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Orlando Magic Daily 2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: The Questions the draft poses

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 8, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Cam Whitmore (22) controls the ball against Georgetown Hoyas guard Jay Heath (5) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats forward Cam Whitmore (22) controls the ball against Georgetown Hoyas guard Jay Heath (5) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 18: Gradey Dick #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 18, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IOWA – MARCH 18: Gradey Dick #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 18, 2023 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Orlando Magic Daily 2023 NBA Mock Draft 3.0

The No. 11 Pick

38. . G/F. Orlando Magic. Gradey Dick. 11. player

Question: Which skill matters most for the Magic?

If the Orlando Magic are preparing to take their big swing with the No. 6 pick, what is the safe option? What is the need the Magic most needs to fill?

They could go in a number of different directions — and sure, they could take a big swing in Bilal Coulibaly or Dariq Whitehead still. They could get the backup center in Dereck Lively at this spot.

But the lesson from last year still rings true to me. Everyone pegged the Magic for taking Jabari Smith because of the star he could grow into. Clearly, the Magic decided to take Paolo Banchero and the star that he already was.

The draft process has a way of letting everyone complicate the questions more than they should. The simplest answer is usually the correct one.

The Magic need shooting. Take the best shooter. It probably should not be any more complicated than that.

Gradey Dick is widely considered the best shooter in this draft. The Magic should not overcomplicate their first pick and ensure they get a player who can be a shooting specialist.

I think reducing Dick to just a shooter though is a bit unfair to him. He is a smart player who can move into open space and hit and make the right decisions of when to fire and when to keep the ball moving.

His defense reminds me a lot of J.J. Redick with the Stan Van Gundy-era Magic. Dick may not be able to stop offensive players one on one, but he will be in the right spots in a help scheme more often than not.

On top of that, he is listed at 6-foot-8. So he has the size to absorb some contact and get his shot off.

Dick might be a specialist as a shooter. But the Magic need that. Especially now with Gary Trent Jr. off the free agent market, the Magic might be more urgent to fill this shooting need.

It will be hard for the Magic not to feel successful if they come away with Dick at this pick.