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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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Romeo Langford, Indiana Hoosiers
PISCATAWAY, NJ – JANUARY 30: Romeo Langford #0 of the Indiana Hoosiers in action against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during a game at Rutgers Athletic Center on January 30, 2019 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Rutgers defeated Indiana 66-58. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Romeo Langford, Indiana

The NBA Draft this year has a ton of risk and reward. The top guys are fairly well established — Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and R.J. Barrett — with a lot of interesting guys right beneath them. But there are several players that have high lottery talent that just never put it all together in college.

That means there is the potential a player that some people thought could be a top-10 pick at the beginning of the season could find themselves sitting at 16. That should raise some red flags and the Magic will have to do their research on a lot of guys to make sure they are prepared.

There are a few players that fit that bill who could end up sitting there at 16.

The Indiana Hoosiers’ Romeo Langford is certainly one of those guys. He was able to go off at seeming any point — scoring 16.5 points per game and dropping 28 points against the Illinois Fighting Illini and Maryland Terrapins. He can get to the basket fairly easy and score athletically around the rim.

There is no denying Langford’s talent off the dribble. Put the ball in his hands and let him attack and he will get to the basket and finish. He displayed a nice array of step-back moves to create separation and get mid-range jumpers too.

But it is that jumper that will get a lot of attention. He can hit mid-range shots, but it does not look easy. His shot form looks a bit like a shot put and his release angle is a little flat. And his shooting numbers are terrible.

Langford shot just 27.2 percent from three and 72.2 percent from the foul line. He may not be a great long-range shooter. The poor 3-point percentage at the college level does not bode well for his place in the league.

He is not likely to be someone who has the ball in his hands a lot as a pro. He is going to have to find a way to add a 3-point shot to space the floor better.

Langford undoubtedly has a ton of talent but he may slip unless he can show his shooting has taken a major step up since March.