Orlando Magic Mock Draft: The top of the draft
By Jacob Warfle
This should be a no-brainer for the Detroit Pistons. Cade Cunningham has been the consensus number one pick for more than a year now and there is no reason to overthink it here.
Cunningham possesses all the traits and abilities needed to be a superstar in the NBA. His elite playmaking, paired with his 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame, make him impossible to pass up. His ball control, footwork, and overall basketball IQ have been compared to some of the great ball-dominant players in the league right now.
Simply put, Cunningham is the type of player you draft and build your entire team around.
At both Montverde and Oklahoma State, Cunningham controlled the pace of the game and showed the ability to take over late. He emerged as a knockdown shooter from multiple spots and had no trouble creating space.
Scouts have questioned his overall athleticism as he has not shown a ton of explosiveness, but they are just grasping at straws. Many of the best playmakers in the NBA do not possess “jump out of the gym” athleticism.
Cunningham’s game is similar: smooth and methodical.
Immediately after the Pistons won the lottery, reports came out they may be shopping the pick or even considering other prospects for the first selection. It is smart for the Pistons to not tip their hand entirely, but it would be catastrophic for them to go in any other direction.
Cunningham is the type of player you draft regardless of fit and I could even argue he fits in perfectly with Detroit. In today’s NBA you need multiple ball-handlers and Cunningham gives them a dynamic backcourt pairing with Killian Hayes.
This is the pick. No need to get cute with it.
By Dan Bennett
This is a tough choice for the Houston Rockets.
Evan Mobley might be considered as the consensus number two. But with Christian Wood already on the roster, another lean big, it could be tough to make that fit work long-term.
The Rockets would be better off taking the equally as talented Jalen Green.
Green has all the tools to become an elite scorer in the NBA and gives the Rockets a focus to build around as the team starts its post-James Harden rebuild. He is a go-to bucket, hitting from three, driving to the rim or pulling up from mid-range. Green can give a team a bit of everything.
He is also one of the best athletes in this class, showcasing some ridiculous plays last season, and he will no doubt be a regular in the NBA’s top 10 plays next season. The offensive potential he possesses is endless, while he would also pair nicely with Wood in a big man/guard combo for the meantime.
Coming out of high school, he was the number one recruit and Green himself stated that, had he gone to college, he believes he would be the number one pick in this year’s draft. Instead, it is widely expected to be Cade Cunningham.
But his performances playing against older players in the G-League should give Houston enormous optimism that he can be a success. He averaged 17.9 points per game for the G-League Ignite while shooting a respectable 46-percent from the field.
Even if Green does not manage to iron out his defensive vulnerabilities or become a better playmaker, he is always going to be able to score.
Houston certainly has a long way to go in rebuilding the roster but Green could be the kind of franchise-level player that puts the team back on the path to success.