Orlando Magic Daily Draft Big Board 3.0: Position Breakdown

Orlando Magic Draft Positional Needs: 4. Center

Pre-Draft Depth Chart: Wendell Carter, Mohamed Bamba, Moritz Wagner (FA)

Potential Targets:  Alperen Sengun

Between point guard and center, it is difficult to parse out which position the Orlando Magic have the most talent at.

Mohamed Bamba and Wendell Carter showed incredible progress down the stretch of the 2021 season, as both players took turns demonstrating their potential with increased opportunities.

With that being said, both Bamba and Carter will be eligible for contract extensions this offseason ahead of their restricted free agency next summer. It may not make financial sense to bring both back on new contracts — or either at all for what they might seek. Both players will likely play out this year and have to prove their worth to the Magic and the league.

It would not be surprising then to see the Magic cover themselves and seek out a center. Should they target a center, this class does have a prospect of interest in Alperen Sengun.

Sengun comes into the league having had incredible production in the international game. the 19-year-old is the reigning MVP of the Turkish Super League, averaging an absurd 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists per game as well as 1.4 steals and 1.7 blocks per game.

Watching any Sengun tape should give Magic fans immediate flashes of the abilities of yet another skilled low post center from Europe — Nikola Vucevic.

Sengun is a gifted low post scorer who has a bevy of impressive moves around the basket. His footwork is especially impressive for such a young player as he is able to shake and shimmy his way around much bigger post defenders while absolutely abusing smaller guys that are switched on him.

Sengun is an intelligent offensive player who sets timely picks and is able to pass himself out of the pick and roll effectively, a skill the Magic were sorely missing since the departure of Vucevic.

If his 80-percent free-throw shooting gives any indication, Sengun has the potential of developing a perimeter game to complement his already impressive repertoire.

Like most bigs in his mold, his lack of lateral quickness on defense is his biggest drawback. Yet in a system that could conceivably deploy players like Jonathan Isaac and Chuma Okeke as perimeter defenders, there are multiple options to cover for his defensive shortcomings.

Perhaps the Magic will not prioritize center at either of their first round picks, but Sengun would be an intriguing prospect to consider at the eighth pick should the Magic wish to relive some of the skills that Vucevic employed.

Orlando Magic Draft Positional Needs: 5. Point Guard

Pre-Draft Depth Chart: Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, R.J. Hampton, Chasson Randle (FA)

Potential Targets: Cade Cunningham, Jalen Suggs

Point guard is by far the most stacked position the Orlando Magic have at their disposal. Three young and exciting players make up a point guard rotation that could see the Magic have a starting option at the point for all 48 minutes, regardless of who is leading the offense.

While point guard is the strongest position on the team, it is telling that had the Magic gotten a top 3 draft position, there would have been legitimate consideration for a player like Jalen Suggs.

This is less an indictment on Anthony, Hampton and Fultz but more a sign that each of these players have pronounced weaknesses in their respective games that need to be addressed in the offseason.

I believe the Magic do not pursue a point guard in this draft, instead choosing to ride with internal development of their three point guards going into the next season.