For much of the last decade, this time of year is the time for Orlando Magic fans to reawaken. Hope lay dormant since mid-April and came alive again for the NBA Draft Lottery.
For the first time since 2020, Magic fans are not focused at all on the NBA Draft Lottery (taking place Sunday afternoon). Instead, they are recovering from the end of their season after a first-round exit in Game 7 and thinking more clearly about what the team needs to improve that finish.
This is indeed a summer for the Magic to focus on their roster and supplement it with needs to prevent another playoff loss next year.
While everyone is focused on free agency and trades as the way to improve the Magic— and to be sure, with a little more than $30 million in anticipated cap room, those tools will be important to building this team—the draft is coming up.
Orlando holds the Nos. 18 and 47 pick in the draft this year. That is locked in place. While Orlando could shop that pick around or attach it to something bigger the team is planning in the offseason. It is an asset.
But no team worth its salt skips the draft. Even in a draft class that is considered generally to be weaker, the Magic still have to be thinking about how they can improve their team in any way they can. They have to be as invested in the Draft as ever, even if they are not picking at the top.
Picking later in the draft does mean that there is a larger player pool you are theoretically picking from. It means that team needs become a bit more important as you try to differentiate between players. The Magic are going to take the best player available, but how that player fits into the current team and perhaps help the current team matters more.
Orlando's winning window is open. The Magic have shown they can compete in the playoffs and have a young roster that seems ready to break through into the next round in 2025. On top of that, the Magic will be trying to create opportunity for 2024 rookies Anthony Black (who started 33 games but was out of the rotation for the Playoffs) and Jett Howard (who spent the majority of the year in the G-League).
It is also pretty likely the Orlando Magic draft a rookie with the plan of having him spend the majority of the year with the Osceola Magic. That leaves a lot more options open.
With the Lottery coming up, it is time for our periodic update on what the Magic are looking for in the Draft. This is our first Big Board for the 2024 NBA Draft.
This Big Board is a ranking of the NBA Draft prospects based on their skill and talent but also taking into consideration what the Magic are looking for. This is not a mock draft and no consideration is given to where players might fall based on the teams' draft order.
Obviously, the Magic have several needs that were revealed throughout the Playoffs. They could use some point guard and creation help in the backcourt, they desperately need shooting, and they could probably look to bolster their frontcourt. Otherwise, the Magic are going to continue valuing what they value -- bigger, longer players with positional and skill versatility.
2024 Orlando Magic Daily Big Board 1.0
Tier 1: The Battle for No. 1
For the first time in a long time, the Orlando Magic are not picking at the top of the draft. And for good reason, this is not a draft that has a lot of star talent. And the Magic are not a team likely aiming to trade up in this draft either. They are probably looking more for players who will help them immediately.
In this instance, a lot of the top guys in this year's draft are probably out of reach for them. So, let's run through them quickly:
There has been a lot of fluctuation with the top picks in this Draft. And who ends up going No. 1 might come down to who is making the pick. Still, to me even with his struggles later in the year with injuries, Alex Sarr's versatility at his size at 19.2 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game and 2.3 blocks per game in the NBL is impressive.
Alex Sarr is not Chet Holmgren or Victor Wembanyama. But he is in their class of player as a strong rim runner and shot blocker who is better on the ball than most others his size.
The Orlando Magic would love the chance to get a big point guard like Nikola Topic. That is essentially what they did in drafting Anthony Black last year. The Magic love their size like this. And if Orlando had the top pick, they might be wrestling between Topic and Sarr.
Topic averaged 18.8 points per game and 7.2 assists per game in Serbia this year. He can create his own shot and get to the rim fairly well. His rough 3-point shot is the biggest drawback to him and why there is no clear-cut No. 1 pick this year.
There is a clear battle for the top pick in this Draft between three players -- much like there was in 2023. Except nobody should confuse these three players for Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith. At least not at this point. I think most draft experts would take any of those three players over the players in this Draft.
Zaccharie Risacher has spent a good chunk of the year as the favorite to be the top pick as he averaged 16.8 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game in France. Risacher has all the physical tools to be an excellent perimeter scorer. But he still needs some time to get his legs under him and will likely spend the early part of his career as a spot-up shooter and secondary attacker.
Tier 2: Just beyond reach
The UConn Huskies were the story of the NCAA Tournament as they repeated as national champions and did so in dominant fashion. They had two reasons for that and both of those reasons are likely to be among the top-10 picks in this year's NBA Draft.
Stephone Castle really stood out. He was a monster defensively, shutting out top wing players like Boo Buie (Northwestern) and Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois). He uses his size really well and will make his mark imediately on defense.
Castle struggled as a shooter last year -- 26.7 percent from deep but 75.5 percent from the line. He is not a true point guard. And whether he is successful in the NBA likely depends on whether he shoots at a solid level.
