By securing the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA draft, the Magic may finally get the impactful big man they’ve been searching for, Zach Kram writes for The Ringer. Orlando has taken chances on young frontcourt players in recent years, drafting Jonathan Isaac sixth overall in 2017, Mohamed Bamba sixth in 2018 and trading for Wendell Carter Jr. in 2021.
To this point, Isaac, Bamba and Carter haven’t been game-changers, though all of them are still 24 years old or younger. Orlando will select first in the draft, likely choosing from a consensus top three in Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr. and Paolo Banchero, all of whom are power forwards or centers.
Outside of their big men, the Magic also have young players Cole Anthony, Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, R.J. Hampton, Chuma Okeke and Franz Wagner. The team is clearly trying to figure out the best combination for the future, a group that could be headlined by this year’s No. 1 pick.
Here are some other notes from Orlando:
- Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel examines who the Magic should draft as they continue their rebuild, specifically with the top selection. The team is coming off a 22-60 season, which was the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the second-worst record in the league.
- Mike Vorkonuv of The Athletic takes an in-depth look at the night of the draft lottery, which awarded the Magic the No. 1 pick. President of basketball operations Jeff Weltman was originally supposed to represent the Magic on the lottery stage, but was replaced by Jamahl Mosley because the head coach “felt lucky.” As it turns out, Mosley had good reason to feel lucky.
- By securing the top pick, the Magic put the decade-long “Dwightmare” to an end, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel opines. Bianchi, referring to former Magic center Dwight Howard, explores how Orlando hasn’t received a No. 1 selection since drafting Howard in 2004. Howard had six All-Star seasons in a Magic uniform, with perhaps his best coming in 2010/11 (22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game). The Magic also haven’t won 50 games since then, which was one of the last years Howard played with the team.
Looking forward to seeing Chet in a Magic uni
Chet and many of first round picks are older than Warriors Kuminga and Moody
Make good trades by sending one of those 3 big men to Warriors
Wiggins for Carter straight up
Trade accepted?
Wiggins for Mamba SNT
Trade accepted?
No.
Chet can defend anyone, Defensive nightmare. Can shoot the 3, create his own shot. You could put Chet at the 4/5, inter change, familiar with Suggs from MN School days. If you put Issac & Chet at the same time a defensive nightmare.. If they take Jabari, nice player, but will be disappointed….
@Basketball
you really think Chet is ready to guard bigger beefier guys like Ayton, Giannis, etc? They’ll eat him.
Chet can guard anyone? Anyone except Paolo right? Paolo beasted Chet when they played. Also where do you get that Chet can create his own shot in the league? Paolo is the shot creator. Lol @ Jabari being a “nice player”
As a thunder fan….please take him! We want Jabari!
Refuse to play there
Paolo gonna be more of a 3 in the league. He can play/defend either forward spot equally & will initiate offense as a guard alot throughout his career as well. Paolo, JI & Franz would be a strong combo of versatile young forwards for Orlando to build with
He is J Randle
If Rockets pick him
Jalen Green + Paollo = RJ + Randle
RJ + Randle = 15th seed in the West
Rockets need to trade up
Paolo is def better than Randle. Better handle, better shooter, better decision maker
Banchero is 6’ 10” and 250 LBs.
Okongwu is 6’ 9” and 245 LBs
Yet you think Banchero who has best low post gm in draft. Is a SF
And Okongwu who is same size as Bron. Is next great C. I sure wouldn’t want to play for you.
Banchero isn’t nearly the best low post player in this draft lol. Ever heard of Drew Timme, Orlando Robinson, Kenneth Lofton Jr, Kofi Cockburn & more?.. smh I’m shocked that you would willingly bring up the fact that you still don’t think Onyeka Okongwu is a 5 lol. Not knowing something like that when he was a rookie was a lol more understandable but at this point it should be crystal clear even for u. If a guy only plays 1 position for his entire career & plays it well enough to be a multimillionaire at 21yo then that’s his position. Okongwu is gonna be a 5 in the NBA for yrs & yrs dude that’s something you’re just gonna have to accept… you gotta look past just a guys physical size. A guys skillset is way more important. If you’ve ever seen Onyeka play it should be extremely obv that he’s a 5. Paolo is way more versatile so it’s a lil more nuanced with him. Paolo is basically a bigger version of Grant Hill. He’s gonna be able to be his teams lead guard on a lot of possessions. He obviously doesn’t what it takes to guard 5s in the NBA like Onyeka does
Nobody has ever heard them child. That’s why they are not top 3. No one cares.
Banchero the next Grant Hill. You should be SNL. That’s how funny this is
If you don’t watch college basketball or know about the top guys then why speak so confidently about the draft?
Oh boy, KnickerbockerAl is at it again!
Who is a gm changer turning 24 ????
Especially if you’ve been traded and mismanaged. Or had career changing injuries. Kram that in your brain. Why is it we only want the bad news. Explains a lot about this board actually. Bamba is showing he is for real. At worst a solid rim protector 10 n 8 guy this yr. When they finally decided to play him. Carter is a solid big well worth the trade. Can play the 4 or 5. And Issac was playing like an all star before he got hurt.
This is why there are so many geniuses here. Since all they can do is read. They swallow stuff like this from the Athletic and other sports writers.
If the Magic take Holmgren. They are biggest idiots since Bulls took Thomas instead of Aldridge. Since Raptors took Bargnani instead of Aldridge in same draft. Holmgren is yrs away. And out of top 4 picks. He has best chance to be a bust. You don’t pass on Smith OR Banchero. Even they the 4 where you are strong at. Imo Isaac can be the next great 4. But he is capable of playing with a Smith or Banchero. Personally I feel Banchero fits Magic best. He’s and old school 4. Smith and Issac are the same player imo.
Both are 6’ 10” and 220 LBs …… imagine that
Jabari Smith Jr & Jonathan Isaac have extremely different games. They play nothing alike fr
Yeah OK …… go chase Cam the next great Hawk.
Everybody talks up Mo Bamba but Mo Wagner is as good of a player as Mo Bamba is. He belongs in the starting rotation on some team in this league.
The Magic have too much depth everywhere on the court, but this is how Id run it:
Fultz
Smith
Wagner
Carter Jr.
Wagner
and off the bench you have
Isaac
Anthony
Suggs
Okeke
Bamba
Harris
Ross
Hampton
Bol Bol
Unsure if Cole Anthony is accepting of being behind Fultz but he will be, Fultz is going to be great. Fultz Smith and Carter Jr. is the makings of a championship team, and Suggs and the Wagner bros fit nicely, but how you carve out the rest of the bench is a real challenge. Hard to trade one of the Wagner’s they seem to olay better together. Hard to bury Mo Wagner at the end of the bench too, he is a starter in this league.
if Im an NBA team, Id be interested in trading for both of the Wagners.
They would fit nice on the Mavericks. Dont know what that trade would look like but that would be a nice team.
Brunson
Dinwiddie
Doncic
Wagner
Wagner
Brandon Ingram-esque-playing JABARI SMITH JR. could provide Orlando a starting “creme-de-la-creme” player with arguably the best long-distance shooting mechanics and touch for someone 6-foot-10 or taller coming into this draft. If we pass on him, we’ll be sorry for many years.
Trade 1rp, Ross and suggs to HOU for 3rd pick plus next two year’s pick, and Gordon