Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft Version 1.0: A lot of options for the Orlando Magic

The Other Targets

The way this NBA Draft class is setting up, the Orlando Magic should feel like they can get a quality player at No. 15 if they stay put. They should have some options they feel good about and should be able to find some players who fit their style.

But there is a pretty significant drop off after that. The players become significantly less interesting and less useful to where the Magic are at. It is realistic to see the Magic opting out of this draft with Chuma Okeke set for his rookie year too and try to add a veteran.

The Memphis Tigers’ plans of pairing some of the best freshmen in the country together quickly fell apart when James Wiseman was declared ineligible. They also had to deal with the fact that freshmen are really young and make a ton of mistakes. Precious Achiuwa did not live up to expectations at all, but he still averaged 15.8 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He still works on raw talent. But his physical profile will give any team something to work with.

Cole Anthony is probably the other guy I would take for the Orlando Magic with how I have the draft playing out. He is an athletic and dynamic guard who can play on or off the ball at his best. He finishes well at the rim and has great size for his position.

The problem was we did not see that Anthony at all for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He averaged only 18.5 points per game and 4.0 assists per game. That shows his dynamism and how good he can be. But this still felt like a disappointment.

Anthony dealt with an injury for most of the season. That certainly plays a factor in all of this. But his overconfidence often got him into traps. He needs to play with better control and pace. Especially if he is going to be a lead guard in the NBA.

Kira Lewis is another interesting point guard prospect in this Draft after averaging 18.5 points per game and 5.2 assists per game. He is extremely quick and that helps him get to the basket. Even though his shooting numbers do not jump off the page, he is a solid shooter.

Lewis is still learning how to lead a team and when to attack and finish at the rim. These are all normal issues for young players. So going to the right system and playing with the right team is going to be vital to his ultimate success.

The Magic would be fine drafting Lewis too. He gives them a speed element the team does not really have, especially if they want to continue pushing the pace. But learning some control is going to be the early battle with him.

Jaden McDaniels averaged 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds per game last year for the Washington Huskies. That is a solid production for a young player. And the flashes and athleticism he showed suggest he can continue to improve in almost every way.

If the Orlando Magic are dead set on finding a shooter, Saddiq Bey is an interesting guy to reach for. He was a solid scorer as an undersized power forward for the Villanova Wildcats, averaging 16.1 points per game and making 45.1-percent of his 3-pointers. Bey is going to slot in as a 3-and-D player who can guard multiple positions with his size.

Bey did a lot for a very good Villanova team — another college program known for producing quality role players who get it the moment they step into the league. And Bey should be able to find a role somewhere.

But he is a stocky 6-foot-8. He is listed at 216 pounds and he uses every bit of that weight to guard taller players and body up smaller players. But the question is whether he has the athleticism and speed to keep up defensively at the NBA level.