Continuing the draft preview, I have Xavier Green (@NotZay22) joining me to preview how the Orlando Magic will handle the 2020 NBA Draft.
Pick Held: 15
Timeline:
- Currently in “purgatory” of not bad enough for the lottery, but not good enough to win a playoff series
- Awkward timeline with fit of forwards- Isaac & Okeke are swapping injury spots next year
- Bamba and Gordon are entering a make-or-break year
- Unlikely to blow it up, but may need a big roster shakeup to have a chance to either hit their ceiling or rebuild
Team Needs: Shot creation, 3 point shooting, guard
Current players under contract for next season:
Guards: Markelle Fultz
Wings: Terrence Ross, Aaron Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu
Bigs: Nikola Vucevic, Jonathan Isaac, Mo Bamba, Khem Birch
Options: Evan Fournier (player), Melvin Frazier (team), James Ennis (player)
Upcoming FA: DJ Augustin, Michael Carter-Williams, Wesley Iwundu (RFA), Gary Clark
Past 5 drafts:
2015: Mario Hezonja, Tyler Harvey
2016: Stephen Zimmerman
2017: Jonathan Isaac, Wesley Iwundu
2018: Mo Bamba, Justin Jackson, Melvin Frazier
2019: Chuma Okeke
#15 Big Board:
MavsDraft:
- Cole Anthony
- Kira Lewis Jr
- Devin Vassell
- Grant Riller
- Theo Maledon
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Saddiq Bey
- Desmond Bane
- Aaron Nesmith
- RJ Hampton
- Immanuel Quickley
Zay:
- Cole Anthony
- Devin Vassell
- Patrick Williams
- Kira Lewis
- Isaac Okoro
- Grant Riller
- Tyrese Haliburton
- Theo Maledon
- Josh Green
- Tyrese Maxey
- Saddiq Bey
- Aleksej Pokusevski
- Desmond Bane
- Aaron Nesmith
- Elijah Hughes
Other options:
- Orlando traded their 45th pick to Milwaukee, so they only have one pick. It’s hard to see if they want to move back into the second round, they could likely buy a pick.
- 15 could be moved to go up, if it can be packaged with a current player like Aaron Gordon or Nikola Vucevic.
