5 Orlando Magic NBA Draft options for late first or early second round
Orlando Magic Second Round Targets
Quentin Grimes, Houston
The real reason Anfernee Hardaway was in Chicago when he interviewed for the Orlando Magic’s then-vacant head coaching position was to work out Houston forward Quentin Grimes. And if the Magic had gone the Hardaway route, Grimes would have been a good example of the kind of work Hardaway can put in quickly with young players.
Grimes had a really strong collegiate career, averaging 17.8 points per game and shooting a 52.3-percent effective field goal percentage in his final season. This included a plus-40-percent mark from beyond the arc. Grimes, even on the ball, just had a strong knack for scoring.
Grimes has always been on radars talent-wise, having transferred to Houston from Kansas after his freshman year. He helped turn Houston into a national power in his time with the Cougars.
Orlando Magic
That work with Hardaway at the Combine paid off to keep him on NBA radars too. He was among the best players who took part in the five-on-five portion of the festivities. He scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting (2 for 4 from deep) with six rebounds in 23 minutes in his first game and then added 27 points on 10-for-17 shooting, including 7-for-12 shooting from deep, in his second game.
That is quite the impression to leave with a lot of NBA scouts in attendance.
What is impressive about Grimes’ game is how smooth he is. there is very little wasted movement or flash to his game. He gets to his spots and he scores effectively or moves the ball along. Grimes should not be viewed as a potential star, but he can fit into the team really well.
Grimes has a lot of the intangible features that the Magic staff like and would likely come out in their analytics-supported approach to the Draft.
On top of that, he is a very good defender. It is here where Grimes will likely make his biggest waves defensively.
The only thing that is keeping him from being nearer to the Lottery is his age and perhaps his ability to create off the dribble consistently.
That should not be something a team asks him to do at the NBA level. Grimes should end up as a 3-and-D player when he gets to the NBA.
Honestly, there may be some team that takes him sooner than everyone expects.