Orlando Magic Daily Draft Big Board 3.0: Position Breakdown

Orlando Magic Draft Positional Needs: 3. Shooting Guard

Pre-Draft Depth Chart: Gary Harris, Michael Carter-Williams

Potential Targets: Jalen Green, James Bouknight, Moses Moody

Generally speaking, the Orlando Magic backcourt rotation projects to be a strength of this team heading into the 2022 season.

A mix of intriguing prospects like Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton as well as veterans such as Gary Harris and Markelle Fultz gives the Magic an embarrassment of riches with their guard rotation.

But with a slight caveat.

As of this writing, only one of the members of this cadre has even a semblance of a consistent jump shot. Even including Chuma Okeke into this group, only Cole Anthony has shown the willingness to become a go-to scoring option needed for a true star shooting guard.

More from Analysis

• 2023 Orlando Magic Playoff Lessons: Philadelphia 76ers can’t seem to avoid conflict
• Orlando Magic FIBA World Cup: Franz Wagner can be a star if he takes it
• Orlando Magic are going to find out who they are in 2024
• 2024 Orlando Magic Player Outlook: Moe Wagner is the spark off of the bench
• NBA 2K Ratings represent Orlando Magic’s hope and skepticism

This draft has many talented shooting guard prospects the Magic should consider in order to find a true 2-guard who could be a leader of the offense as this core develops.

Any discussion about potentially great shooting guards in this class begins and ends with Jalen Green.

While it may be a long shot for the Magic to draft Green at the fifth pick, any prospect not named Cade Cunningham should not be viewed as a lock at any of the top-5 draft positions.

With that being said, Green’s potential as a take-over scoring threat is tantalizing and would be the crown jewel of the Magic backcourt rotation.

Green is an incredibly skilled offensive player capable of scoring from a myriad of different ways.

He has a solid perimeter jumper and is capable of operating as a primary ball-handler yet is athletic and savvy enough to operate as an off-ball cutter and spot-up shooter in certain offensive sets. His athleticism allows him to drive past defenders and his improving ball-handling skills allows him to gain separation.

Green needs to grow into his frame before becoming a truly elite offensive threat, yet his inclusion into the Magic lineup would provide a much-needed offensive punch to the rotation.

In the likely outcome that Green is off the board by the Magic’s selection, there are still intriguing shooting guard prospects that could be available at the eighth pick.

Among the most fitting of these is UConn’s James Bouknight.

Recognized by many NBA scouts as one of the best scorers in this class, Bouknight parlayed an impressive (albeit shortened due to injuries) sophomore season by displaying a dazzling display of perimeter shooting and ball-handling that conjures images of C.J. McCollum.

Bouknight comes with injury issues as well as a reputation as a streaky scorer (eerily similar to Cole Anthony) yet his ability to produce offensively should be a point of emphasis given the offensive malaise of the Magic in previous years.

The other option at this spot is guard Moses Moody.

The Arkansas guard measured with a 7-foot-0.75 wingspan to go with his 6-foot-6 height at the Combine. But it is his shooting ability and defensive prowess that has caught plenty of eyes.

Moody feels like a strong candidate to be a 3-and-D player who fills a clear positional and skill need for a team like the Magic.