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2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 1.5: Magic fans take a stab

By Philip Rossman-Reich

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: Guard Gradey Dick #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks handles the ball against guard Pop Isaacs #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half of the college basketball game at United Supermarkets Arena on January 03, 2023 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 03: Guard Gradey Dick #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks handles the ball against guard Pop Isaacs #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half of the college basketball game at United Supermarkets Arena on January 03, 2023 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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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) /

2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 1.5

Pick No. 11

38. . SG. Orlando Magic. Keyonte George. 11. player

Mock Draft 1.0 Pick: Brice Sensabaugh

There was a point during the season when Keyonte George seemed like the runaway pick for the Orlando Magic at their first pick.

George was leading Baylor and scoring seemingly at will. He could attack the basket and hit from the outside. It seemed to be exactly what the Magic would want from a wing.

His inefficiency could get explained away by playing an outsized role as the main creator on Baylor, something he would not do at the NBA level. It seemed like a good fit.

But George had holes to fill. He struggled in a lot of marquee games. And then he plateaued and struggled to end the season.

George finished the year averaging 15.3 points per game but shot just 37.6 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from beyond the arc. He hit on 79.3 percent of his free throws. But in February and March, he averaged 11.5 points per game on 36.9 percent shooting overall.

That has caused him to slip down draft boards significantly. To where he is likely available for the Magic’s second pick. And perhaps even someone the Magic pass on.

Our voters did not. Perhaps because I did not have UConn sharpshooter Jordan Hawkins on our poll. There were more than a few requests for that. And he is likely to go next because of that.

What should be clear then is not necessarily who the Magic pick — although George would be a solid pick for those reasons — but the skill fans want the team to take.

It would seem that there are at least a few shooting options available and the Magic will likely find their shooter(s) in this Draft.

As things stand in this mock draft, the Magic come away with Gradey Dick and Keyonte George, two shooters who should be able to give the Magic a key skill that the roster desperately needs.