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2017 NCAA Tournament: 5 Players To Watch For In East Region
Orlando Magic target Jayson Tatum-Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
With the 2017 NBA Draft fast approaching, we break down the Orlando Magic's five best options for the No. 6 overall pick.
On May 23, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical dropped a #WojBomb pertaining to the Orlando Magic — one with major implications.
It was regarding the central Floridian team's void at general manager after the firing of Rob Hennigan.
To sum up, the Magic found quite the replacement:
John Hammond had been the Milwaukee Bucks' GM since 2008, and the Executive of the Year Award recipient in 2009-10. He was also the man behind Milwaukee drafting Giannis Antetokounmpo, Malcolm Brogdon and Thon Maker, among others. Safe to say, Orlando hired a good one.
The team also hired Jeff Weltman away from the Toronto Raptors as their new president of basketball operations. Considering Toronto's recent success, averaging 50 wins over the last four seasons, the hire was universally praised upon its announcement.
That's not to suggest the Magic turnaround will be an easy one to kickstart; there's talent on the roster, sure, but massive holes to fill as well.
Thankfully, Hammond and Weltman were hired with a month to go until the 2017 NBA Draft. It's not a totally ideal situation, but regardless, they should have enough time to figure out what Orlando needs most and which prospects to target.
Plus, the upcoming draft class has been called one of the deepest ever. And the Magic — owners of two first round picks, including No. 6 overall — will have plenty of great options to help bolster their roster.
So without further ado, here are the five most intriguing prospects for Orlando with the sixth overall selection.
Honorable mentions: Dennis Smith Jr. (fit not great), Josh Jackson (won't be available at No. 6), Zach Collins (would be a bit of a reach if taken sixth)
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
5. Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona
College stats: 37 GP, 15.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.9 3's, 0.4 STL, 0.5 BLK, 1.1 TOV, 49.2 FG%, 42.3 3PT%, 83.5 FT%
It's not exactly a secret that the Magic's biggest need is shooting. As such, one player who should pique their interest at No. 6 is Lauri Markkanen out of Arizona. The power forward prospect isn't just the best big man shooter in the draft, but possibly the best shooter period.
Over the first 22 games of his college career, Markkanen was hoisting 4.9 threes per game, and successfully converting on 50.5 percent of them. He did hit a bit of a slump afterward, but that's normal for a freshman getting his first taste of high-level basketball.
For a Magic side that finished 2016-17 as the second-worst three-point shooting team in the NBA (32.8 percent), the Finnish stretch-4's ability to spread the floor will provide immediate relief.
Just watch his career-best performance against Arizona State if you're not quite sold:
In that game, Markkanen scored 30 points on 12 shot attempts, while making five of his six looks from beyond the arc.
He's more than just a shooter, too; he's got a plus-ball handle and just enough wiggle to make opposing big men uncomfortable guarding him on the perimeter.
Insert him into a small-ball lineup at the 4 (with Aaron Gordon playing center), running pick-and-pops with Elfrid Payton, and watch the Magic's offense start to show a previously-nonexistent semblance of competence.
His defensive liabilities may make him a bit of a reach at sixth overall, but offensively, it'd be hard to find a better fit for Orlando than Markkanen.
Sacramento Kings
Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
4. De'Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky
College stats: 36 GP, 16.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.6 APG, 0.5 3's, 1.5 STL, 0.2 BLK, 2.4 TOV, 47.8 FG%, 24.6 3PT%, 73.9 FT%
Another intriguing alternative for Orlando at No. 6 is Kentucky De'Aaron Fox, who's arguably the most athletic point guard in the draft (though Smith and Markelle Fultz may have something to say about that).
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I know what you may be thinking right now: Why would the Magic take another athletic point guard who can't shoot, when they already have Payton on the roster? And that's totally fair. After all, the poofy-haired floor general did close out the regular season in a strong way.
Over his final 18 games, Payton averaged 14.1 points, 9.1 assists and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor and boasting a positive plus/minus. No snark here, that's impressive.
But he's going to be a restricted free agent next summer. If he can maintain that form over a larger sample size, some team (probably the Brooklyn Nets, if we're being honest) is going to offer him a pretty big contract.
Drafting Fox would provide Orlando some insurance, in case they don't feel comfortable matching a potential Payton offer sheet. Moreover, there have been some whispers about how coveted the former Wildcat is as we approach draft night:
It's starting to seem less and less likely Fox will even be available at No. 6. But if he is, the Magic would be shrewd to snatch him right up, despite need. Orlando is in no place to turn away talent to fill the weaker parts of their roster, and I'm sure Hammond and Weltman know that too.
