Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 2.3: Resetting the balance
2023 Orlando Magic Daily Mock Draft 2.3
The Other Options
100. . G. Indiana Pacers. Anthony Black. 7. player
Anthony Black is another high-upside prospect whom the Orlando Magic should be considering for their pick. His lack of shooting at the guard spot and the seeming investment in Markelle Fultz will keep him from being a viable option for the Magic, unless the team really believes in his on-ball skills that much.
Black is the best perimeter defensive prospect in this draft though. He is already good at getting into players and making their lives difficult. And that is something that always translates quickly, especially to young teams like the Indiana Pacers and the Orlando Magic who are eager to climb the Eastern Conference standings quickly.
Black feels like a really good fit with this Pacers team too. They need a good defender to ease the pressure off Tyrese Haliburton and have the ball out of his hands more too to take advantage of his shooting.
8. player. 142. . PF. Washington Wizards. Jarace Walker
Jarace Walker is the toughest player for me to judge in this draft. I love how he just makes everything work with his screening and rebounding.
If the Washington Wizards are determined to run everything back after last season’s disappointment — keeping Kristaps Porzingis and re-signing Kyle Kuzma — then Jarace Walker seems like the perfect glue to hold everything together and give the team a grinder and defender on the block.
Walker is a really smart player. But his lack of shooting is going to limit what he can do and which teams he can be effective for (read: I like him a lot but I do not like him for the Orlando Magic).
Cason Wallace. 9. player. 118. . PG. Utah Jazz
One of the few picks I am not changing in this version of the mock draft — I really did care too much about team fit. But Cason Wallace is a really solid player with good defensive instincts and size and a strong ability to get downhill toward the basket.
He still needs to refine several parts of his game and improve his shooting. But Wallace has all the attributes to be a solid point guard.
79. . PF. Dallas Mavericks. Taylor Hendricks. 10. player
In our original Mock Draft 2.0, I had the Orlando Magic taking Taylor Hendricks at No. 6. That is a testament to how closely evaluated all the players in this tier of prospects are, how little I had reviewed Ausar Thompson at that point and how much emphasis I put on need in that first mock draft.
Hendricks has good foot speed to cover the perimeter just as he has the size to work in the paint. He can stretch out to the 3-point line (or should be able to) and hit jumpers from the perimeter just as he can fly to the rim and score above the basket.
Hendricks would be a great fit for a lot of teams because of this versatility. And it is why that if the Magic really want to take a player like Hendricks, a trade down from six to this area would be the optimal path to get him.
Hendricks’ problem is he does not project to be a star. He will be a solid role player. So if the emphasis for the Magic is on talent, they need to maximize the sixth pick if they just want to load up on role players.