Orlando Magic Daily
Fansided

2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 1.0: One book closes, another one opens

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Jan 25, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights forward Taylor Hendricks (25) drives to the basket against Houston Cougars forward Jarace Walker (25) during the first half at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2023; Orlando, Florida, USA; UCF Knights forward Taylor Hendricks (25) drives to the basket against Houston Cougars forward Jarace Walker (25) during the first half at Addition Financial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 8
Next
Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State Buckeyes
Mar 1, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, United States; Ohio State Buckeyes forward Brice Sensabaugh (10) makes a shot while defended by Maryland Terrapins guard Hakim Hart (13) during the second half of the NCAA Division I basketball game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Maryland Terrapins at Value City Arena on Wednesday night. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Scheller-The Columbus DispatchBasketball Ceb Mbk Maryland Maryland At Ohio State /

2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 1.0

No. 11 Pick

Orlando Magic. Brice Sensabaugh. 11. player. 38. . SF

Again, the goal for the Orlando Magic coming out of this draft is to come away with shooting. They can fill in a lot of the things they need to complete their roster — certainly better wing depth, a backup center and generally more experience. There are also the skills they need — shooting (obviously), paint defense and

The Draft is going to be a part of the puzzle.

But at the end of the day, the Magic need to be thinking about their needs and adding more talent. Talent still wins. And the Magic run such a versatile system, that they can find a way to make everyone fit.

It is usually a good rule in the draft to pick the best player available. Teams can figure out fit. So long as there is, as Jeff Weltman puts it, a pathway to play.

With that in mind, just because there are a ton of shooters available at this level of the draft — our pick, Brice Sensabaugh, Baylor’s Keyonte George and UConn’s Jordan Hawkins — should not scare the Magic from taking a shooter with their first pick our doubling up here.

In this case, Orlando might be getting something a little bit more in taking hometown kid and Lake Highland Prep (Go Highlanders!) alum Brice Sensabaugh.

Sensabaugh was a Big Ten all-freshman player averaging 16.3 points per game and shooting 40.5 percent from deep on 4.5 3-point attempts per game. He made 83.0 percent of his free throws. That translates really well to a player who can shoot at the NBA level.

Sensabaugh is a stocky 6-foot-7. He has an NBA body and can work off the dribble to create shots for himself, including step-backs and pull-up threes. That is going to serve him well as he enters the NBA.

Sensabaugh works really well with his back to the basket too. He knows how to use his size to overpower smaller defenders on the block to create space.

He is not elite at anything which is why he would be available at this stage of the draft. But he could be someone who outperforms his draft position. And as the draft process continues to individual workouts, he could be someone who rises.

He would give the Magic another potential shooter and a scorer to bring off their bench and potentially start with plenty of physical potential to keep growing his skills and abilities.