2023 Orlando Magic Offseason Needs: Backup Center

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Dereck Lively has a lot of potential as one of two Duke Blue Devils centers in this year’s Draft. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-USA TODAY Sports /

2023 Orlando Magic Offseason Needs: Backup Center

Draft Options

The bad news for the Orlando Magic perhaps is that this draft does not have a lot in the ways of solid backup center options.

Yes, Victor Wembanyama is the prize of this draft and the likely No. 1 pick at 7-foot-5. But after him, there are just not a lot of big bodies to throw out there that can play the center role as the league envisions.

Certainly, Orlando could look at a few center-adjacent options.

Jarace Walker plays like a center with his screening, defense and rebounding abilities. But he may take a while to offer more offensively than putbacks and short jumpers. He certainly does not have an outside game and is very undersized listed at 6-foot-7.

Taylor Hendricks could provide support as a 6-foot-9 rim protector. That is one of the reasons he is considered a top-10 pick in this draft. He has good footwork to guard on the perimeter and rotate over to block shots with the size and strength to hold his own on the block.

But he too is undersized to be a center in the traditional sense, if that means anything.

The next best center option is Duke center Dereck Lively.

Lively had a largely disappointing season, averaging only 5.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game in 20.6 minutes per game. He started next to Kyle Filipowski which depressed some of his effectiveness around the basket. As did Duke’s uneven guard play this season.

Lively though has been shooting up draft boards. He has reportedly looked impressive in pre-draft workouts, even showing an impressive outside shot for the 7-foot-1 big man.

Lively was the No. 2 high school prospect in his class according to RSCI. That talent and evaluation cannot be that far off in such a short time. But a lot of it is so unproven because he did not show that all off in college.

The options after him get really scarce. The next best center is Barcelona center James Nnaji, a raw prospect who has not gotten a ton of playing time at this point but certainly has the athleticism to make it in the NBA. He is a likely second-round pick and would not be a crazy selection at No. 36.

Considering the Magic’s needs at backup center, they need someone they can rely on to start. Lively certainly has the talent. But beyond that, this is probably not the place to go hunting for help.