The Orlando Magic have selected Anthony Black with the sixth pick in the NBA Draft, adding a high-IQ, defensive-minded guard to their roster.
A few picks later the Magic added Michigan guard Jett Howard with the 11th pick.
The Orlando Magic selected Anthony Black with the sixth pick and Jett Howard with the 11th pick in the NBA Draft, adding a high-IQ point guard but crowding their guard group and adding a knock-down shooter.
Black finished the season averaging 12.8 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game and 3.9 assists per game. He is known for his smart in-between game and his athleticism attacking the basket. He shot 51.3 percent on 2-pointers. A good sign for his ability to attack the paint and finish at the basket or in the mid-range.
Black fits the Magic’s draft history to a tee, adding versatility, flexibility and length to the team. Black measured at 6-foot-5.75 with a 6-foot-7.5 foot wingspan. He defends at an extremely high level which always fits what the Magic are looking for.
Of course, shooting remains the big question for Black. He shot only 30.1 percent from beyond the arc and 70.5 percent from the foul line, a poor sign for his future as a shooter.
That is undoubtedly the biggest need for the Magic. And the Magic seemingly went in the opposite direction with their first pick.
They addressed that need with the 11th pick, taking Michigan sharpshooter Jett Howard.
Howard averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 36.8 percent from deep and a 80.0 percent from the foul line. Howard is a shooter through and through and will be a specialist on that front. Howard is listed at 6-foot-8 and has good size to get his shot off.
The Magic checked that off their needs list.
The two picks though will crowd an already busy guard room. This draft certainly left a lot of questions for what comes next for this team as they build depth and how to get themselves ready for what they hope will be a playoff push.
Still, the Magic now seem completely loaded with guards that all will clamor for playing time.
Rumors already started to circulate after the Magic emerged as a potential landing spot for Anthony Black that they might begin testing the waters for point guards Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs.
Fultz and Anthony are both extension-eligible this offseason and it is not clear whether the team would bring both back. It certainly seemed like the Magic would give both players the opportunity to prove themselves next year before making those contract decisions on them.
Now that guard room suddenly feels very crowded.
Ultimately, the draft is about taking talent and taking the best player off their board. The Magic may have felt like they did that in selecting Black and Howard, even if it feels like a reach on both players.
The Milwaukee Bucks are acquiring No. 36 in a deal with the Orlando Magic, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 23, 2023
The Magic later traded the 36th pick to the Milwaukee Bucks, continuing a run of trading their second-round picks.