NCAA Tournament Preview: Who the Orlando Magic should be watching
By John Black
As the NCAA Tournament gets underway, the Orlando Magic will be watching attentively. The Magic will be looking at the guards as they prepare for the Draft.
It is no secret the Orlando Magic entered the year with possibly one of the worst point guard situations in the league. The Magic were going to rely on a veteran backup in D.J. Augustin to steer the wheel. While D.J. Augustin has exceeded all expectations, even as the season progresses, Orlando has struggled with depth at the point guard position.
Jerian Grant began the season as the team’s backup. Coach Steve Clifford soon realized Jerian Grant was not going to be the long-term answer as the number two point guard and began rotating in Isaiah Briscoe.
It took Isaiah Briscoe a few months to adjust to the NBA level after playing in Estonia last year. But the former Kentucky Wildcats point guard grew quickly and assumed the backup role. His torn meniscus was a big damper on the team and its Playoff hopes. They turned to former Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams on a 10-day contract to try to hold the boat steady.
But the front office still believed they had not found their long-term answer at point guard, resulting in the trade for Markelle Fultz. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond are dedicated to being patient with Markelle Fultz, but there is no guarantee he can return to his college form.
The Magic could draft another young point guard for some extra insurance. It has largely been assumed this is a direction the Magic could go in the draft. Perhaps it still will be.
While point guard was the biggest concern entering this season, shooting guard may be the biggest concern entering the offseason.
Evan Fournier has been in a slump all season. The 26-year-old guard is averaging career lows in 3-point field goal percentage (34.2 percent) and effective field goal percentage (49.7%). He is also averaging his lowest points per game total since his first season with the Magic.
Terrence Ross has stepped up off the bench this year, picking up some of Evan Fournier’s slack. Terrence Ross is averaging a career-high in points per game at 14.6 points per game, and has rightfully so been given the nickname “The Human Torch.”
Unfortunately, Ross is a free agent this summer, so there is no guarantee “The Human Torch” returns to Orlando. While Fournier still has two years on his deal the Magic would be wise to look for a two guard in the draft for depth, as well as future potential.
If the season were to end today, Orlando would have the 11th pick in the draft. It is safe to say at this point the Magic will be picking somewhere between the 10-15 range as the season officially ends.
The draft order when it comes to that point is always malleable, no matter what any mock draft says, so the Magic will have some room to work with in their scouting department.
With the NCAA Tournament set to begin, here are several players the Magic should watch as they make their draft preparations for the end of college basketball’s season.