The Magic, owners of the top pick as well as the Nos. 32 and 35 selections in the 2022 draft, interviewed a variety of players at the pre-draft combine, have hosted several prospects for pre-draft workouts, and are expected to host several others as they do their due diligence with an eye towards the future.
Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel lists all the players the Magic are doing their homework on, including Duke guard Trevor Keels, Iowa forward Keegan Murray, Baylor forward Jeremy Sochan, Kentucky guard TyTy Washington Jr., and more.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- The Hornets, who possess the Nos. 13 and 15 picks in the upcoming draft, are hosting UT-Arlington forward Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Gonzaga guard Rasir Bolton, LSU forward Tari Eason, North Carolina State guard Terquavion Smith, SMU forward Marcus Weathers, and Connecticut forward Isaiah Whaley for a pre-draft workout today, per Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
- The Heat‘s young deep-bench players, a.k.a. the “Shadow Heat,” are gearing up for a summer of development, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Winderman notes that the Miami front office brain trust of Pat Riley, Andy Elisburg, and Adam Simon have made it a habit to add intriguing youngsters near the end of the regular season, letting them work out with the team during the end of the year and the postseason ahead of hopeful Summer League success. The Heat have hit on solid role players this way in the past, and hope to do so again with Haywood Highsmith and two-way players Mychal Mulder and Javonte Smart. That trio has been traveling with the club as it continues its playoff run. “I think that gives you invaluable experience, any time you can be a part of a playoff run,” said Heat reserve center Omer Yurtseven, who underwent a similar late-season development process last year.
- Though Heat All-Defensive Team center Bam Adebayo has had a relatively modest offensive output in the team’s Eastern Conference Finals series against the Celtics thus far, the team assesses his production beyond just the box score, writes Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald. Adebayo is averaging just 13.3 PPG in the series.
Looney is a better player than Bam because of wisdom
Bam per game
33.4 minutes 7.8 rebounds
BAM CAN BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER OFFENSIVELY & OR DEFENSIVELY. GO HEAT, WIN Game 7!
He can but he looks like he’s scared to attack the paint since Robert Williams returned in game 4.
Bam has the ability to dominate a game offensively & or defensively. In the bubble he was playing for a contract, was aggressive. Jimmy lives for the BIG GAMES, BAM can be a difference maker if they can get him involved, but the Heat need to come out firing, Jimmy , Kyle aggressive… BAM needs to step up when needed tonight, especially when Jimmy is resting.. SPO/ UDONIS/ JIMMY/ KYLE/ PJ will get that out of him tonight… Expect BAM & wing players to have many opportunities because Jimmy will be doubled…. Bam was pivotal on Olympic team for a reason, even if Williams play him tough, BAM can be BIG tonight. GO HEAT!
Bam better wake up ….. gm 7
Heat are the best at finding and developing talent outside the draft. And using the G-league to develop that talent. Best at it
Unless there are drastic changes, most of this team should be back, with little tweaks; what can they do to replace Caleb Martin, who they’re going to lose, getting rid of Markieff Morris, seeing what happens with Highsmith, the draft pick, etc
Mychal Mulder is one of the worst players in the NBA lol nice