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2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 2.0: The order is set, the lines are drawn

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Feb 20, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick (4) shoots during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2023; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Gradey Dick (4) shoots during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Taylor Hendricks, UCF Knights
Taylor Hendricks has a chance to be a hometown selection, jumping from UCF to the Orlando Magic in the draft. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Orlando Magic Daily 2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

The Magic’s First Pick

38. . PF. Orlando Magic. Taylor Hendricks. 6. player

The Orlando Magic are going to face a very clear dilemma with their draft pick at No. 6. If the draft falls this way or if Jarace Walker jumps into the top five, the Magic will wrestle with the biggest debate in any draft.

Do you draft talent and figure out the fit later? Or do you draft fit and potentially pass on star-level talent?

Especially at this layer of the draft, taking the best player and the best potential star on the board is usually advisable. These teams usually need star players.

But Orlando does not need to take a big cut and get a home run swing with this pick. They do not need the risk of striking out either. They need to get a player that will help them this year make the playoffs and could grow into something more.

The Magic have their star established in Paolo Banchero with strong building blocks around him in Franz Wagner, Markelle Fultz and Wendell Carter. What is, as president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman puts it, the path to play for a rookie? Especially one who does not have an NBA-ready skill.

This is why I think Taylor Hendricks is the pick in this situation. He is someone who still clearly has room to grow. But his versatility defensively — his ability to protect the rim along with his ability to switch onto the perimeter — and his 3-point shooting and above-the-rim play near the basket makes him a seamless fit for a Magic team that needs and targets all of those attributes.

Hendricks may never be a surefire starter or a star player, but he will help this team when they are ready to compete for the postseason — both this year and moving forward.

There is a good argument the Magic should not be afraid to swing big and go for another star — especially considering the Magic have a second pick in this Lottery to fill some other needs.

Ausar Thompson is tremendously talented and should at the least be a strong defender in the league. But the Magic have to be concerned with how he translates to the league and whether he can develop his shot further (his playoff run in Overtime Elite was encouraging).

Cam Whitmore is also a player with a higher upside as a driver. But his lack of skills beyond his own scoring ability would be a poor fit for a Magic team that is trying to win in the short term now too.

A year ago without Banchero, this pick goes completely differently. Now, the Magic do not need to get a star player with this pick. They need someone who can grow and fill a role.