Orlando Magic Daily Big Board 3.0: Clarifying the Orlando Magic’s goals

The NBA Draft is coming into focus more and more.

Or at least it has probably been in focus for the actual people making the picks. They have been sitting with the prospects for the entire season. And all those t’s and i’s got crossed and dotted as needed.

For us NBA writers, we play catch-up. We spend so much time watching the NBA and its games, we do not always get to the draft prospects until the season ends — whether that is in-season or after the season actually ends.

That catch-up period is ending as we review the prospects and dig a bit deeper into the tape. These prospects and what the Magic want and need from this draft are a bit clearer and known at least to us as we have thought much harder about the offseason.

So what do the Magic need? Where does talent fit into this equation?

These are the things we constantly think about now as the Draft creeps ever closer — just two weeks away now!

With the NBA Draft two weeks away, we look to clarify the Orlando Magic’s goals as we rank our big board for the team.

Now is the time to start clarifying goals and clarifying what the Magic want to get out of this draft. For a team that is perhaps eager to make its playoff push next year, understanding how this draft fits into the larger team-building project could be key to accomplishing that goal.

Of course, Orlando is also still a rebuilding project. They are probably still too young and too raw to ignore talent when it comes across their path.

That is why an exercise like this — putting together a big board — is so vital. It has a way of clarifying what we value — or at least in this case what I value — in this draft class.

The Magic’s needs are still many. They need depth (a fancy way of saying more talent), shooting, backup bigs and versatile forwards. We can point to the things the team could use to complete its roster. it is whether the team can find that in this draft.

Prospects are still crisscrossing the country and making appearances in front of their prospective teams. How much to value those workouts or who works out where is of course up for debate — the Magic did not even formally interview Paolo Banchero until a week before the Draft last year.

The Magic are absolutely casting a very wide net this time around. You have to when you have two picks in the top-11. And there are indeed a million different directions the Magic could end up going this year.

So then it is time to update our big board with this in mind. We are going to spend this board evaluating and ranking the draft prospects based on the Magic’s needs and their goals.

OMD Big Board 3.0: Clarifying the Orlando Magic’s goals

The Top of the Board

Nothing is changing here. Victor Wembanyama remains the top prospect in this Draft. The San Antonio Spurs are taking him.

He is the kind of player you fit into your roster or you reshape your roster around. The kind of player that you abandon whatever preconceived rebuild plans you had and just go all in on.

There just are not 7-foot-5 players — or any players — doing this in their spare time:

Everyone will probably say the NBA Draft is really going to start with the Charlotte Hornets’ decision with the second pick. But for the Orlando Magic, the decision and the player the team would probably most likely to trade up for is Scoot Henderson.

There is a lot of overcomplicated thinking it seems when it comes to Henderson. And what everyone seems to be ignoring is his straight-up talent. He is a great shot-maker and creator off the dribble. And while his shot still needs some work, he has a fairly complete and well-rounded game that should do well in the NBA.

Brandon Miller should be the third pick in this draft. I am not sliding Amen Thompson up above him to suggest that he will not be the third pick. I am doing it to highlight that Brandon Miller, while very talented and more immediately skilled, does not have a clear fit with a team like the Orlando Magic and may not have the long-term talent that a player like Amen Thompson has.

Thompson is a dynamic scorer with extreme athleticism. He is getting some draft comparisons to Derrick Rose for reference to what people are expecting of him.

Those comparisons might be a bit too lofty for him. But the athleticism is undeniable. And the Magic, while desperate for shooting and guys who can spread the floor, could also just develop into a team that is simply an all-out assault on the rim with players driving and kicking and driving again.

Thompson fits the size profile the Magic like. And if the rumors that Thompson might slip to No. 6 are true, Orlando should jump at the opportunity to add this kind of talent.

Having said all of that, Brandon Miller still deserves your attention.

