Orlando Magic NBA Draft Big Board 1.0: I guess it’s that time
The Other Elites
The other two “elite” prospects in this Draft are players who do not quite fit the Orlando Magic’s needs at this time. And they are good in their own rights. Although, I am not sure either one is worth abandoning the team’s current path to go all-in on.
4
Evan Mobley C
The 7-foot center from USC is getting some talk as being a potential unicorn with his mobility and ability to move along the perimeter. He does not have 3-point range yet, but he is efficient scoring around the basket even without a great back-to-the-basket game.
Mobley is what a modern center is starting to look like, or at least the rough edges of it.
Mobley is averaging 16.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. He has added 2.4 blocks per game. All good signs of his range defensively especially and his potential to clean up around the basket on offense. That is a good place for him to start as he finds his niche in the NBA.
More importantly, Mobley does not foul very much — just 1.9 per game. That puts him in a class above another versatile shot-blocker like Jaren Jackson Jr., who has developed an outside shot and found a place with the Memphis Grizzlies.
It is hard to see the Magic investing this draft pick in Evan Mobley unless the team is giving up on Mohamed Bamba or unless the team is moving on from fellow USC alum Nikola Vucevic.
5
Jalen Suggs PG
Jalen Suggs took the nation by storm by winning the starting point guard spot over veteran and former Florida point guard Andrew Nembhard and becoming the on-court leader for the top team in the country. Really the unquestioned top team in the country.
Suggs has been absolutely stellar this year, averaging 13.9 points per game and 4.5 assists per game on a 55.7-percent effective field goal percentage. He has done a really good job integrating on a team that is very good and very talented.
Boding even better for his future is that he has stood out while still fitting in with a championship-level team. A lot of teams will want to see that.
Like some of those other players on super-talented teams, it is sometimes hard to know what will translate best to the league and whether Suggs is being held back. It feels like Suggs is a bit held back. He has a great sense of how to get into the paint and score.
But the Magic are already pretty invested at point guard. Not that they should not be looking for more talent where they can find it. But for both of these players, they have other needs they need to look into.