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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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Leonard Miller, G-League Ignite
Dec 20, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; NBA G League Ignite forward Leonard Miller (11) during warmups prior to the second half against the Motor City Cruise at Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-USA TODAY Sports /

Orlando Magic Daily 2023 NBA Mock Draft 2.0

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149. . F. Oklahoma City Thunder. Leonard Miller. 12. player

Leonard Miller is the other player from the G-League Ignite who is getting consideration in this year’s draft. And he is starting to climb a bit after a good showing at the NBA Draft Combine.

Miller finished his season averaging 18.0 points per game and 11.0 rebounds per game with shooting splits of 55.6/32.7/79.2. His shooting came along strong at the end of the season, where he made 7 of his final 12 3-point attempts for the season.

That is intriguing, to say the least.

Miller is the kind of player the Oklahoma City Thunder certainly like (I would put him on the Orlando Magic’s radar too) listed at 6-foot-10 (6-foot-9.25 without shoes) with a 7-foot-2 wingspan.

He is young and will need some time to catch up. But being in the Ignite program should set him up for success.

. G/F. Toronto Raptors. Jordan Hawkins. 13. player. 81

Shooting is at such a premium that it will not be surprising if the best shooters in this draft go out in quick order. Especially at this stage of the draft where teams are not looking to take big swings with their picks and need players to fit in quickly.

Certainly, once Gradey Dick goes off the board, teams that need shooting will scoop up Jordan Hawkins quickly.

Hawkins can shoot effectively off screens and in tight spaces. That will make him valuable to any team that grabs him, even if some of the other parts of his game still need to round into form.

Going to a veteran team like the Toronto Raptors would be a great fit for him. The Raptors are probably losing one if not both of Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent. But this franchise is not about to restart — even if some changes are in the works after their disappointing finish to the season.

69. . G. New Orleans Pelicans. Kobe Bufkin. 14. player

Kobe Bufkin has been rising steadily in mock drafts over the last few weeks. Bufkin is a dynamic guard — a Michigan man, so keep him on your radars because even he is aware of how many Michigan players are on the Magic — who may not have much in the way of elite athleticism but mans the guard spot well.

He averaged 14.0 points per game with shooting splits of 48.2/35.5/84.9. That was a big boost from his freshman year where he played sparingly. He was one of the key players energizing Michigan throughout the year. And those shooting splits suggest his shooting will come.