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2023 NBA Draft Orlando Magic Daily Big Board 1.0: The Madness Begins

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Arkansas' Nick Smith Jr. brings the ball down the court during the NCAA men's basketball tournament first round match-up between Illinois and Arkansas, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa.0316 Illinos Arkansas 016 Arw
Arkansas' Nick Smith Jr. brings the ball down the court during the NCAA men's basketball tournament first round match-up between Illinois and Arkansas, on Thursday, March 16, 2023, at Wells Fargo Arena, in Des Moines, Iowa.0316 Illinos Arkansas 016 Arw /
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Keyonte George, Baylor Bears
Keyonte George and Grady Dick are two of the big players the Orlando Magic may focus on when the NBA Draft comes into focus. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic Daily Big Board 1.0

The Group of Shooters

SG. Bears . Keyonte George. 8. player. 460.

Last Game: 11 points, 3/9 3FGs vs. Iowa State (Big 12 Tournament)

Next Game: Friday vs. UC Santa Barbara, 1:30 p.m. (NCAA Tournament First Round)

It feels inevitable the Orlando Magic will take one of the group of shooters that dot the next tier of the NBA Draft. Getting the Chicago Bulls’ pick seems essential to make sure the Magic get at least one of these shooters and add that important skill to their roster.

Baylor’s Keyonte Georgie is not the best shooter in the Draft (we will get to him shortly). But he is the most dynamic of the shooters because of his ability to attack off the dribble.

Do not focus on George’s 34.9-percent 3-point field goal percentage. That is less important because he is taking them at a high volume (more than seven per game) and because he has to do it as the team’s leading scorer and creator. In a complementary role, George may flourish more if a team believes in his shooting.

Jayhawks . Gradey Dick. 9. player. 462. . SG

Last Game: 19 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists vs. Howard (NCAA Tournament First Round)

Next Game: Saturday vs. Arkansas, 5:15 p.m. (NCAA Tournament Second Round)

If the Orlando Magic want to draft just a pure shooter, then the guy to chase is Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick. He shot 40.8 percent on more than five attempts per game from deep. Dick is just a light-out, hands-down shooter.

The detraction with Dick is that it does not seem like he could do a whole lot more. There are questions about his creation skill. And he has a negative wingspan — a sometimes negative for the Orlando Magic especially.

But it is clear he can compete. And his shooting skill is worth looking into and investing in. Someone is going to get a really good shooter when they draft Dick.

player. 524. . G. Razorbacks . Anthony Black. 10

Last Game: 12 points, 6 rebounds vs. Illinois (NCAA Tournament First Round)

Next Game: Saturday vs. Kansas, 5:15 p.m. (NCAA Tournament Second Round)

Anthony Black is not a shooter. He made only 30 percent of his 3-pointers this season. But Black deserves to be in this group of prospects as someone who can give a team some major guard help.

Black is known more for his defense at this point. He is a lockdown perimeter defense. Someone you can trust to get after a player on the perimeter and make their lives really hard. That is the big attraction to him as a prospect.

Black is a solid finisher too. But the shooting is the big thing that could hold him back at the next level.