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Orlando Magic Daily 2021 NBA Draft Big Board 3.5: Thinking about needs with talent

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Scottie Barnes has been making waves and is getting serious consideration to break into the top five. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Scottie Barnes has been making waves and is getting serious consideration to break into the top five. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Moses Moody, Arkansas Razorbacks
Jan 6, 2021; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks guard Moses Moody (5) shoots a free throw against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

The Orlando Magic are in one of the more interesting and precarious spots in the entire NBA Draft.

They hold two top 10 picks with the fifth and eighth selections. But their need to find a star and their placement just outside this celebrated group of four at the top of the draft has them looking everywhere to find the central piece to this growing roster.

It is hard to begin rebuilding without that foundation in place. Jamahl Mosley can be the best coach in the world, but the team needs players.

That is why so much seems to be riding on this draft. The Magic put a lot of eggs into it with the trades they made. They bet big. And they sort of lost.

While the team certainly did not get the main prize in winning the Lottery, the Magic still got two top-10 picks and the chance to add two quality players to a solid young core. Orlando could end up taking one home run swing to find their star, but they have two bites at the apple to add a piece to the puzzle for this team.

Still, everyone wants to see the team add the central piece. Orlando’s biggest need is to find a star that can lead them into deep playoff series and win games when the stakes are the highest. That is what every team is looking for in the end.

The Orlando Magic are desperate for a star and a player to ground their rebuild. As they consider who to draft and make their big board a focus on what the team actually needs should take precedent.

Whether the Magic can get one or not will be the mystery. After all, the NBA Finals is being competed between two teams with stars drafted in the teens in Devin Booker and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Stars can be found anywhere.

We have done plenty of big boards so far. And it is time to update our traditional big board after looking at positional fits in our last board.

With our last board, we focused on the tiers players would fall in and how to sort players into groups. On this board, we want to focus a bit more on need, building off our positional fit board. While we are considering tiers and player talent in this board, the focus on this board will be on where those players might fit into the Magic ecosystem.

Looking at things this way adds an important layer to the conversation as we get two weeks away from the NBA Draft.