an incomplete roster as things stand. And that group is still very unproven. Jonathan Isaac’s rookie year was a false start. Aaron Gordon is about to get a big payday that no one is certain he might be worth after just one year taking a step on the right direction. And Bamba is a raw rookie with potential alone at the moment.
Orlando has its work cut out for it still. Even if last week was a step in the right direction.
The Magic got a lot done though. They formed the beginnings of an identity and created an exciting young trio that seems to have the potential to work together.
Now they turn to free agency to fill in the rest of those gaps. They have a big question to answer when it comes to Gordon as he hits restricted free agency. And there is that big hole at point guard the Magic have to fill, even if it is a short-term solution they find for now.
To help us recap the draft and get ready for free agency, the Orlando Magic Daily staff got together to evaluate where things stand with the Magic.
What grade would you give the Orlando Magic’s Draft? Do you like the Mohamed Bamba pick?
CJ Kania (@chatbuckets): A-. Yes, with what players were left on the board when the Orlando Magic were up, they selected what I believe to be the best player available at the time.
Ryan Doyle (@RDoyle27): B+. The Magic had Mohamed Bamba fall into their laps with the sixth pick. Despite not necessarily filling a need on the roster, Bamba was certainly the best player available. Plus, he rounds out what could be a devastating Orlando frontcourt with Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac along with him. Mohamed Bamba fits the Jeff Weltman and John Hammond mold and should bring immediate production on the glass and the defensive end. Magic twitter (myself included) may have been disappointed they could not entice the Atlanta Hawks enough to land Luka Doncic, but Mohamed Bamba is the next best prospect.
Drew Miller (@drewmill_): C-. Length is important. But Jeff Weltman and John Hammond have taken it too far. Simply drafting for wingspan and neglecting team needs is a losing strategy. I think Mohamed Bamba was the correct pick with who was available. But I would have rather the Magic trade up for Luka Doncic or draft Trae Young (if he was available).
Philip Rossman-Reich (@philiprr_omd): I give the Orlando Magic a B+. Orlando got the best player available with the sixth overall pick and someone who can redefine their offensive and defensive identity. That was task No. 1 for the offseason. So the Magic I think did great there. I am a big fan of Melvin Frazier and he was someone I had high on my board. The big concern that remains with this team that the draft did not solve is the lack of shooting, and certainly the questions at point guard. Orlando was not answering all those questions in one Draft. But they certainly got on the right track, even if some opportunities might have been missed.
Can the Aaron Gordon-Jonathan Isaac-Mohamed Bamba frontcourt work? What concerns you about it?
Kania: I think it will work on the long term but probably not this season. Defensively it should be an outstanding trio from the start. The concerns are obviously on the other end where all three players need to improve their shooting but they are all young enough to do just that.
Doyle: Offense is the only issue. Aaron Gordon has already proven he is a terrific defender. Jonathan Isaac showed flashes in his rookie season. If Mohamed Bamba’s freshman year with the Texas Longhorns was any indication, the Magic frontcourt will wreak havoc very, very soon. Again, it is unclear where the offense is coming from. Gordon took strides, but still has plenty of room to grow if he is too carry the scoring load. Isaac and Bamba are even farther behind. If they can hit 3-pointers consistently, it could solve spacing issues down the road.
Miller: I do not see this frontcourt working long term. Throughout his career, Aaron Gordon has failed at the small forward position. I do not see Aaron Gordon and Jonathan Isaac coexisting as neither have the offensive ability to play the three. The defense could be lethal but I doubt this lineup can be successful on the offensive end.
Rossman-Reich: I think it can. Certainly defensively at least. All three players should have the ability to defend multiple positions and create a ton of defensive versatility. Orlando might even be able to pack the paint and defend the rim for a change. That has the makings of a defensive identity. All three complement each other really well on the defensive end. The concern, of course, is on the offensive end. Someone on this Orlando Magic team is going to have to make a shot. Aaron Gordon’s 3-pointer has come a long way, but it is not quite reliable yet. Mohamed Bamba’s 3-point shooting is theoretical. And Jonathan Isaac still feels like putty or something unformed that has yet to set.
