Orlando Magic 2019 NBA Draft Preview: Talen Horton-Tucker shows promise, lacks sizzle

What should the Magic do?

While Talen Horton-Tucker is an extremely interesting prospect, I believe he is too rich for the Orlando Magic at pick 16.

Horton-Tucker, at this point, is a pure upside pick. There is very little to suggest he could contribute strongly in his first year. And that may extend through his first few years.

The only NBA caliber talent he possesses right now would be his ability to finish at the rim. But in the NBA his ability to bully guys with his strength will not be nearly as valuable because NBA players will be faster and stronger than him.

Defensively, I have seen many people rave about his potential but that is all that it is at this point. It is potential.

Horton-Tucker thinks the game a step or two slow on defense at this point. The fact he only managed to grab 1.3 steals a game with that wingspan ultimately is a negative mark because that is an elite tool if you had the defensive awareness to use it better.

Additionally, Horton-Tucker’s lateral quickness will get exposed on a consistent basis in the NBA. He will not be able to keep up with the speed of most NBA guards. He will absolutely get crushed by screens and there will be no chance for him to make up that distance even with his wingspan.

He is going to need to lose some weight in order to gain some speed but even then I do not know how much of an athlete he is.

Offensively, Horton-Tucker probably is not playable right now in the NBA.

While he showed some capability when it comes to handling the basketball, he did not show he could make the correct decisions with the ball, often settling for jumpers he cannot hit consistently and forcing bad passes.

Now on the upside, if Horton-Tucker is able to lose weight, add athleticism, and improve his jumper significantly you will have the makings of an interesting player.

Horton-Tucker is the type of guy who is going to really need the green light in the G-League in order for him to develop the way he will need to.

It is possible by year 3 or 4 that Horton-Tucker becomes a very solid rotational NBA player, but as of right now that is a big projection.

The Magic would be very wise to stay away from him at 16 but if he was available at 46 or in a trade up somewhere in the early second round, he would be a very good project to gamble on.