When the NBA put together its Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend, they opted to keep all the G-League prospects on the same team. That gave the G-League players a lot of motivation to play well even in an exhibition game.
Should we put a lot into that game? Absolutely not. But it was still hard not to come away impressed with Matas Buzelis. At 6-foot-11, he showed good mobility and shot-making, hitting a tough jumper to clinch the first-round game for the G-League team in the game.
Buzelis was excellent for the G-League Ignite in its final year of existence. He averaged 16.4 points per game and 7.7 rebounds per game. He moved sort of like a less athletic Franz Wagner. Fluidity and scoring ability at that size is just always valuable.
No player probably looked more impressive in UConn's NCAA Tournament run than Donovan Clingan. So much so that he is getting at least some buzz for the top pick. I am not there at all.
Clingan is very good at the things he is good at. He is an excellent inside presence -- 7.4 rebounds per game and 2.5 blocks per game. He defends and uses his verticality well. He will be active around the basket.
But Clingan is not much of an offensive threat beyond simple shots around the basket. And while he is comfortable with the ball, Clingan is just a center. Traditional centers still have their place in the league. But there are still clear limitations to what teams can do with that.
For a good chunk of the season, Reed Sheppard was considered the best college prospect in this Draft. And with his shooting and scoring for Kentucky, who would blame them?
Sheppard averaged 12.5 points per game and shot 52.1 percent from three (and 83.1 percent from the foul line). He had games of 32 and 27 points in SEC play and had two games where he hit seven 3-pointers with efficiency too.
For an Orlando Magic team that needs shooting, Sheppard is someone to have on the list. Even though he is on the small side (certainly smaller than the Magic like) and not really a point guard. He is a shooter in every sense of the word.
When the G-League Ignite's season began, Ron Holland was considered the top prospect in a very good class for the fledgling development program (which the NBA is shutting down after this season with NIL deals in college no longer making it necessary as an alternative).
Holland had a solid year, averaging 22.0 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. He had two 30-point games and five games of 25 points or more. Holland can score.
But he shot only 24.0 percent from three and the team he played on struggled from a general lack of organization -- it was a bunch of 18 year olds trying to play in a professional league and they looked like it.
Holland can score in the open floor but his shooting will be the big concern as he continues to develop.
Rob Dillingham put up big numbers for Kentucky, averaging 15.9 points per game and 3.4 assists per game in SEC play. He shot 43.6 percent from three and 78.9 percent from the foul line. Dillingham is one of the best on-ball prospects from the college crop of players.
Dillingham is as good as any prospect in this class as a creator. And whether someone drafts him will depend on their belief that he can turn into a top option on a team or a quality playmaker. There are questions about both though. And he may stand out in this class because of a dearth of options overall.
Tier 3: Hoping to be there
Dalton Knecht seemingly came out of nowhere in his lone year at Tennessee. He turned a strong junior year at Northern Colorado into an even better year at Tennessee. If a player is going to spend all four years in school, they better show marked improvement at each year.
So the fact Knect jumped up his stats while jumping into the SEC is really encouraging. His average of 21.7 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from three (77.2 percent from the foul line) are really encouraging. So too is the fact that he had big burst games like his 40-point game against Kentucky or pair of 39-point games against Florida and Auburn (all NCAA Tournament teams).
Entering the NCAA Tournament, there was hope Knecht would be available when the Magic pick. He checks all the boxes as a bigger forward who can play anywhere on the floor and an ace shooter with some creation ability. But his strong run to end the season will probably jump him into the late Lottery, just beyond the Magic's clutches.
If the Orlando Magic are looking for a point guard who can create for himself, lead and play a bit off the ball, Jared McCain might be their guy. He had solid freshman year at Duke averaging 14.4 points per game and 5.5 rebound sper game in ACC play. He shot 37.5 percent from three and 86.7 percent from the foul line in conference.
McCain is not a true point guard because he is not much of a distributor. But he got better as the season went on and showed he can get to his spots, hit some tough mid-range jumpers or get to the bakset.
For what the Magic are looking for at point guard, he may be perfect for them. He can shoot -- one of the best shooters in this Draft. He can finish around the basket even above taller defenders. He has great patience with the ball.
The concern will be with his size. He is on the small side overall. And while he is determined and capable as a defender, size is always something teams pick on. Jared McCain might be a more efficient version of Cole Anthony in the end.
When you look at a player as the only way to decide whether someone has an NBA future, Cody Williams is one of the best players in this Draft. On first glance, he has a lot of the skills and a lot of the physical attributes that NBA teams like and feel like they can build around.
