As the 2020-2021 season winds down for the Orlando Magic, the club will have the opportunity for a complete offseason makeover, starting with the NBA Draft. Courtesy of the Nikola Vucevic Trade, Orlando has two first-round picks to work with and their own second-round pick. Some top-tier talent to pair with Markelle Fultz, Cole Anthony, Jonathan Isaac, and Wendell Carter Jr. will quickly jumpstart Orlando’s rebuild, even if they land outside the top five. With the NBA Draft Lottery taking place on June 22nd, there is no specific order that has been set in stone for the Draft. Based on the current standing, Orlando is slated to pick fifth. With this being said, let’s take a look at the Magic’s Mock Draft 1.0:
Round 1, Pick 5: Jalen Green, SG, G-League Ignite
2020-2021 Stats: 15 Games, 32.0 MPG, 17.9 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.5 SPG, 46.1% FG, 36.5% 3-point FG, 82.9% FT.
Green’s Strength and Weaknesses
After Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, and Jalen Suggs are off the board, it becomes slim pickings for Orlando. Despite this, the Magic get an absolute athlete in Green. At 6’6 and 178 pounds, Green displayed his amazing scoring potential at all three levels. In addition to having a strong shooting game with a line of 46/36/82, Green is also an uncanny cutter to the basket, especially in transition. Green was an effective finisher at the rim with the Ignite, shooting 69.1% from five feet or closer. For Green to get to the basket though, he needed to create space between himself and the defender. With his arsenal of push crosses, hesitation moves, and the “Harden Stepback”, it’s not too hard for Green to do so.
As expected, Green still has his flaws, most notably his defense. Green needs to work on his lateral quickness and to navigate on and off screens. Both of these liabilities were evident in the G-League. Building up some size and strength as he grows into his body will be necessary to elevate his defensive game, too. Finally, Green’s shooting stats may be solid, but he is a streaky shooter at times. Green had two particular games where he went 0-for-7 from three-point range, and one game where he went 0-for-6. Improving his shooting would go a long way into becoming the potential star that Green is.
Orlando’s Overall Grade on Green: A
In a draft class where good shooting options are scarce, Green is a great pickup at number five. The only caveat with getting Green is he may not be available when Orlando rolls around at five. Both Oklahoma City and Detroit are scarce in the backcourt, which could lead them to take Green, leading Orlando to miss out on him.
Round 1, Pick 8: Corey Kispert, SF/PF, Gonzaga
2020-2021 Stats: 32 Games, 31.8 MPG, 18.6 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 52.9% FG, 44.0% 3-point FG, 87.8% FT.
Kispert’s Strength’s and Weaknesses
Kispert’s rise up draft boards is thanks to his light-out shooting. His shooting slash of 52/44/87 is nothing to laugh at, especially with him notching 40.0% from downtown over his four years at Gonzaga. Kispert’s efforts were acknowledged in the NCAA Tournament by averaging 16.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 44.5% from three-point range. The Gonzaga standout rightfully earned All-West Coast Conference and WCC Player of the Year honors, in addition to leading Gonzaga to the National Championship. Kispert has already drawn comparisons to Klay Thompson and Joe Harris, both automatic shooters that thrive off-the-ball. He is one of those rare prospects that already seems ready to contribute on day one, and whoever selects him should be glad they did so.
Kispert will still have his work cut out for him in the NBA, as he could improve on the defensive end of the floor. With being 6’7 and 220 pounds, you’d expect Kispert to be more productive than his 5.0 RPG and 0.9 SPG would say. Kispert is also older than an average NBA Draft Prospect, at 22-years-old. Kispert was a four-year starter for the Zags, but he may not fit on some teams’ timelines. Finally, Kispert’s lack of athleticism may lead to a lesser role in the NBA. He doesn’t have a quick first step, and does have trouble with creating his own shot.
Orlando’s Overall Grade on Kispert: B+
If Kispert is able to focus more on improving in his defensive play and his athleticism, then Kispert would be a great selection at number eight. Regarding Kispert’s age, he would fit well on the Magic team led by Markelle Fultz (22-years-old), Jonathan Isaac (23-years-old), and Wendell Carter Jr (22-years-old).
Round 2, Pick 33: Miles “Deuce” McBride, PG, West Virginia
2020-2021 Stats: 29 Games, MPG, 15.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.9 SPG, 43.1% FG, 41.4% 3-point FG, 81.3% FT.
McBride’s Strengths and Weaknesses
After enjoying a career season at West Virginia, McBride enters the draft process as a relatively unknown guard. For starters, McBride is a strong, compact guard that is a pest on the defensive end. McBride also possesses NBA-level tools on the offensive end, too. His ability to score from all three levels can’t be overlooked, and McBride operates comfortably through traffic. In West Virginia’s marquee matchup against number ten Texas Tech, McBride hit the game-winning layup with two defenders in his face. Keep in mind that McBride is quite undersized, at 6’2 and 200 pounds. McBride is also disciplined with the ball in his hands for a 20-year-old, with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.3.
McBride’s aforementioned size of 6’2, 200 pounds will be a major disadvantage for him at the next level. Despite this, no other major concerns stick out for McBride. He’s very balanced on both ends of the floor, and went up against the tough competition in the Big 12 and in the NCAA Tournament. It will be interesting to see how much McBride’s size impacts him at the next level.
Orlando’s Overall Grade on McBride: B
After securing two great offensive players in the first round, a defensive pest like McBride is a sneaky pick with high upside. In defensive-minded Steve Clifford’s scheme, McBride would quickly become one of the East’s rising defenders, very similar to how rookie Isaac Okoro did in Cleveland this season.