Orlando Magic 2019 NBA Draft Preview: Orlando Magic Daily’s Mock Draft

Passed over

The Atlanta Hawks cannot possibly keep all their draft picks in this year’s draft and might be looking to move around with these picks. They should still feel pretty good with their options wherever they pick, if they want to take on so many young players.

Virginia Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome is not going to start, but he would be a solid backup to Trae Young. He can shoot the ball effectively, defend well and run a team. That is all anyone would ask for him.

With the chance to take some risks elsewhere in the draft, this is a safe pick that can give the Hawks a young player that will contribute something to the team and grow into a nice role for the team.

Tyler Herro might well be the best shooter in this draft. He has a great form that allows him to hit spot-up 3-pointers with ease and he has a great sense on how to cut and get to the basket. This would be a good pick for any team because his shooting will allow him to compete quickly for minutes.

But he has two big weaknesses. His lack of length will make it hard for him to make an impact defensively. He is willing to work on that end — that is a positive — but it will always be an uphill battle for him. The second is his poor shooting off cuts. He is a spot-up shooter and not someone who can go on the move.

Shooting is at a premium in this league though. Herro can shoot it with the best of them. There is no reason for him to slip too far.

Goga Bitadze has the makeup of a center who can contribute in the NBA. He has growing range out to the 3-point line and the body to bang in the post. He has that makeup for a center.

The question for him is maturity. He was prone to frustration outbursts in his club team for Europe and he has to prove he can handle the grind of a NBA season. Like most European prospects, his minutes were sparse. This is more projection of what he can be. And he did this all in a lower-level league.

Bitadze has a lot of tools teams will like though. It is hard to completely ignore what he was able to put together. In the right situation, he could flourish.

Kevin Porter Jr. might be one of the more talented players in this draft. He has all the offensive skills and tools to attack, drawing comparisons to fellow lefty James Harden. He is a strong offensive player and attacker.

He needs the ball in his hands to be successful. He is not much of a 3-point shooter and attacks best off the dribble. Porter is intriguing for that reason. But that might ultimately be his downfall. If he is not put in a position to have the ball in his hands, he might struggle to carve out a successful role.

The issue is about his maturity. He clashed with his coaches with the USC Trojans before he eventually was suspended for the rest of the season in December. Teams seem to be a bit afraid of that prospect.

Cameron Johnson was a surprising four-year player who established himself as one of the best shooters in the nation. He seemingly quieted the super talented Nassir Little, taking his spot in the rotation. He can contribute quickly for that reason.

Shooting is at a premium. But Johnson adds some size to his package that could make him extremely valuable too. He is a decent defender that will add a lot to whatever team drafts him.

The Oklahoma City Thunder undoubtedly need some shooting. Too many of their guards and wings are poor from the outside. It was a big reason why they floundered in the playoffs. Taking Johnson here would be a steal for them.