The 2022 NBA Draft might feel like a long time away, but fans of the Orlando Magic could be forgiven for already dreaming of draft night.
A victory against the Chicago Bulls, which included some mesmerizing dunks from rookie guard Jalen Suggs, shows there are still moments to enjoy this season. But for the most part, it has been a very tough watch. Injuries have kept key players out and with just nine wins all season, one thing is absolutely clear.
The Magic need more talent at the top end of the roster to start competing again. The biggest way the team can build into one that can contend in the playoffs for the coming years is through the draft.
With the worst record in the NBA, the Orlando Magic will be hoping for one of the very top picks in this year’s draft. And with that in mind, here are the players fans should keep an eye on before the draft takes place.
There is still a dearth of offensive creativity, shot creation and overall shooting ability on this roster. The team is far too reliant on rookie Franz Wagner and second-year player Cole Anthony to get buckets. And Anthony’s demise has hurt the team more than it should have done.
This year’s draft was always going to be an important step in the front office’s plan to rebuild the team. As Joel Embiid showed in the Magic’s recent loss to Philadelphia, landing a superstar in the draft changes everything — even when the rest of the team isn’t quite up to scratch.
And this year’s class is full of potential stars, many of whom could go a long way in fixing the Magic’s offensive weaknesses.
4 Draft Prospects Orlando Magic fans should know
Paolo Banchero, Duke
The early frontrunner to be the number one pick in the draft, Paolo Banchero combines size with incredible athleticism, a strong handle and a lot of potential as a jump shooter.
He has a versatile offensive game. He shows so much creativity with the ball in his hands to get his own shot. He can bully his way into the paint and finish with his size and power at 6-foot-10, hit pull-up shots off the dribble or space the floor by knocking down threes off the catch. His arsenal of shots is just so vast.
There is so much to like about Banchero.
He is averaging 17.9 points per game to show off his scoring prowess. He rebounds well too — averaging 7.9 per game for Duke. He has the three-level scoring ability that you do not see in a lot of draft prospects coming into the NBA.
The Magic really lack good self-shot creators right now. For all the defensive potential on the roster, there just are not enough guys who can break down defenses off the dribble and score in isolation. Banchero is exactly what this team is lacking — the kind of guy you can throw the ball to get a bucket towards the end of a shot clock when the opposing defense is still set.
He would be the home run for the Magic in this year’s draft. There are still improvements to be made in his shooting — with the 19-year-old going just 33.3 percent from three this season — but he is an offensive machine and Orlando should absolutely bank on his shot improving if the lottery is kind.
Banchero’s ability does not just consist of his scoring either. His body is ready for the NBA and he has all the tools to be a good defender, while also flashing some playmaking ability too. Pairing him with either Wagner or Isaac as a forward duo is an exciting prospect with the size and two-way potential it would provide.
4 Draft Prospects Orlando Magic fans should know
Jabari Smith, Jr., Auburn
Jabari Smith’s stock is considerably higher than it was before the start of the season thanks to his incredible shooting ability. So far he is knocking down 42.3-percent of his threes at Auburn and scoring 15.7 points per game.
The freshman forward is a legitimate number-one pick contender who has shown all the signs that he can be an effective modern-day, floor stretching power forward in the NBA at such a young age.
He has excellent shooting mechanics — getting his shot off quickly and at such a high point that it is difficult for anyone to stop.
He is effective off the catch-and-shoot as well as when pulling up from beyond the arc. Smith has shown ability from inside the arc with his mid-range game too.
His finishing needs to get better if he is to become a complete scorer but there is so much to like about what he is doing at Auburn this year.
Like Banchero, he can handle the ball really well for someone who is 6-foot-10 though he does not quite have the same level of shot creation skills. But he is very effective in transition and has brought the ball all the way up the floor to score at the other end this season.
On defense, there is a lot of potential and ability there too. He can crash the defensive glass, has the length to steal the ball in passing lanes and the versatility to guard different positions.
He might take time to become settled in the NBA but he would instantly bring more dynamism to a Magic offense which is severely lacking shooting.
4 Draft Prospects Orlando Magic fans should know
Chet Holmgren, Gonozaga
Chet Holmgren’s name has long been discussed in NBA circles because of his unicorn-like skill set.
The 19-year-old 7-footer is not a typical big man. He can handle the ball well and dribble up the floor thanks to his enormous strides. He is agile too, with the poise to glide past players as if they were not there.
