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Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: 5 Players to Watch at the NBA Draft Combine

By Philip Rossman-Reich

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 30: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #4 of the Virginia Tech Hokies in action against the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Center on January 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 30: Nickeil Alexander-Walker #4 of the Virginia Tech Hokies in action against the Miami Hurricanes at Watsco Center on January 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Tyler Herro, Kentucky Wildcats
LEXINGTON, KY – NOVEMBER 21: Tyler Herro #14 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Winthrop Eagles at Rupp Arena on November 21, 2018 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Tyler Herro, Kentucky

The obsession with shooting is going to be a big part of this draft process. The Orlando Magic were actually a decent shooting team during the regular season — 11th in the league in 3-point field goal percentage at 35.6 percent and 15th in the league at 32.1 attempts per game.

But the playoffs exposed all their flaws. Their lack of creation hurt them as did their lack of good floor spacing and shooting. The Toronto Raptors held the Orlando Magic to 29.9 percent on 34.8 attempts per game. They dared Jonathan Isaac to beat them from the perimeter and both Terrence Ross and Evan Fournier struggled to create space for Nikola Vucevic on the interior.

It was a complete disaster in every way offensively for the Magic. It would make sense for Orlando to focus on finding shooters and more two-way players to fit their identity.

Tyler Herro was one of the more interesting shooting prospects in the nation last year, hitting several big shots for the Kentucky Wildcats throughout the season. He shot 35.5 percent from beyond the arc (making just 1.6 attempts per game) but his 93.5 percent free throw percentage suggest she can continue to improve as a shooting team.

He could get hot from deep and help boost the Wildcats’ perimeter attack. He is fairly athletic too and ran some pick and rolls for Kentucky too. He averaged 2.5 assists per game and could attack the basket with some ability too.

Herro does not project as much of a defensive ace though. He has good size but will have to prove himself on that end.

Herro does not have the wingspan or length the Magic like. But his shooting ability will be something the team has to examine and look at carefully.