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

Orlando Magic Daily 2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

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The Indiana Pacers were a dynamic offensive team last year. They rallied behind Tyrese Haliburton with the shooting all around them. They need more drivers to help further set up their shooters and some defense.

That makes this a really good spot for Ausar Thompson. Yes, the Pacers would have a glut of young wings with Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Bennedict Mathurin already on the roster. But they could use a point guard too or some ball-handling help for Haliburton.

Thompson is going to step into the league and be able to hold his own defensively. He may have some rough edges to sand off. But his athleticism will fit in well with what the Pacers are building.

The Washington Wizards have their new man in charge in Michael Winger. They seem like they are poised to go through some major changes. But whether that bleeds down to the roster is the bigger question.

Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle Kuzma are certainly enough to be competitive in the Eastern Conference. Are they enough to contend more seriously? That is a bigger question. They have dealt with inconsistency and health issues in their short time together.

Washington is probably not about to detonate anything. And so their answer is to find supporting players once again.

Anthony Black would be a good fit in Washington. He is a defensive ace and someone who will get after opponents on that end immediately. He should be able to find his way into the paint. But the key for Black will be whether he can hit from the outside and make jumpers consistently.

Cason Wallace appears to be the biggest riser in the early part of the Draft process. There is a long track record of Kentucky point guards outperforming their draft position. And Wallace seems to have that potential in him.

Wallace is a good defender and can get to the paint with some ability. His 3-point shot is developing but shows enough promise. Whether he makes it or not will depend on how he takes over point guard duties for whatever team he plays on.

The Utah Jazz are going to be major players at this year’s draft. They have three first-round picks. Considering how close they ended up being to the postseason, they may be more active with them to secure a higher draft pick or to consolidate some. However, it does not seem like Danny Ainge is interested in a quick fix as he tries to build a championship contender.

The Dallas Mavericks are going to be an interesting team to watch. They have their two stars in Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving (and they are confident, at least, that they can re-sign Irving this offseason). But their role players let them down and, eventually, they were unable to make the postseason.

So where does Dallas go? The Mavericks are a team that might be ripe to try to trade out of the draft to get veteran players. But they could use an injection of positive youth.

And this pick should come down to Houston forward Jarace Walker and Kansas guard Gradey Dick. It is the debate between adding a player willing to do the dirty work or going after the shooter to space the floor.

That is not an easy debate to have for a team like the Mavericks. If they are keeping this pick, they could go in either direction.

For this mock draft, I think they stick with energy and stick with a player who does the dirty work. If the Mavericks are keeping Christian Wood especially, having a grinder who can rebound, set screens and sit in the dunker spot like Walker will go a long way. He is the kind of player who can help enhance readymade teams with his decision-making.

Walker plays the most like a veteran and that helps a team like Dallas.