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Orlando Magic Daily 2022 NBA Mock Draft Version 1.0: The top picks are here

By Philip Rossman-Reich

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PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 17: Chet Holmgren #34 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball against the Georgia State Panthers during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 17, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON – MARCH 17: Chet Holmgren #34 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs dunks the ball against the Georgia State Panthers during the first half in the first round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 17, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft Version 1.0

Detroit Pistons. Chet Holmgren. 3. player. 64. . C/F

The biggest question in this NBA Draft will be what the league does with Chet Holmgren.

On one hand, he is probably the one prospect in this draft who has truly generational talent. He is an expert shot blocker and solid defender with guard skills at 7-feet tall. The age of the unicorn came with Kristaps Porzingis and Chet Holmgren is really an extension of that.

He plays like New York Knicks Porzingis. He can step out and hit threes, finish above the rim, run in transition, block shots. The whole thing.

But then comes the questions about his weight and durability.

Holmgren is rail-thin — listed at less than 200 pounds. Certainly, being in an NBA weight training program will help him put on some muscle. He will fill out his body. But he still has a thin frame and there are plenty of questions about how he can handle the physicality and pounding of the NBA.

If Porzingis’ career is any indication, the injury concerns should be real. And while Porzingis is still an effective player today — he averaged 22.1 points per game with a 53.1-percent effective field goal percentage in his 17 games with the Washington Wizards after the trade deadline — he is not the player he was in New York.

That should raise some concern for Holmgren, but it should not scare them off completely. Holmgren is still a really solid player even with the questions surrounding him.

People are going to see what they want to see with him.

For the Detroit Pistons, they are set on the wing with Cade Cunningham. They need a bigger player to complement him (and Saddiq Bey). Holmgren is perfect for that as a shot-blocker and as a floor spacer. He would come into the Detroit ecosystem with little pressure to lead the team and he could do that with a bruising center in Isaiah Stewart to take on the bigger players in the league.

The Pistons would be a perfect fit for a team like the Pistons.

Who the Orlando Magic Pick: Chet Holmgren

The Orlando Magic should not be afraid to select Chet Holmgren at any stage of the draft. He is a potentially game-changing and defense-warping player. And that is the biggest thing the Orlando Magic need to chase in this draft.

Someone who is going to make defenses focus on that player and create space for others. Holmgren, like Banchero, can be that guy. Probably more than any other player in this draft class.

The Magic have Wendell Carter to provide that defensive backstop that Chet Holmgren will need. Both can spread out to the 3-point line too and that should help with spacing offensively, especially if Carter continues to improve.

The Magic played Wendell Carter and Mo Bamba together to some moderate success — especially with their other starting players. There is at least some proof of concept that both can survive in that ecosystem.