Williams has the numbers to back it up too, averaging 13.5 points per game in Pac-12 play at Colorado on solid 56.8/40.0/73.2 shooting splits. His 3-point shooting came on extremely low volume.
The brother to Oklahoma City Thunder star Jalen Williams, Cody Williams has the size and mid-range scoring ability that teams can build around. His consistency was the big issue in college. He had 10 games of 10 points or fewer as he missed time with a wrist injury that slowed him down.
But Williams remains a very high-upside selection and should be considered a steal if he somehow fell to 18 (he will not).
Tier 4: Realistic Targets
The Orlando Magic are probably looking for a more veteran point guard to lead the team. They drafted Anthony Black last year after all and should still be invested in his growth. So, point guards in this draft get knocked down a peg.
Isaiah Collier gets a pretty big hit on the Magic's board because he is not a good shooter. He averaged 16.9 points per game and 4.1 assists per game in Pac-12 play, but shot only 34.9 percent from three and 66.7 percent from the foul line. That suggests his shooting should be a major concern.
Still, Collier's size is going to be an attraction. The Magic love big guards and Collier, despite his poor free throw percentage, was a foul merchant at USC. He got to the line for 5.8 free throw attempts per game in conference play. That is a skill that typically translates.
And Collier should be able to use his size and strength well on defense at the next level.
Where the Orlando Magic are picking at No. 18, they are going to have to compromise some on what they are looking for. They are not going to find a perfect fit. And so as they pick, they either need to have a full development plan worked out or understand fully what role that player is going to play before their arrive.
Ja'Kobe Walter of Baylor will come in as a defensive ace. That is going to be what he brings early in his career. His offensive game is going to need to take some time to develop.
Walter averaged 13.8 points per game in Big 12 play on 33.5/29.1/80.0 shooting splits. Walter was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year nonetheless. A lot of that rests on his stellar defense.
Still, there are signs that he can be an improved offensive player. He had 28 points in his debut against Auburn and nine total games with 20 points or more. He struggled from three, but he can get hot and hit a bunch from deep.
During the NCAA Tournament, no player probably helped himself more than Tristan Da Silva even though Colorado's NCAA Tournament run was brief. Florida Gators fans probably had nightmares about him after he scored 17 points and dished out five assists in that track meet in the first round.
At 6-foot-9, he was an undersized center. But he quickly gained some looks as a playmaker at the position. He was good at screening, could step out and hit from the outside and find teammates from the high post. Da Silva's versatility at his size are going to find a home somewhere in a league that loves skilled players.
A lot of Tristan Da Silva's skills were likely hidden playing alongside a bigger name in Cody Williams. But it may just be that Da Silva's skill set works better at the NBA level.
The Orlando Magic are a team that loves versatile players like Da Silva. But they are probably looking more for rim protection if they were to draft a center.
Johnny Furphy is still defining his skill set and the things he can do. But there is no doubt, he is the kind of player the Orlando Magic love. He is long and willing to defend on the wing. He is athletic and able to run the floor and finish near the rim. His ability to defend multiple positions and fit in anywhere on the floor fits in.
It would not at all be surprising if Furphy is the guy the Magic look at when their turn comes up at No. 18.
Furphy averaged 11.4 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game in Big 12 play. He shot 49.6 percent from the floor and 36.5 percent from beyond the arc. Rounding out his shooting will be the biggest thing for him entering the NBA.
But Furphy's athleticism and ability to play in the open floor and put pressure on defenses at his size screams the kind of skill set the Magic look for.
Tier 5: The Realistic Targets—Wings and Guards
A look at Kyshawn George's stat line in his lone year at Miami is not going to make anyone think he screams NBA prospect—9.0 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, 44.0/43.2/71.4 shooting splits in ACC play. But that is not the whole story with him.
George is one of the best shooters in this draft, shooting 40-plus percent on catch-and-shoot threes. He feels like the kind of player with his size who could slot in and play a clear role -- a role the Orlando Magic need, obviously. Or they could slow-play him and let him improve his playmaking and off-the-dribble attack in the G-League for a year.
At his size, the Magic could develop him similarly to Jett Howard (or perhaps they are too similar and Howard entered the league as a more accomplished shooter). George is still testing the waters and may return to Miami. But this is a player to watch for as a diamond in the rough.
The Orlando Magic's type are players who embrace defense as much as it is the physical tools that they like to hunt for in the Draft. They want players who will embrace the team's defensive mentality and identity.
Devin Carter is someone to keep an eye on then. He averaged 8.7 rebounds per game showing his willingness to get physical and play bigger than he is. Carter does a little bit of everything and seems perfect to fill in as a role player quickly.
The Big East Player of the Year can fill in offensively, averaging 19.7 points per game while shooting 37.7 percent from three. This year was his first year in his three years in college shooting better than 30 percent from three. He made 72.3 percent of his free throws. Shooting will remain an area he has to improve.
