2023 Orlando Magic Offseason Needs: Lockdown a Deadeye to build a Culture
2023 Orlando Magic Offseason Needs: Perimeter Sharpshooters
Draft Options
With the 6th and 11th picks, the Orlando Magic could determine that they would rather draft, train and coach the best fit to be alongside the youthful stars and core. However, when drafting high in the lottery comes with certain expectations and roles built in.
Can the Magic add a high pick while still developing and assigning minutes to players already on the roster?
Orlando has to understand that hitting on their draft picks will be crucial.
Franz Wagner is nearing when the Magic will need to decide in offering what can only be assumed the max rookie extension. Paolo Banchero will not be that far behind. So making the franchise as appealing and winning as possible will be in the forefront of decision-making.
As the combine and individual teams scout and invite prospects to one on one evaluations here are the current draft prospects in the wing position that the Magic can consider.
1. Amen Thompson, Overtime Elite
Playing in a 16-20 age professional league that was founded three years ago in Overtime Elite, Amen Thompson is projected to be the best shooting guard in the class. Not by leaps and bounds but by consensus in the top five players of the Draft entirely. Having a 2-to-1 turnover ration and shooting 23.3 percent from three on 2.7 attempts however would make him a work in progress.
At 6-foot-7 some see him as more of a facilitator or playmaker at the next level, with some comparison picturing him as a “taller Ja Morant”
2. Gradey Dick, Kansas
Coming out of Kansas, the 6-foot-7 combo wing has played himself into a top-10 lottery pick. One of the better fits for the Orlando Magic to draft, Gradey Dick shot 40.3 percent from three with just fewer than six attempts per game. Not having a high free throw rate means Dick can find himself only cutting out of necessity rather than to a part of his game.
Current comparison picture him as Kevin Huerter, citing his secondary playmaking ability.
3. Ausar Thompson, Overtime Elite
Similar to his twin brother, Ausar Thompson is not a great 3-point shooter built more with the physical tools to be frustrating on defense and finish strong inside with playmaking abilities.
Current comparisons paint him as a young Andrew Wiggins.
4. Anthony Black, Arkansas
Falling in line with the other prospects, Anthony Black is a 6-foot-7 combo guard likely falling around pick 8-10. He is nearly identical in statistics and tendencies as the Thompson twins — low 3-point percentage with 2.6 attempts per game coming out of Arkansas. Scouts and draft experts picture him as a point-forward that’s play style best compares to Josh Giddey.
5. Keyonte George, Baylor
The smallest combo guard out of the four listed above, Keyonte George stands currently at 6-foot-4. Playing point guard and shooting guard, he has a low percentage three-point shot at 33.8 percent although taking nearly eight per game.
Some websites project that his shot will fall at an average to even above average rate in the NBA seeing as he would have more space than in the college game and likely not be on the ball as much. An almost identical 1:1 assist to turnover ration scares people enough to project him closer to the mid-1st round picks, currently 14th or 15th overall.
The best comparison out there currently is Jamal Murray.