Seeing him move up the floor with the ball in his hands really is fascinating to watch.
He also does other things that a lot of players his size cannot do. Shooting the ball well being one of them. Holmgren is shooting 39.6-percent from 3-point range this season and is really effective as the trail man on offense when getting up the floor.
Add to that an awareness and passing ability to find open teammates and he certainly could be a player who will boost the Orlando Magic’s offense.
Much of what he can do, however, concerns his ability on defense.
His size and length combined with a strong understanding of the game mean he is a really effective shot-blocker and rim protector — as shown by his average of 3.4 blocks per game for Gonzaga.
But there are concerns with Holmgren.
His skinny frame does raise questions over how well he will be able to deal with the physicality of the NBA and if he will be able to defend the tougher matchups at the 5-spot. And while he is averaging a respectable 13.2 points per game, we have only really seen Holmgren used in a limited role for Gonzana alongside a more traditional big man in Drew Timme.
Centers like Holmgren often take longer to develop than guards, as we have seen with Mo Bamba since he entered the NBA. And what the Magic really need is an offensive shot-creator rather than a rim protector at this point.
But Holmgren’s unique skill set on both ends of the floor does pose a dilemma for the Magic if given the first pick.
It would be difficult to see a future for Bamba in Orlando if Holmgren lands on the Magic, but if the Gonzaga big man’s unusual skill set can carry over to the NBA and he can develop to his potential then Orlando might have its star player to build around.
4 Draft Prospects Orlando Magic fans should know
Jaden Ivey, Purdue
The Orlando Magic are pretty well-stocked for the future at the guard spots right now — with Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and R.J. Hampton all on the roster. But if the Magic do not land a top-three pick to select one of the consensus top prospects in Paolo Banchero, Jabari Smith or Chet Holmgren, then Jaden Ivey looks like the next best choice.
He has made big strides forward since his freshman year at Purdue — shooting 42.4 percent from deep this season — a powerful tool to have when considering that much of the focus from opposing defenses is on stopping him using his superior athleticism and quickness to get into the paint and score.
The combo guard is one of the best athletes in the class. He is explosive with the ball in his hands — even drawing some comparisons to Ja Morant because of his athleticism — and has shown he can make tough finishes at the rim. His speed makes him extremely dangerous in the pick and roll.
His athleticism also translates across to defense. He is a good on-ball defender with the lateral quickness to halt opposing guards. He has the wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and grab steals.
Ivey has a lot of work still to do though.
He is not a versatile shot-creator like some of those widely ranked ahead of him in the draft and he still has to prove he can shoot well consistently given just how big his leap compared with his freshman year has been.
Ivey also needs to improve his playmaking and relies a lot on his driving to the rim to create opportunities for others.
Given the Magic drafted Jalen Suggs last year and there currently looks to be better, more suitable players for Orlando in this year’s draft class, landing Jaden Ivey would not be the preferable option but he is clearly a very talented player that could become a future NBA star.
4 Draft Prospects Orlando Magic fans should know
Other Options
Johnny Davis, Wisconsin
A talented scoring shooting guard who has burst onto the scene for Wisconsin in his sophomore year, averaging 22.3 points per game compared with 7.0 points per game during his freshman year. He can drive to the basket or shoot from three — making 36.5-percent of his shots from beyond the arc this season. But he is not the quickest and needs to get better at creating for others.
A.J. Griffin, Duke
A.J. Griffin is a powerful wing player who can shoot the ball well. He possesses great athleticism too. Griffin has tons of two-way potential with his ability to read the game and defend on the ball with a 7-foot wingspan. He has a good handle and has shown he can create his own shot off the dribble. Most of the concern with him is because of his injury history.
Jalen Duren, Memphis
Jalen Duren is a big man who is a bit of a throwback center with his paint-oriented game. The Memphis big man is a good shot blocker and rebounder who could become a really effective defender in the NBA but lacks the offensive versatility to have much of an impact on the other end of the floor.
Bennedict Mathurin, Arizona
Bennedict Mathurin is an exciting wing prospect with strong three-point shooting ability. He has boosted his scoring from 10.8 points per game in his freshman year to 17.5 points per game this season.
Jaden Hardy, G-League Ignite
Jaden Hurdy is a guard with the G-League Ignite who flashes ability as an advanced shot creator but has been very inefficient this season and needs to vastly improve his decision-making.