The Orlando Magic have the No. 5 pick in the NBA Draft, and there has been a lot of clutter to sort through as to their plans with the pick. Here are three rumors you need to know:
1) Orlando targeting Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis?
The Magic are said to also be interested in another international player in seven-footer Kristaps Porzingis, who would’ve been a first-round pick in last years’ class if he had declared.
ESPN’s Chad Ford thinks the 19-year-old “has a chance to be the best player on the team.” While he will need time to adjust to the NBA game, he averaged 10.8 points in just 21.3 minutes per game playing in Spain’s Liga ACB and has a lot of potential. His stock has been skyrocketing recently, as some think he could go as high as No. 2 overall to the Lakers.
2) Mock Drafts have Magic drafting Mario Hezonja
Orlando’s offense has been lacking a shooting threat, and several mock drafts have the Magic filling that need by drafting Croatian sharpshooter Mario Hezonja.
SB Nation NBA scribe Kevin O’Connor says Orlando should use its pick on Mario Hezonja, an offensively minded Croatian swingman. “The Croatian’s style of play can sometimes be mistaken for selfishness, but he’s really just that great offensively,” says O’Connor.
“Overseas he has showcased perfect mechanics on his jumper and the ability to drive to the cup and dunk over anyone.”In the three years since starting their rebuild, the Magic have yet to put together a coherent, consistent offense, so adding Hezonja’s scoring would seem to make a great deal of sense. Then again, Orlando’s struggles defensively make it more than reasonable to suppose it’ll select a player more renowned for his work at that end of the floor.
DraftExpress agrees with O’Connor; it also has Orlando making Hezonja its pick. Its justification for the pick is similar to O’Connor’s.
“The Magic have gone with defensive oriented players with their last three lottery picks, but Hezonja would give them a huge shot in the arm offensively,” writes DraftExpress, “particularly from the perimeter, where they sorely need to add outside shooting to help their floor spacing.”
In 14.5 minutes per game for FC Barcelona, Hezonja posted averages of 4.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists and shot 39.2 percent on three-pointers.
3) Could Orlando Reach At No. 5?
Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders talked about Orlando's draft plans, and wouldn't be surprised to see them take a prospect not in the consensus top five:
The Magic have a much wider choice than just those two guys – there is a chance Justise Winslow is there, Mario Hezonja is there as is Myles Turner and Devin Booker. The root of your question asks me to speculate on Willie Cauley-Stein, who I am not at all high on as a NBA player. That said I have talked to a number of Magic people and I hear they like him a lot and he is under strong consideration. I think Porzingis is the better player all the way around and I think he fills in where Orlando is currently weak. That said, since his hiring Rob Hennigan has never picked a player I thought fit the team’s needs or the culture. They tend to use the draft as a means to grab the highest upside player, regardless of position. So don’t fall in love with players ranked four or five on someone’s Top 100, Orlando writes their own script in the draft.
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