As the 2021-2022 NBA regular season begins to wind down and is set to give way to the NBA Playoffs, some teams will begin the countdown to the Draft Lottery and Draft, which are set to begin on May 17th and June 23rd. Despite these major offseason events both being months away, the teams picking in the lottery will certainly begin researching and evaluating the top draft prospects in hopes to land one of those players that can help turn their franchise around. Despite having two picks in the 2021 draft lottery, at No. 5 and No. 8, the Orlando Magic find themselves back in the lottery, in hopes of finally drafting their franchise cornerstone.
Thankfully, the Magic have three total picks in the draft, including their first-round selection that will likely have the best odds to land the No. 1 overall pick. Since the NBA season isn’t over until April 10th, the draft order will be determined by overall standings, which has the Magic slated to pick first overall with a league-worst 20-58 record. In the creation of this mock draft, picks by all the other 29 teams were simulated and chosen by the computer, based on positional need.
Round 1, Pick 1: Paolo Banchero, PF/C, University of Duke
Throughout the 2021-2022 college basketball regular season, it seemed as if Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren or Auburn’s Jabari Smith would go No 1., and for good reason. Both Holmgren and Smith had superb statistical seasons, and led their respected colleges to No. 1 and No 2. seeds in March Madness. In spite of this, Center is not a glaring positional need for the Magic, as Wendell Carter Jr. and Mo Bamba have both played well this season. With that being said, Duke’s Banchero offers Orlando the most positional versatility, and has proven that his talent is undeniable. In 38 games this season, Banchero has averaged a team-high 17.1 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 3.2 APG, while shooting 47.8% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range. Banchero has even elevated his game for March Madness, averaging 18.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 3.7 APG, and has led Duke to their 17th Final Four appearance.
While the statistics may not paint the entire picture of Banchero’s game, Banchero was the 2021-2022 ACC Rookie of the Year and a Consensus All-American for a reason. Banchero’s collegiate success is in large part to his size, which is one of the biggest strengths of his game. At 6’10” and 250 pounds, Banchero’s size gives him an undeniable physical presence that allows him to either dominate as a point forward, or just as a traditional big man. That physical presence has made it a challenge for opposing teams to guard Banchero, as he has an effective post-up and paint game against smaller guards, converting on 52.7% of his two-point attempts. If Banchero is matched up with bigger forwards and centers, then Banchero can knock down shots on the perimeter at a reliable rate. Banchero does need to clean up simple mistakes, as he averaged 2.4 TPG and 1.9 FPG this season.
Round 2, Pick 32: Wendell Moore, SF, University of Duke
Although the Magic need to add offensive firepower this offseason, addressing the defense should also be a priority. As a team, Orlando ranks 19th in opponent’s PPG (112.1 PPG), 16th in opponent’s field goal percentage (45.8%), and 25th in opponent’s three-point percentage (36.3%), making the Magic’s defense worse than average. With this context, the Magic select Duke’s Moore, who is one of the best two-way players in the entire draft. Standing at 6’5″ and 216 pounds, Moore is a solid all-around player who gives a great effort on both ends of the floor. Even though scoring isn’t his strong suit, Moore still averages a serviceable 13.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, and 4.4 APG, while shooting very efficiently, going 50.8% from the field, 41.1% from three-point range, and 81.0% from the free-throw line.
In addition to a well-rounded offensive game, Moore will likely be sought out by NBA teams due to his enticing defensive potential. Due to his size and defensive intangibles, Moore can guard positions one to four, and occasionally the five. At just 20 years old, Moore already has the makings of a lock-down defender with great versatility on the defensive end of the court. Moore showcased this all season long, as he notched 154 defensive rebounds (16th in ACC) and 53 total steals (seventh in ACC), along with averaging 1.4 SPG (15th in ACC). Moore’s superb defensive play earned him spots on the 2021-2022 ACC All-Defense team and All-ACC second team. If Moore is able to translate his game to the pros like fellow forward Franz Wagner did in his rookie season, then Orlando would be leaving the draft with another home-run hit in Moore.
Round 2, Pick 35 (Via Indiana): Hugo Besson, PG/SG, New Zealand Breakers
After selecting Duke’s Banchero and Moore with their first two picks, the Magic decide to use their final draft pick on Besson, an overseas combo guard from New Zealand. Over the three seasons that Besson played overseas, he’s developed into an agile and skilled playmaker that can create offense for himself and his teammates. This past season was a great representation of this, as Besson averaged a career-high 14.5 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.3 APG in 20 games. Despite his respectable frame of 6’3″ and 200 pounds, Besson was a reliable shooter for the Breakers, going 39.8% from the field and 32.2% from three-point range. With that being said, Besson tends to take quick, rushed shots that would lead to misses, which is the reason for his low field-goal percentage. Besson also has a bad habit of looking to score himself, rather than looking to pass to his open teammates. It seems like he will pass the ball to his teammates as a last resort, especially if he’s in danger of turning the ball over.
In spite of these offensive mistakes, Besson still offers plenty of promise and potential, as he’s just 20 years old. Besson also thrives on the defensive side of the floor, which is usually rare for a combo guard his size. Besson does a good job of defending the perimeter, specifically by challenging outside shots with his length and footwork to force misses. Furthermore, Besson’s work ethic and hustle is an added bonus, which is something that typically can’t be taught in the NBA. A good example of this is when Besson is challenged with an opposing screen by the offense. While he does struggle with defending screens and is a clear mismatch, he still fights as hard as he can to stay with his man, which is promising news for the 20-year-old Australian guard.