Los Angeles Lakers
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3. Jonathan Isaac, SF/PF, Florida State
College stats: 32 GP, 12.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.0 3's, 1.2 STL, 1.5 BLK, 1.5 TOV, 50.8 FG%, 34.8 3PT%, 78.0 FT%
If the Magic want to continue their streak of drafting athletic freaks who can't really shoot, then Jonathan Isaac is their man. The former Seminole shot under 35.0 percent from three during his freshman year; over his final 12 games as a collegiate, he made just 30.0 percent of his heaves from deep.
Recently, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor wrote about why Orlando should avoid Isaac come June 22. In his own words:
"I think the Magic should pass on Isaac, unless there is no better, higher-upside prospect available…Considering Isaac's physique, some of the comparisons being thrown out make sense. But what made Giannis special as a prospect was his feel, dexterity, fluidity, and ball-handling ability. Brandon Ingram is another reference point, but Ingram demonstrated tremendous instincts and passing vision in college. Isaac hasn't yet showcased any of these qualities…With the sixth pick, they should take a swing on a player who can become the man, not one of the guys."
All salient points, for sure. Nonetheless, Isaac has the potential to be a special defender. He is a one-man pick-and-roll destroyer who can protect the paint and use his agility to switch onto guards on the perimeter. A lineup of Payton-Terrence Ross-Isaac-Gordon-plus another athletic rookie on the wing would wreck havoc defensively.
Isaac may not be the sexy pick, but the Magic's defense needs as much of a face-lift as their offense does. For that reason alone, he has a strong case to be the guy at No. 6.
Los Angeles Lakers
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2. Malik Monk, PG/SG, Kentucky
College stats: 38 GP, 19.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 2.7 3's, 0.9 STL, 0.5 BLK, 2.0 TOV, 45.0 FG%, 39.7 3PT%, 82.2 FT%
Sometimes, it's best not to overthink things. Orlando desperately lacks shooting and its guard play is average (at best). If we believe those two things to be absolute truths, then why not target the prospect who can play either guard spot, and who hoisted 6.9 threes nightly with 39.7 percent accuracy?
Malik Monk to the Magic simply makes sense; it's a marriage that would benefit both parties. Hammond and Weltman acquire an explosive 2-guard who fills a need, while the former Kentucky man gets to play on a team with low expectations for the next few years, while he bides his time and learns what life in the pros is like.
Speaking of Hammond, though he usually targets prospects with higher ceilings (like Greek Freak and Maker) than Monk's, if he's available at No. 6 — which is far from certain — his shooting and scoring ability may make him difficult to pass up.
For just a taste of just how explosive the combo guard is, consider the following: On Dec. 17, Kentucky faced off against the eventual-national-champion Carolina Tar Heels…and Monk was the best player on the floor:
He scored 47 points, made eight of 12 attempts from beyond the arc, and went 18-of-28 from the field overall. Monk took just five free throws and still dropped 47 on fewer than 30 shots. That's absolutely absurd efficiency.
Monk does have his weaknesses though. He's a poor defender, and undersized for a 2-guard, with a poor wingspan to boot. However, his potential as a pure scorer, which the Magic don't have many of, could make him the right choice at No. 6.
Phoenix Suns
Rich-Barnes-USA-TODAY-Sports
1. Jayson Tatum, SF/PF, Duke
College stats: 29 GP, 16.8 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.4 3's, 1.3 STL, 1.1 BLK, 2.6 TOV, 45.2 FG%, 34.2 3PT%, 84.9 FT%
If the cards fall just right, Jayson Tatum probably makes the most sense for the Magic with the sixth pick.
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He would slot in as the starting 3, joining Gordon and Nikola Vucevic in Orlando's talented frontcourt. The 6-foot-8 forward would immediately be one of the team's best perimeter scorers, if not the best outright. Tatum's strong as a bull, has the size to play small-ball power forward and can — to put it simply — get buckets on anyone.
He's a terror in transition, and has a high ceiling defensively, which is shown through his 1.3-steal and 1.1-block averages in college.
Though his three-point shooting was thought to be a weakness, he proved that it isn't a total lost cause by nailing over 34.0 percent of his attempts from deep as a freshman. That clip may not be great, but we should also note he took a lot of tough shots while trying to score in isolation situations, including pull-up threes.
Tatum's best showing of the season came in mid-February, when he scored 28 points on 13 shots against Virginia's second-ranked defense (per KenPom's efficiency metrics).
His prototypical size (for a 3 or small-ball 4) and ability to score efficiently make him the prime target for the Magic at No. 6.
If Orlando were to land any of the guys we listed, they'd be in pretty good shape. Is it possible the future in central Florida is starting to finally look…kinda bright?
