Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 2.0: After the ping pong balls drop

Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft: The next phase

By Max Mortensen

In our first mock draft, I also had Jalen Suggs pegged for the Cleveland Cavaliers (then with the fourth pick) and my sentiment on the 20-year-old has not changed in the last month.

I am optimistic about his professional career because of his versatility. Even if Suggs’ shot or physicality does not fully translate to the NBA, he can still impact the game on both ends of the court as a solid on-ball defender, great passer and strong rebounder for his size.

But I do not hold concerns about either of the “weaknesses” in his profile.

Suggs shot a subpar yet respectable 34-percent from beyond the arc in his one year at Gonzaga and showed supreme toughness in his 868 minutes played last season.

It should be noted Suggs also received offers to play football from five “Power Five” conference schools, including Ohio State. At 6-foot-4 and 200-plus pounds, Suggs is not a physical liability at point guard.

Again, the fit with Cleveland, a team that already has two young guards in Collin Sexton and Darius Garland, is not seamless. The potential Suggs/Cavaliers pairing should reflect your sentiment about each of Cleveland’s young guards’ futures. Neither Sexton nor Garland has shown the promise of becoming a future All-Star, like both Ja Morrant or LaMelo Ball have.

Without the certainty that either will be a franchise player in the near future, I do not believe it makes sense to prioritize filling out the roster with prospects at other positions. In my opinion, Suggs is the second-best talent in this draft and the Cavaliers should be delighted if he were to fall to them with the third pick.

By Isaac Ryu

At this point, since Evan Mobley has fallen out of the top two, the Toronto Raptors should jump on him and take the best available player.

With Kyle Lowry’s free agency looming, the Raptors are looking to do a soft rebuild. They have Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent and Pascal Siakam along with several other role players so they should not be looking to blow it up.

Adding Mobley, who is the most skilled big in the draft who has immense potential on both sides of the floor makes the most sense.  As an adept defender, pairing him alongside Siakam would make for a deadly frontcourt.

Even though Mobley has not filled out yet, his slim frame, at least early on in his career, will grant him more mobility in terms of vertical and horizontal movement. On the offensive end, he has got a solid post-game that depends on his versatility and athleticism.

While he did not necessarily stroke it from three at USC, he has the potential to extend beyond the midrange. But I would think the Raptors work on his free throw shooting before anything else. Mobley shot 69.4-percent from the free-throw line and if Mobley hopes to become a complete modern NBA center, he will need to be a reliable free-throw shooter.

It is undeniable Mobley has the potential to be a star due to his athleticism and versatility on both sides of the floor so the Raptors would get him if he is available at four.