Orlando Magic Daily 2022 NBA Draft Big Board 2.0: Time to consider needs

2022 Orlando Magic Daily Big Board 2.0

Trade-Up Targets

Malaki Branham is going to be a really intriguing prospect. And he may not make it this far down the board the next time we convene for this. He has all the skills to be a solid shooter coming off the bench.

Branham averaged 13.7 points per game while shooting 41.6-percent from beyond the arc. If he has some good shooting showings, he will surely shoot up draft boards. His volume was just really low from beyond the arc to make everyone feel comfortable.

Branham did win the Big Ten’s Rookie of the Year Award and was an All-Big Ten player. So it is hard to completely ignore him.

Mark Williams is a solid traditional center. He knows how to use his size well and will block shots and be a presence in the paint.

Nikola Jovic is one of the most intriguing prospects in the draft. And it will be interesting to see just how NBA scouts ultimately see him.

Jovic is a 6-foot-10 forward who can do it all offensively. He hits threes pretty well and can work off the dribble. He has enough size and mobility to be a factor for whatever team drafts him.

His biggest drawback is his defense. He is not particularly strong on that end and has shown a lack of understanding and awareness. Getting that part of his game to round into form could make him a big-time prospect in this draft pool.

This year’s G-League Ignite group is nowhere near as good as last year’s group was. Beauchamp averaged 15.1 points per game and shot 45.9-percent from the floor and 10 for 33 overall from three.

Beauchamp is a really athletic player and can finish around the rim. But his lack of 3-point shooting will be the thing holding him back — isn’t it for everyone? That is something this draft really lacks toward the back end of the first round and could make it hard for the Orlando Magic to find someone to trade up for.

Beauchamp is a high-level prospect who struggled in his first exposure to the pro game. That could be something worth investing further in.

Before the draft, Patrick Baldwin Jr. was considered a surefire Lottery pick, if not a top-10 pick. His poor season — 12.1 points per game, 34.4-percent shooting — has changed a lot of opinions of him. He dropped like a rock. And there is a decent chance he returns to school.

But that talent does not go away completely. Baldwin has NBA size and fluidity. He is capable of creating and making his own shot. He just needs to prove and show that he can do it at a higher level.

Baldwin will need some seasoning to recover what was lost this season. it might be better for him to return to school and figure out how to make himself fit into a role better. But Baldwin is undoubtedly a talented player who deserves a good look.

E.J. Liddell could be an interesting option for a team looking for the undersized, tough power forwards who have started to make their way through the league. Liddell is listed at 6-foot-7 but he has the ability to play both forward positions decently well.

Liddell averaged 19.4 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game last year. It is hard to ignore those numbers. He made 49.0-percent of his shots and 37.4-percent of his 3-pointers, increasing his percentages in each of his three years at Ohio State. He was also All-Big Ten Defensive Team last year, a pretty strong endorsement of his defense.

That is someone who can find a place in the league if those shooting numbers continue to grow. It is just more about finding the position he can play once he gets into the league.

Kennedy Chandler is another undersized guard who is looking for his place as he graduates to the next level. he averaged 13.9 points per game and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 38.3-percent from beyond the arc. There is something there to build with for the freshman who was named the SEC Tournament MVP.