Still, Carter shot 39.3 percent on 7.0 attempts per game in Big East play. There is something there a team can continue to grow.
We will get wingspans and measurements when the NBA Draft Combine begins this week in January. And we will parse out the players with the longest wingspans and raise them up this board. At this point, we have to mention Cholet youngster Tidjane Salaun.
Salaun is 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan and he has already estalbished he is going to work to use that. In France, Salaun has made his name as an 18-year-old using his length to stonewall defenders in help side and be a presence in the paint. The idea of having him and Joanthan Isaac manning the forward spots off the bench would be scary for opponents.
Salaun can do a lot of simple things offensively. He cuts to the basket and can finish with athleticism.
His 3-point shooting came around this year—he shot 32.6 percent on threes this year. It is something he still has to add to the game. His skills with the ball are still incredibly raw.
But he checks a lot of boxes the Magic like.
The Orlando Magic have a reputation now for looking to put bigger players on the ball. They love players who have skill versatility. They want Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner running point guard. And while they struggled to close the Cleveland Cavaliers without another ball-handler to set up their star players, size there is still something the Magic like.
Nikola Djurisic is that player who is an oversized point guard at 6-foot-7. He averaged 14.4 points per game and 3.4 assists per game this year for Mega. It was his second straight year averaging double figures for the club he has played with the last four years. That is a strong path of development.
Djurisic is still improving as a shooter. He had a strong close to the season. But he is still streaky from three. But a big ball-handling forward is right up the Magic's alley.
Tier 6: The Realistic Targets—Bigs
When the Orlando Magic look at bigs to add to the roster, they are probably looking for someone to fill in Goga Bitadze's minutes. They are probably looking for someone to help protect the rim and be a shot blocker. That is something the Magic do not necessarily have in their center group—both Wendell Carter and Mo Wagner rely more on their positioning.
Kel'El Ware may be one of the better options when it comes to bigs who can protect the rim.
Ware averaged 15.9 points per game, 9.9 rebounds per game and 1.2 blocks per game at Indiana last year. Ware is a great above-the-rim athlete who has shown a willingness to expand his range as a shooter. Ware is the kind of center a team should be willing to invest some in.
Similar to Kel'el Ware, Yves Missi made his name in Baylor flying around and blocking shots for one of the best defensive teams in the country. Missi averaged 10.7 points per game and 5.6 rebounds per game with 1.5 blocks per game. Missi was just big and athletic, able to move across the lane quickly to contest and challenge shots.
Missi's offensive game is still very rudimentary. He is raw. And he is going to fly around and make things happen good or bad early on in his career.
But that is about all there is to Missi's game at the moment. Missi is going to have to learn how to contain that athleticism and focus it to succeed.
Tyler Smith is the last of the big G-League Ignite prospects in this draft and is the toughest one to pin down.
On one hand, the 6-foot-11 forward showed great versatility and ability to stretch the floor shooting 47.6 percent to score 13.4 points per game. He made 36.4 percent of his 3-pointers on 4.0 attempts per game. So there is some stretchiness to him.
He is solid on offense, if not in need of refining his skills for another year in the G-League. What Smith really needs to work on is to improve defensively. Drafting him will require some time even if he can contribute something quickly.
Tier 7: Other Names to Know
24. Tyler Kolek, (Marquette): The 6-foot-3 guard is a true point guard, averaging 15.3 points per game and 7.7 assists per gamef or the Eagles last year. His size and age might be why he slips down draft boards. But he is a solid shooter and player.
25. Bobi Klintman (Cairns, Australia): Bobi Klintman continues the tradition of versatile big wings that the Orlando Magic like. Klintman averaged 9.7 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game in Australia last year.
26. Carlton Carrington (Pitt): Carlton Carrington was asked to be a volume scorer for Pitt and that will not be his role in the NBA. That skews his numbers. Carrington projects to be a solid pull-up jump shooter who can create his shot some.
27. Terrence Shannon Jr. (Illinois): No one should quesiton Terrence Shannon Jr.'s scoring ability (23.0 points per game and 36.2 percent from three). Shannon can put the ball in the hoop. But he had a suspension rescinded as part of a rape allegation. He will have to answer for that a lot in interviews before teams decide to invest in him.
28. DaRon Holmes (Dayton): DaRon Holmes is an undersized center. But he makes up for it with effort. He gobbles up rebounds and can finish around the basket. His 3-point shot has come a long way in a short time too.
29. Kevin McCullar (Kansas): The Kansas Jayhawks senior has established himself as one of the best defenders in the nation. He stepped up this year too, scoring 18.3 points per game and 4.1 assists per game. McCullar seems capable of filling in anywhere.