He is a skilled big who can step out on the perimeter and shoot and attack off the dribble. He has the positional and size versatility to guard both the perimeter and the interior. There are few players who can do that.

Undoubtedly the Orlando Magic have put their focus on trying to find players exactly like Miller. But with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner thriving and on the roster already, Brandon Miller does not have that clear path to playing. It is hard to imagine the Magic trying to trade up for a player like Miller, although the talent is abundantly clear from him.

OMD Big Board 3.0: Clarifying the Orlando Magic’s goals

The Next Star Tier

Ausar Thompson and Amen Thompson are very similar players — and not just because they are twins with essentially the exact same measurements. Ausar likes to attack the basket like his brother. He is athletic like his brother. His shot needs work like his brother’s.

But there are key differences. And those differences could determine whether one comes to the front or not.

Amen Thompson is the better finisher and perhaps the more dynamic offensive player. He is the kind of player teams can build teams around with his playmaking and driving at his size.

That is not to say Ausar cannot do that. Amen was the point guard of their team at OTE so Ausar was not on the ball as much. Ausar can certainly pass the ball and distribute too.

Because Amen was the one with the ball, Ausar got to show off his slashing and cutting ability. He finishes well at the rim when he is cutting — although his ability to finish through contact is still a major question mark. Ausar still racked up plenty of assists.

The biggest difference and the biggest reason why Ausar might end up being a “safer” pick is because Ausar has already shown a willingness to defend. There are a lot of scouts who think Ausar Thompson can become an elite defender. And that helps him carve a clearer role.

But that is also the larger point on why the Magic probably need to ensure one more bite at this apple. Ausar Thompson has upside to be so much more.

That is why the team probably cannot pass up Cam Whitmore at the sixth pick too — or at least pick him or one of the above six and move them for more assets.

The Orlando Magic do not need a star at this point. They want the ball with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner and they are still invested enough in Markelle Fultz. They do not need ball-dominant players. Instead, what the Magic are looking for are players who can move the ball. They need versatility.

But drafting this high in the draft, they also cannot and should not pass up talent. Talent still has to matter for this team. And adding talented players with higher upside is important. The Magic should not pass up on talent just because the fit is not perfect.

Orlando should take one of these six players.

Whitmore remains the player that I am personally lowest on though.

Orlando likes players who are multi-positional and multi-skilled. They want their bigs to be able to pass and kick as much as their guards. That is perhaps Whitmore’s biggest weakness. He had an assist rate as a primary driver and scorer lower than 10 percent.

Maybe that is a product of his team — like his poor 3-point percentage is a product of his being on the ball a lot. But that along with a 70-percent free throw percentage is a bit of a red flag.

Whitmore is a great athlete though. And he is big. He should be able to guard up a position and be physical. Considering he shot well on his few catch-and-shoot opportunities, he may just need the right role to thrive and his pinballing-driving nature will work well within a fuller team context.

The Magic certainly could use that kind of physicality especially if getting to the line will be a key part of their offensive identity and strategy.

At the end of the day, the star upside and scoring upside are too much to pass on.

OMD Big Board 3.0: Clarifying the Orlando Magic’s goals

Find Your Role

If the Orlando Magic are looking to fill more immediate needs and ignore some of those upside arguments, then there are plenty of players who fit the bill and that they should target.

It should start with UCF forward Taylor Hendricks. He is the exact kind of rim-protecting power forward the Magic should be seeking as a sometimes pair with Wendell Carter, off the bench or in small-ball lineups with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Rim protection is one of the bigger weaknesses still on the team. So having a versatile forward who can man the paint and get out on the perimeter. This is a Magic fever dream honestly.

It only adds to it that Hendricks can step out and hit shots from the perimeter. He is not going to be able to do much attacking beyond simple drives to the basket, transition plays and dump-offs to the dunker spot. But Hendricks fits in perfectly as a key role player that gives the Magic maximum versatility.

If Orlando is not enamored with the star potential of those top six guys, Hendricks should be their guy.

