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2023 NBA Draft Orlando Magic Daily Big Board 1.5: After the Madness

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jordan Hawkins proved to be the standout NBA prospects of the NCAA Tournament, quickly rising draft boards as UConn won the title. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Hawkins proved to be the standout NBA prospects of the NCAA Tournament, quickly rising draft boards as UConn won the title. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 12: Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against Texas A&M Aggies during the 2023 SEC Basketball Tournament final on March 12, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – MARCH 12: Brandon Miller #24 of the Alabama Crimson Tide against Texas A&M Aggies during the 2023 SEC Basketball Tournament final on March 12, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2023 NBA Draft Orlando Magic Big Board 1.5

The Top Guys

This is still not complicated. I mean just look at this:

There just are not many players who can physically even conceive of doing that, let alone actually performing it in an actual game. He is the runaway top overall pick and it should not be a debate.

Even with the Orlando Magic pretty loaded at the forward and center position, they will find a way to make him fit. He is that kind of player.

Truly generational potential.

Scoot Henderson did not have the year he was hoping for. The guy who was the surefire No. 2 overall pick suddenly found himself in a battle for that honor. And there was not much he could do to stop it.

Henderson is still a dynamic athlete and a potentially dangerous attacker and scorer. He is going to make whoever drafts him really happy.

But his downfall and his struggles this year only previewed the difficult season a lot of draft prospects had this year. Outside of Wembanyama, there does not seem to be a sure thing among the top guys. And everyone has some flaw to work on.

Henderson’s flaw comes from a disappointing year at the G-League Ignite and his poor shooting numbers. But he is still immensely talented and it is hard to deny his ability to put pressure on defenses.

Crimson Tide . Brandon Miller. 3. player. 523. . F

Brandon Miller seemed set to climb up to No. 2 in the draft order. His size and his skill set seems like it is exactly what the NBA wants. He is a big forward with good positional versatility who can work the inside and the outside. And he defends well.

A long NCAA Tournament run should have set him up to be one of the top guys in this draft. And he still will be. But his poor NCAA Tournament adds a lot of questions.

The Crimson Tide, the tournament’s top overall seed, bowed out in the Sweet Sixteen. And Miller played really poorly, scoring a total of 28 points in three games (19 in the win over Maryland) on 8-for-41 shooting. It was not a good showing and he struggled against the big bodies San Diego State threw at him.

Three NCAA Tournament games should not throw the baby out with the bathwater. But it is not a good look for a player that a team is going to expect to do big things with the pick he’ll get taken with.