A lot has changed for the Orlando Magic since we last took a look at the NBA Draft prospects.
The team was already in line to need the best player available, hoping to find a future star to tie the whole franchise together. But now the team has decided to implode a bit and start from scratch. The Magic dealt away Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier and now seem to need everything.
Then again, when a team is expecting to pick in the top five picks of the draft, they typically need everything and should not be so picky.
Even after a strong start from the Magic’s young players, it is still not completely certain who the team actually wants to move forward with. Between Jonathan Isaac, Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter, Chuma Okeke and R.J. Hampton, there is some type of core group the team can build with and move forward with.
Still, the Magic need that top-end talent to tie the roster together. Or for one of those players to turn into an All-Star. The Magic are going to be giving a lot of those young players every chance to define themselves the rest of this season.
But the other goal that came from those trade deadline deals might have well been to secure the Magic’s draft position — despite a two-game win streak that has brought the Magic within 2.5 games of the final spot in the play-in tournament — but also to solidify the team’s future draft assets.
With a second first-round pick in tow, the Orlando Magic are studying deep into this draft. With the Final Four this weekend, here is who to watch in our last games of the draft process.
The Orlando Magic are eyeing the pick from the Chicago Bulls which could well come in the top-10. Orlando currently holds the picks with the fourth-best odds and eighth-best odds in the NBA Draft Lottery.
To say the least, the Magic’s focus is not only on the top players in this draft anymore. They were always studying things a bit deeper, but now they have to get serious about who and what they are looking for a bit deeper into the draft.
The season will play out how it will as will the Lottery. But the Draft remains a key part of the team’s plan.
The games fans and scouts have to study the incoming draft prospects will dry up this weekend with the Final Four on Saturday and NCAA Tournament National Championship Game on Monday. The next time we see any of these draft prospects after Monday will be at the NBA Draft Combine in late June.
Most of the top prospects have bowed out of the tournament. Presumptive first overall pick Cade Cunningham bowed out in the second round. USC big man Evan Mobley lost in the Elite Eight. Arkansas forward Moses Moody struggled through NCAA Tournament, but his team also lost in the Elite Eight.
Still, there are plenty of players to watch in Saturday’s games and this weekend. Here is who to keep an eye on from each team in this weekend’s games.
Jalen Suggs, Gonzaga
SG, 6-foot-4, 205 lbs.
A bonus selection since Gonzaga is far and away the best team left in the NCAA Tournament. The undefeated Bulldogs are likely to sweep their way to the title with a deep and talented roster. It is the field vs. Gonzaga.
Jalen Suggs has been a big reason all year long for this. He is averaging just 14.0 points per game and 4.5 assists per game. He is shooting a 55.7-percent effective field goal percentage. He shot just 33.0-percent from beyond the arc for the season.
Suggs was always considered among that group of elite five prospects. But he may have helped himself as much as any player in this draft class through the NCAA Tournament. Although, really on the back of one game.
In the NCAA Tournament, Suggs is averaging 12.3 points per game, 5.5 rebounds per game and 4.8 assists per game. He is shooting a 47.9-percent effective field goal percentage.
He turned in a stellar performance with 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in Gonzaga’s Elite Eight win over USC. Suggs made two of his four 3-point shots in that game.
He still has to work on that long-range shot. But Suggs has done well, taking control of this Gonzaga juggernaut. And the stage is his to make a lasting impression.