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Orlando Magic 2021 NBA Draft Profile: Jalen Green is going to be special

By Omar Cabrera

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Jalen Green #4 of the G League Ignite brings the ball up the floor during a G-League game against the Westchester Knicks at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on February 18, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 18: Jalen Green #4 of the G League Ignite brings the ball up the floor during a G-League game against the Westchester Knicks at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on February 18, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. /
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In a draft that projects to have five potential franchise-changing players, some teams made it their goal to finish within the top five. Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Kuminga are considered the consensus top five picks heading into the draft. But the order seems to vary from mock draft to mock draft.

While Cunningham is considered to be the number one pick, Green may end up being the best player in this draft.

Green is a perfect fit in Orlando for the Orlando Magic as he checks off boxes any team would need and has also been tested more than the majority of this draft.

Green might well be the best overall scorer in the Draft. And for a team desperate for a primary scorer, Green’s ability to create space for himself and get to the basket has NBA scouts drooling and lining up to pick him.

Orlando has not had a guard score more than 20 points per game since Steve Francis in 2004. To say the Magic need a creator and scorer like Green is an understatement.

And there is a lot of optimism Green will translate quickly.

Jalen Green’s strong showing in the G-League Bubble proved he could be an elite scorer at the professional level. For an Orlando Magic team desperate for scoring, he would fit in perfectly.

There is usually a mystery in a draft prospect because there is always going to be a question of whether or not a player will translate from college to the NBA. However, with Green — along with Kuminga — playing with the G-League Ignite team instead of college, they have played tougher competition which allows a better lens to watch how these players will play in the next level.

It was interesting to see how these players looked in this environment instead of college, and Green showed out in his time with the Ignite. Green averaged 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He also had some strong defensive outings as he was able to get 1.5 steals per game.

Green seemed to get better as the season went on too, especially as the Ignite had to rally to make the playoffs as the 8-seed.

Green averaged 19.7 points per game and posted a 52.2-percent effective field goal percentage. This included a 26-point, 6-for-8 3-point shooting effort in a win over the Canton Charge and an 18-point effort in the clinching win over the Austin Spurs.

The G-League Ignite ended up losing to the top-seeded Raptors 905 in the playoffs, but not for a lack of effort from Green. He scored 30 points on 11-for-20 shooting and dished out seven assists in the playoff defeat. Green showed up in big moments and looked more comfortable as the season went on.

While those stats are encouraging, the most impressive stat line was his efficiency while playing. He shot 46.1-percent from the field and 36.5-percent from beyond the arc. While he was efficient, he was second in shot attempts at 13.6 shots per game and was the leading scorer for the Ignite.

Overall, he posted a 53.7-percent effective field goal percentage. The efficiency on his volume for a player with a still-developing jumper is impressive, to say the least. Even in a league not known for its killer defense.

As the young player in this G-League Ignite experiment, it was clear veteran players in the league were targeting and testing Green throughout. He passed it with flying colors, inspiring confidence for his jump to the NBA.

Combined with his skill set of being a natural scorer, he also has the athleticism to take it to the next level. He has shown the ability to get to the rim and finish softly or create a highlight dunk. The ability to take it off the dribble gives him multiple ways top scorer and will be difficult to stop with his speed and handle.

Green still has a few questions to answer, however. While he is a gifted scorer, his jump shooting is still a bit suspect. He made 36.5-percent of his 85 3-point field goal attempts last year. He is a decent spot-up shooter from there, but he is not hitting the step-back or pull-up 3-pointers that are the provenance of stars.

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    • But that is all coming and there are clear hints he can get there.

    That makes Green such a runaway prospect and a clear choice or the top-3 and a clear fit for the Magic at that. Magic fans have been salivating over him. That with his athleticism and smarts in transition and finishing at the rim are huge pluses for teams considering adding him.

    But Green still has a long way to go to get there. And a lot of pieces to the puzzle to put together.

    While he had some strong games in the G-League bubble, his shooting was still inconsistent. He has to learn when to pick his spots and how to make the most of these moments.

    Early in his career with a young team like the Magic, he would get a lot of shots and the chance to make the most of these moments and learn these things. But there are habits and mindsets he has to get away from quickly.

    Most scorers have to learn these things when they graduate to the NBA level though. So concerns about him forcing shots or trying to squeeze his way to the basket can be improved through trial and error as much as anything. Especially in a low-pressure situation like the Magic may set up for him if they pick him.

    As gifted of an athlete as Green is, his attention to detail and his defensive technique still need a lot of work. The G-League is not known for its defense, but Green was not entirely efficient or engaged defensively last season. That will be something teams will need him to improve to become the star and central figure they want.

    Not that the Magic do not have defenders who could cover him in the lineup.

    In the end, Cunningham is likely to go with the first pick, just with his size and skill set alone. The Detroit PIstons cannot go wrong with drafting a 6-foot-8 point guard.

    But the potential Green has cannot be ignored. Green is the type of prospect any team has to find a way to get.

    Orlando is no different. The team needs a primary scorer and to take a chance on a star player and Green fits the roster and the team’s needs better than anyone. If there is a deal to move up in the draft to get Green, then the Magic have to pull the trigger.

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    Green is on everyone’s radar, the only question is whether or not a team is willing to make a move to make sure they land him. If his time in the G-League is any indication, they will not regret it.