Did the Orlando Magic make a mistake not addressing point guard in some way during the Draft?
Kania: No, because after missing out on Luka Doncic and Trae Young, none were good enough to pick at No. 6 and the Orlando Magic needs a new starter there, not a second-round project.
Doyle: Since Trae Young was off the board, I did not see the Orlando Magic realistically reaching on a Collin Sexton or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at six. Also, a trade to get back into the first round to snag a guard late in the first round is a major risk with the team that has a ton of holes. There was no reason to give up a future first, (which will likely be a lottery pick) for a project at point guard.
Miller: YES! The Orlando Magic made a huge mistake in not addressing the team’s biggest need. I understand the Mohamed Bamba pick. But young bigs rely heavily on solid guard play. Now the only real point guard on the roster is D.J. Augustin, and he has proven he is incapable of playmaking and leading an offense. The Jonathan Isaac, Aaron Gordon and Mohamed Bamba’s development will suffer greatly if D.J. Augustin is the lead point guard next year. The team should have at least taken a chance on a guard in the second round, as there was still some interesting prospects (Bruce Brown, Gary Trent Jr., Khyri Thomas) available when the Magic picked.
Rossman-Reich: If the Orlando Magic were not getting a point guard at the top of the draft, then they were probably not going to get a starting point guard in this draft. Certainly, they could use some depth at that position. And there were a few point guards, I would have liked to see the team try to trade up and get. Those opportunities never presented themselves for sure. But Orlando certainly finds itself in a bind trying to fill that position. There was a missed opportunity here, nothing that merits an emergency. But now the pressure is on with free agency.
What should be the Orlando Magic’s biggest target in free agency?
Kania:
POINT GUARD
POINT GUARD
POINT GUARD
Doyle: I think point guard is the most obvious place to look. The Magic are in terrible cap standing and do not have much flexibility, but there are a few realistic options. Isaiah Thomas and Dante Exum have been names floating around since season’s end.
Miller: Obviously, point guard. The team just cut Shelvin Mack and at the very least needs one more point guard just on the roster. But the team should be looking to sign a guard that would start and be able to create some plays on the offensive end.
Rossman-Reich: Yeah, the Magic have to find a point guard. But I think that comes more likely in a trade than in free agency. Orlando only has the mid-level exception ($8.6 million starting salary) to offer. That is likely only getting a backup quality — or damaged goods in the case of Isaiah Thomas. I think the Magic should use their free agency to target some shooting. Find some bargains and bolster the team’s perimeter play and shooting from the wings. That is likely the best way for the team to use this asset.
Under what conditions should the Orlando Magic let Aaron Gordon walk? Does this scenario exist?
Kania: ZERO, even if you do not believe Aaron Gordon is worth the max, sometimes you have to let the market dictate price. Losing young talented players for nothing is something a team this starved for talent can not do.
Doyle: I cannot really think of a plausible scenario to let him walk. I get he may not be worth a max at the moment. But he is oozing with potential and the Magic cannot afford to allow him to leave. The organization already looks foolish enough trading away Victor Oladipo, they cannot do the same with Gordon. He is the only marketable star on the roster and has improved in every season.
Miller: Another team offers Gordon a max contract. I do not see this situation occurring, as the Magic have made it clear that the team will match most offers. However, if a team offers Gordon the max, there is a logical argument to let him walk, save cap space, and aim for the first pick in next year’s draft.
Rossman-Reich: I think giving Aaron Gordon the max is a pretty big investment. I would get very leery about doing that. So that is pretty close to my limit. I think the Magic should generally invest in Gordon and believe that he will continue to get better — or retain some trade value. But management should have a number in mind. For me it is probably at that max level. I do not know if I would go more than $24 million per year on an offer sheet. I would want the ability to structure the deal in my favor if he is going to get that much.
Next: What a sign-and-trade means
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