Orlando Magic
Under general manager John Hammond, the Orlando Magic have been on a mission of sorts since his hiring in 2017, accumulating an amalgamation of limbs and athleticism through the draft. For Hammond, physical tools and lengthy wingspans reign supreme.
You can’t teach length, and such a principle influenced the selections of first-rounders Chuma Okeke (2019), Mo Bamba (2018), and Jonathan Isaac (2017), and stayed true for second-round dart throws Melvin Frazier, Wesley Iwundu, and Justin Jackson.
This infatuation with length did produce defenses that ranked eleventh and eighth overall in the last two seasons, but a plan that regularly eschews established scoring talent for players who may develop down the road has its expected pitfalls on the offensive end. Orlando finished 25th in 3-point shooting (34.3 percent), 19th in 3-point attempts (32.2 3PA), and 23rd in offensive rating (107.9) this season, and the team has failed to throw out a top-20 offense since trading Dwight Howard in 2012.
That needs to change, particularly in regard to who they employ in the backcourt.
Former No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz (2017) enjoyed a career revival in his first year outside of Philadelphia, averaging 12.1 points, 5.1 assists, and 1.3 steals as Orlando’s starting point guard, making up for his (still) poor jumper by wreaking havoc in transition and imposing his will as a downhill slasher in the pick-and-roll.
Improvements and all, he shouldn’t prevent the Magic from selecting a point guard in this year’s draft, especially considering his escalating contract ($12.3 million in 2020-21) and impending restricted free agency next summer.
When accounting for the offensive ceiling that comes with having a guard who can’t credibly shoot outside of 15 feet and veteran guard DJ Augustin’s (32) potential exit this offseason, Orlando needs to add backcourt help with the Nos. 15 and 45 picks in this year’s draft.
If Hammond still goes down the size-plus-wingspan route, Theo Maledon (6’5 with a 6’9 wingspan) and RJ Hampton (6’5 with a 6’7 wingspan) would fit the billing, though the team could probably aim for prospects who pose as cleaner fits — Hampton is more of a slashing two-guard who still needs to work on his shot and decision-making — and superior talent plays — Maledon’s so-so athleticism dampens his scoring upside, though his savvy and polished footwork may help him lessen these innate limitations.
If Hammond finally ignores anthropometric measurements, then Kira Lewis (18.5 points, 5.2 assists) and Cole Anthony (18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists) would be suitable selections at No. 15. Lewis is famous for his game-breaking speed, but his live-dribble passing and impressive jumper (career 36.2% 3PT) shouldn’t go overlooked.
Anthony struggled with health and efficiency in his lone season at North Carolina, but he’s still one of the best pull-up shooters in the class (92nd percentile in isolation). Both players could conceivably play next to Fultz in the backcourt, too.
Lineups that had both Fultz and Augustin on the floor together sported a plus-9.59 net rating in 253 minutes this season per PBP Stats, faring better than lineups with one without the other (Fultz-only and Augustin-only lineups came in at minus-2.69 and plus-0.16, respectively).
With Nikola Vucevic being one of the better big man facilitators in the league, there are also some interesting offensive configurations that could be thrown out, allowing Fultz and Lewis/Anthony attack out of spot-ups, dribble-handoffs, and pick-and-rolls, much like how the neighboring Miami Heat run things with Bam Adebayo, Goran Dragić, and Tyler Herro. Hammond may just draft a wing/forward anyway, but there are guards who could fit nicely with the current core in Orlando.