2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 1.0: One book closes, another one opens
2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 1.0
Other Options, Part 2
. SG. Oklahoma City Thunder. Keyonte George. 12. player. 149
For a long time this season, Keyonte George was one of the favorites for the Orlando Magic with their first pick. He was a dynamic scorer with Baylor, able to hit pull-up threes and score with dynamism in the paint.
George though struggled as the main creator and everyone predicted he would shift to a more supporting role in the league. Still, his struggles to end the season led to a lot of questions about how he translates.
Going into an ecosystem with some already strong drivers and versatility is going to help free him up for his shot.
13. player. 81. . G. Toronto Raptors. Nick Smith Jr.
The Toronto Raptors are a team in some major flux as they look for a new coach and decide what to do with their future. With the team potentially losing Fred VanVleet, grabbing a big guard in Nick Smith Jr. is a good pick.
Smith can be a dynamic scorer and attacker. He has good size and shared point guard duties with Anthony Black. Smith’s knee injury slowed him down early in the season and kept him from reaching his full potential in his lone college season.
But Smith is very talented and a potential star scorer.
69. . G/F. New Orleans Pelicans. Jordan Hawkins. 14. player
No player helped himself more in the NCAA Tournament than Jordan Hawkins. That is what winning the national championship will do.
But Hawkins generally played well. And while he is a bit older than his classmates in this draft class, that is an advantage for a team on the cusp of the postseason.
Hawkins is an excellent shooter and works well off the move. UConn is noted for running an NBA-style offense, and so the adjustment to the league may not be a huge one for him. He has good size and while his role may be limited to shooting, that is still very valuable.
15. player. 125. . PF. Atlanta Hawks. GG Jackson
The Atlanta Hawks are feeling a bit brighter now that they have a new coach in place and had a good showing in their first-round series loss to the Boston Celtics. The team could still take some changes and make some adjustments.
With questions about John Collins continuing to swirl, they should look to get some size somewhere. That is where South Carolina’s GG Jackson comes in.
Jackson has started to get more draft buzz as NBA people dive deeper into the class. Jackson averaged 15.4 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game. He did this though while shooting worse than 40 percent from the floor overall.
Utah Jazz. Cason Wallace. 16. player. 118. . PG
Cason Wallace is one of the best finishers in this draft class. He is able to get to the basket and finish with gusto and artistry. That is what has him generating buzz that will probably have him going higher than I do in this mock draft — this is why I do a couple of these things.
Wallace did not have the most impressive stats. But that is the usual thing with Kentucky players. While the Wildcats are not the same at producing elite NBA prospects, Kentucky players often underperform what they will do in the league. Especially their guards.
17. player. 20. . C. Los Angeles Lakers. Dereck Lively
Dereck Lively was one of the top prospects coming out of high school and seemed destined for a Lottery pick. A rough season at Duke had him dropping. But he started to come around as the season went on. He is a big body who can use his weight well and rebound. In a reserve role, he should be able to help a lot of teams as he continues to mature and grow.
110. . G/F. Miami Heat. Jett Howard. 18. player
The Miami Heat always know where to find good shooters who will work hard. While Jett Howard had a disappointing finish to the season and went up and down, he is a great shooter. Perhaps one of the best in this draft class. And it is hard to imagine he stays on the board long after the Lottery ends.