The Orlando Magic need shooting badly. But they also have their likes in the drafting process — and plenty of shooters they can target with free agency, so maybe the draft is not where they will put their focus on shooting. The Draft should be about talent.

And so reshifting that focus back to talent over strict need changes things. And the Arkansas guard Anthony Black just screams that he is an Orlando Magic-type player.

He is a great defender who will get after players with his size and physicality. He can attack the lane and finish in mid-range with floaters.

His attraction is his defense and having another big ball-handler fits the Magic’s usual targets.

To the same point, Cason Wallace is not the same defender or does not have the same size as Anthony Black but he is an interesting point guard option too if the Orlando Magic are looking to shore up their guard depth in this draft.

Wallace has good size. But his big attraction is his burst off the dribble. He can explode and get past his man off one dribble, which puts him squarely in the paint. Kentucky has a long history of guards who underperform in college but are very prepared for the NBA. Wallace looks to be of that make.

His success will depend, of course, on his shot-making. But there is a lot to like about Wallace and the foundation he is starting with entering the league.

OMD Big Board 3.0: Clarifying the Orlando Magic’s goals

Shooters Galore

Alas, everyone wants shooting. The Orlando Magic’s biggest need is shooting. I know I am on record saying the Magic need to come away from draft night with shooting. That should be their top priority. And it is certainly something the team has to consider with every move the team makes. The Magic are so desperate for that skill.

Shooters can be a bit limited in what they do beyond. And obviously, the draft is about how players grow and what they project to being rather than their simple skill set now.

That is why I might be among the outliers who likes Jordan Hawkins over Gradey Dick among the top shooters in this draft class.

Both Hawkins and Dick are fantastic shooters. But for me, Hawkins edges ahead of him because his shooting is more dynamic — he can shoot on the move very effectively and has some driving ability although nobody should be asking him to change direction or pace on his drives.

Hawkins also projects as a better defender. Even though he is a bit smaller at 6-foot-5, Hawkins uses his size well and can keep his man in front of him effectively.

For that reason, I really like him as the option at No. 11. His game is just a bit more dynamic with room to grow.

Having said that, the Orlando Magic would not be wrong to target Gradey Dick either. He does everything the Magic need as a shooter with good size at 6-foot-8 to boot.

Dick is widely considered the best shooter in this draft. He can hit stand-still shots effectively and has deep range. Dick is a smart team defender, even if he is someone whom teams will target one on one.

The reason why I drop Dick below Hawkins is because of Dick’s limitations athletically. It is hard to see Dick doing much more than being a shooter. He is a very good shooter and should be able to do that at a high level in the NBA.

But it is hard to say the Magic should not still be focused on more.

OMD Big Board 3.0: Clarifying the Orlando Magic’s goals

The Other Options

The biggest riser in recent weeks among the draft prospects is Mets 92 forward Bilal Coulibaly.

Coulibaly entered the season as a raw wing prospect with all the physical attributes but little understanding of how to use them. He struggled to get off the bench for Mets 92.

Now with Mets 92 in the French league finals, Bilal Coulibaly is an indispensable piece of the puzzle for Victor Wembanyama’s championship hopes.

He gets after players defensively and suffocates them with his size. And his offensive game has come a long way this season. That growth is the biggest thing for him. Everyone knew he had Lottery talent. But everyone wanted to see whether he could put all those pieces together.

He has started to put a lot of the pieces together to put him in a position to go in the Lottery.

Jarace Walker will not go 13th in this Draft. He is too talented and too solid of a player. There are teams that need what Walker brings to the table.

He is an excellent screener and defender who has good versatility. He plays tough and should play up or down positions defensively. Walker is going to be a connector who makes a lot of teams work.

But his lack of offensive skill probably puts him off the Magic’s list as a serious draft prospect. They just do not need a player with his skills. And he would probably struggle to accentuate the key players on this Magic team. This is a player where the fit is going to matter most for his development.

