Orlando Magic NBA Draft Preview: Get to know the top 3 prospects

The Orlando Magic have a good thing going right now. The win column does not quite show that, but flashes from Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs are worth the wait.

This is the first year of a rebuild for the Magic and the whole team has said they are focused on individual growth instead of their record.

As the season draws closer to its end, it is fair to have a wandering eye toward the draft. That has been the gambit for the team all season, it seems.

Orlando entered the All-Star Break with the worst record in the league. The Orlando Magic have the fewest wins in the league at 14, trailing the Detroit Pistons by a single game thanks to their overtime win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. They alongside the Houston Rockets are on track to hold the top odds for the Lottery — an equal 14-percent chance of landing the top pick.

The Magic have not drafted at number one since Dwight Howard in 2004. They have not moved up in the Lottery odds since that draft lottery either as the team has faced several heartbreaks on lottery night.

While the lottery odds have changed to be fairer and to mitigate the rewards of tanking, the Magic have a high chance of landing a top-three pick.

The Orlando Magic sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a dream of landing a top-three draft pick. So far the Magic have drafted well but it’s never too early to start looking at potential prospects.

The top prospects for this year’s draft class have naturally changed as the college season progresses. But there is a general consensus on who is the cream of the crop.

Let’s be clear, the Magic should not be drafting to plug a hole or improve in one category. They should be drafting the best prospect with the highest ceiling which means being picky is not an option.

Sure, drafting any of these young players could crowd the forward or guard position. But since the Magic are rebuilding, do not rule out the Magic moving players for more established talent once they exit the rebuild.

That being said, here is a quick rundown of the top prospects of the 2022 NBA Draft. Keep in mind, all of this could change in the coming months or even the next few weeks.

Chet Holmgren – Gonzaga – PF

Chet Holmgren is a lanky, athletic surprisingly agile seven-footer who weighs just short of 200 pounds. He was dominant in high school and has so far been able to translate his unique skillset to the NCAA.

Averaging 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 3.5 blocks per game, Chet Holmgren has frankly been everything the Magic hoped Mo Bamba could be.

Holmgren has already had a few standout games including a dominant performance against BYU where he dropped 20 points, 17 rebounds, six assists and five blocks. That is not the only time has filled a box score with some gaudy numbers.

Despite being a freshman, the young big man has shown a well-rounded game that includes stifling shot-blocking, surprising passing and a solid stroke from behind the arc.

These skills make the Minneapolis native (and former AAU teammate of Jalen Suggs) one of the most enticing talents in the past few years. Perhaps one of his more underrated skills is his passing.

Holmgren is capable of making the right pass at the right time and uses his height to read the floor. He is not quite like Bam Adebayo who is a top-three passer at the center position in the NBA, but there is potential.

Let’s not ignore the obvious though. He needs to put on weight.

Being less than 200 pounds as a seven-footer with a knack for blocking shots is not particularly a strong combination. Evan Mobley is similar in height and weight and has found success on the defensive end but Mobley is a generational talent.

Holmgren has not shown that yet but in order to be an impactful defender against Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid or even Karl-Anthony Towns, he will need to pack on the pounds.

Paolo Banchero – Duke – PF

Paolo Banchero would be an interesting fit for the Orlando Magic.

He is a massive human being with an offensive skill-set that you would normally find in a smaller but still large human being. Banchero is averaging 16.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

He is 6-foot-10, 250 pounds and is quick on his feet. Banchero thrives in mismatches using his physical tools and surprising unsuspecting defenses with swift moves into the paint.

If that does not work the future lottery pick is capable of pulling up in the mid-range (52.9-percent) or drawing a foul and shooting at the stripe (77.5-percent).

He has got a bit of a funny release, but it has the essentials of a workable jump shot. Moving his legs together a bit and having a smoother transition between the pull-up to the release would make him even harder to guard.

On the defensive end, Coach Mike Krzyzewski has been able to use him in a variety of situations each having varying levels of success. Whether he is at the 5 or playing as more of a forward, the Duke wing is first in the ACC in defensive win shares (2.0) and has a defensive rating of 91.4 which is only second behind fellow teammate Mark Williams.

Banchero has drawn several comparisons to highly skilled forwards like Lamar Odom and if you squint a little bit, John Collins.

One player type that Banchero should avoid at all costs is Julius Randle. Randle is a bruiser who does not have much of an impact on defense and is very underwhelming on defense.

On the Magic, Banchero will have room to grow, make mistakes and find his identity. Pairing him with Jonathan Isaac or Franz Wagner would make for a scary forward combination with unique skillsets.

Jabari Smith – PF

Averaging 16.6 points, 6.8 rebounds per game and shooting a scorching 41.9-percent from behind the arc, the 6-foot-10 freshman from Auburn is a definite top-three prospect and perhaps the likely top overall pick.

Smith has become a consensus can’t-miss prospect who has an elite jumper with an enticing offensive skillset. His jumper is gold and he has little to no trouble creating space with his 6-foot-10, 220-pound frame.

He has had a 31-point game where he shot 7 for 10 from behind the arc and a 27-point game where he almost single-handedly pulled Auburn back against a good Tennessee team. If you look at his counting stats, you would think that Smith could be 21 or 22 with a few years of collegiate hoops under his belt but he is only 18. ONLY 18.

It is not farsighted to assume that as Smith develops his game in the NBA he will become a top 10 forward in the league.

J. Kyle Mann of the Ringer compared Smith to Danny Granger, Rashard Lewis or even Tobias Harris. All three forwards were good shot creators, relevant defenders and properly used their size to create. But these players he is getting compared to were also second-tier stars in the league.

It is hard to say if Smith will have a higher upside than those forwards and perhaps land in the Paul George stratosphere but only time will tell.

But for now, Smith would be an excellent player to have alongside the Magic’s young core. He is dynamic on offense and a capable team defender which works quite well with what the Magic have right now.

He would help provide a blend of playmaking, floor spacing, size and intangibility that may bring the Magic out from the dark ages.