Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 2.0: After the ping pong balls drop
Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft: Other Options
F. Sacramento Kings. Franz Wagner. 9. player. 84.
By Philip Rossman-Reich
The Sacramento Kings want to believe they are knocking on the door of the playoffs. With De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton, the team should feel good about its backcourt. And if everything were to click, they could easily be a team that surprises even in the rough and tumble Western Conference.
But that defense? Eek. The worst defense in the league and the worst defensive efficiency in NBA history. That last note might be more a product of the offensive explosion that has taken over the league this year.
Still, Sacramento should put its focus on the defensive end. It is not like the team needs more scoring — the Kings finished the year 12th in offensive rating.
That is why Franz Wagner is a really good fit for this team. He might be the best defender in this draft. And he is not merely a specialist on that end. He shot 34.3-percent from deep last year and 83.5-percent from the foul line.
For a Kings defense that is desperate for some versatility and defensive presence, Wagner seems like the perfect fit. Especially without any quality defensive bigs to fill their biggest need at center.
player. 69. . G. New Orleans Pelicans. Davion Mitchell. 10
By Jean Racine
Eds. Note: This pick was made before the reported trade with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Davion Mitchell gets the nod over James Bouknight because he is simply the better shooter. He will be a nice complementary piece next to Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram.
Both Williamson and Ingram can flat out get buckets and they need shooters around them. Mitchell provides shooting both as a catch-and-shoot guy and as a creator off the dribble. He shot an outstanding 44-percent from three and 51-percent from the field as a junior with Baylor.
Mitchell will provide the Pelicans positional versatility because he can play the point or shooting guard, which is important because they drafted point guard Kira Lewis last year in the lottery.
Plus, upcoming free-agent Lonzo Ball is still on the roster. The Pelicans could opt to go with more of a traditional shooting guard or center, but Mitchell is too much of a sure bet to pass up.
Aside from his shooting, Mitchell is a tenacious defender, and he gave projected No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham fits when the two matched up against each other this past season. Mitchell has a stocky build and plays a lot bigger than his height.
Furthermore, Mitchell projects to be a player in the mold of Marcus Smart because of his build, positional versatility and skill set. There have been some comparisons to Donovan Mitchell, but he is not as athletic and does not have the same length.
Donovan Mitchell measured at 6-foot-3 in shoes with a 6-foot-10 wingspan at the 2017 combine. While Davion Mitchell measured at 6-foot-1 in shoes with only a 6-foot-4 wingspan in last month’s combine. Despite his height limitations, Mitchell is a baller, who will contribute in all facets of the game.
. SG. Charlotte Hornets. James Bouknight. 11. player. 170
By Omar Cabrera
The Charlotte Hornets find themselves in a good position as they have turned their franchise around. Despite the disappointing loss to the Indiana Pacers, the future is bright behind LaMelo Ball. The Hornets need to make their roster better, and with Devonte’ Graham set to be a free agent, James Bouknight could be his replacement.
Bouknight is extremely athletic and a natural scorer in a half-court set. In transition, he fits nicely next to LaMelo as he can use his ability to jump out of the gym and create highlight plays. At Connecticut, he averaged 18.7 points per game, which would allow James to be a scorer off the bench.
Even with these upsides, Bouknight still has room to improve. His shot selection should be an easy improvement as he works with NBA coaches. The other aspect that needs clear improvement is his shooting percentages. As he only shot 29.3-percent from three, he is going to have to make threes at the next level to spread the floor.
Besides, at this point in the draft, fit starts to become an even tougher question for teams as they are on the clock. The Hornets need to find their next center, and with Graham to be a free agent, the Hornets could look for a sign and trade or just let him walk.