We all know the Orlando Magic love their Michigan men. They drafted Franz Wagner and Caleb Houstan and signed Moe Wagner. They like the solid play that comes from that program. They defend well and just play smart in general.

Kobe Bufkin is the next in line for the Michigan pipeline to the NBA. He is a solid shooter (although not strictly a shooter) and a decent playmaker. Bufkin is solid and has generated a decent amount of buzz in the draft process.

He is not going to get all the way to the basket consistently. But he could be a solid backup guard option with the potential to do a bit more with a bigger burst.

Another big riser in the Draft process so far has been Duke center Dereck Lively. His stats at Duke were fairly meager as he struggled with some injuries and fit in Duke’s system with another big in Kyle Filipowski next to him.

But Lively is extremely athletic. He was a top-10 player in his high school class. And he is starting to show that in his workouts. There are rumors that he is showing off his range and outside shot. That could transform him back into that prospect from before college.

The Magic do need to shore up their center position. It is one of the big needs this offseason. And while it might be better to use a veteran to fill that spot, Lively is someone who would be able to man that backup spot effectively and occasionally play alongside Wendell Carter.

Keyonte George rates as a solid shooter. There are plenty of reasons still to draft him and look at him. His low shooting percentage was almost certainly a product of shot quality and having to set up all of his own shots.

His biggest detraction is his size. He is going to struggle to get into the paint. And the question is whether he is a pure shooter that can fill that role alone.

OMD Big Board 3.0: Clarifying the Orlando Magic’s goals

Others to Consider

Leonard Miller is the other player to watch from the G-League Ignite team. Scoot Henderson certainly earned a lot of accolades and attention from the team. But Miller did a lot of the dirty work and showed an improved outside shot. He still has a long way to go, but Miller is a player to keep an eye on and watch.

Nick Smith Jr. can be a dynamic scorer and attacker. That is the reason why everyone still has their eyes on the Arkansas guard. His knee injury certainly slowed him down throughout the season. But Smith still has that it factor if he can get all the pieces together. There just is a lot to shape up.

If Brandon Miller got all the accolades and attention from Alabama, then Noah Clowney was the one responsible for all the dirty work. Clowney is a solid rebounder and defender. He will slot in better at power forward in the NBA than at center like he was in college.

Brice Sensabaugh has a lot of great offensive skills. It is hard to ignore his size, his shooting ability and his ability to get into the lane and use all of that to create for himself. Sensabaugh’s struggle though is his defensive attention to detail. And while he has the size to hold up. His ability will depend on how good of a defender he can be for a winning team.

Dariq Whitehead is another Duke player who struggled to find his fit in college. Injuries were a big part of that. And he is sitting out the draft process with foot surgery. He should be ready for training camp. But this is a player with tremendous talent. If there is a player who needs some patience and can reap a big reward with him.

Jett Howard is one of the few players we have some confirmation has already worked out with the Orlando Magic. He is a fantastic shooter and that is going to have everyone paying attention to him. But his defensive attention to detail needs some work and Michigan played better when he was off the floor.

Jalen Hood-Schofino is a really solid guard option. He does not do anything spectacularly, but he plays smart and defends solidly.

Kris Murray is very similar to his twin brother Keegan Murray (you know the Sacramento Kings forward). He has great size and is an excellent shooter. He does not have the mobility of his brother. But he will be a prototypical stretch-4 pretty quickly in the league.

G.G. Jackson is the energy guy of this draft. Think of him as a Bo Outlaw type. He plays with energy and attacks around the basket really effectively. But he is extremely raw and does not have much to offer beyond his energy and athleticism.

Rayan Rupert is the measurable wonder of this draft class. But his athletic measurements were not good. He had a really poor vertical jump measurement that means he probably is not going to be able to maximize his massive wingspan.

This is likely our final Big Board before the NBA Draft. But we will be back to update our Mock Draft 2.0 with a focus on trade potential.