I’m sick of people saying the Magic had a bad draft.

[pepe1991]

https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/nba-draft-grades-for-jett-howard-kobe-bufkin-picks-im-a-bit-befuddled.html

I had no clue that other big name draft people didn't really hold back on how baffling Jett Howard 11 is

Especially John Hollinger

[axl_c_cool]

Anthony Black is a very good defender, high IQ passer, great feel for the game, solid off-ball cutter and a really good connector, finding the open man with ease.
He will fit like a glove next to Paolo and Franz, and he is 6’7 which only adds to the size of our already massive team.
He just isn’t a very good perimeter shooter, but then again neither are the Thompson twins or Scoot so I’m not sure why that pick has everyone so up in arms.

Other than scoring he does everything well on the court.
He can play the PNR( the other Magic guards can't) and he is an elite finisher with incredible feel at the rim and he’s good at drawing fouls, so the points will come even if he’s not chucking threes.
We saw how effective Paolo was at scoring thanks to his ability to draw contact, and now we have a 6’7 playmaking two-way point who can do the same.

Black also profiles as an excellent defender with great instincts on that end of the floor, unlike his pro player comp in Josh Giddey.
I like Kelle as much as anyone else but he has played more than 60 games just twice in his career and we paid dearly for his injuries last year, why not take the best player available in Black with the Thompson twins off the board in what could be the final top 6 pick this FO makes in this rebuild?

As for Jett, he might have been streaky in his Freshman season but he is miles ahead of what Caleb Houstan was out Michigan and certainly deserves your respect as a playmaking guard with a smooth three point stroke.
He is one of the best shooters in the class and also has size at 6’8 which we know this front office LOVES.
He excelled at Michigan at executing PNR action that NBA guys like Desmond Bane play well in, and he is a better all around player than Gradey Dick.

He plays with effort and hustle on D, just needs to be coached up on how to defend at a high level but the EFFORT is there and that **** matters more for a 19 year old coming into the league with a lot of room to grow.
He is a more pure shot creator, and a better playmaker than Dick, and his three point stroke is among the best in this class.

I know these aren’t the names many of us were hoping to get called on Draft Day but the Magic did an excellent job at adding tantalizing, talented young players with size, and after digesting these picks for awhile I think most of you will agree with me.
This FO has proven that when they reach on a player people are not as high on, they do not miss.

Franz Wagner at 8 was considered a reach (I distinctly remember people clamoring for Moses Moody or Ziaire Williams).

Wendell Carter Jr., Markelle Fultz, Moe Wagner, and Bol Bol have all exceeded expectations in Orlando, so I think this FO has earned a little bit more trust from this fanbase over the years.

Anthony Black and Jett Howard are two versatile, high high quality NBA caliber talents who do a little bit of everything and are high character individuals.
The future is still incredibly bright, and this FO deserves your patience in assembling the right roster to push this team towards title contention.

Now if Orlando adds shooters like Donte DiVincenzo and Max Strus in free agency the Magic could really be on to something with this offseason.
Magic on top baby, the dynasty starts in 2023.

Best post for weeks in here

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM mobile app

[axl_c_cool]

My favorite part of draft day is when a team picks a player the fans don't like\want and you hear them constantly say "it was a reach and if that's who we wanted, we could of easily traded down" as if all teams are using espns draft rankings to make picks

Listen, the same people saying that Jett shouldn't of been so early are the same ones who had cam whitmore as a LOCK for the top 5

Look no further than the news that broke yesterday about the grizz\franz. They traded up before the draft to 9 with the expectations of drafting Franz yet our entire board screamed we could of traded down and gotten him later.
You have no idea how other teams rank players

As for black, it's so weird to see a board that is OBSESSED with josh giddey, hate on black so much. He's the closest thing to giddy in this draft and maybe even a better prospect (than when giddy was drafted, not what he is today) since he's more athletic and a better defender than giddy was supposed to be.

Was this everyone's dream draft? No
But did we do what everyone wanted...draft a pg of the future (I'm still a huge fultz fan and want him here for a long time) and add a top flight shooter at SG...yeah..., just wasn't the players WE wanted....but I think weham have proven themselves in the draft that they know what they are doing so I'll trust that these guys might just be ok

Another great post!

Sent from my SM-G996B using RealGM mobile app

[pepe1991]

Complaining about people complaining is also complaining, especially when you can't elaborate own opinions, rather steal posts from reddit and pretend it's your own opinion

[drsd]

I'd be happy if Jett ended up like Strus. Strus played SG/SF this season.

And-1

Strus' rookie year: 2.5 ppg on 2 games played. Year two: 6.1 ppg in 39 games played. It was only in year three that Strus was more than a scrub. Even last year, Strus is predominantly a bench guy (33 games starting in 80 played).

This is exactly he progression I expect for Howard. No minutes in year 1. Scrub minutes in year 2. Then actual, meaningful minutes in year three.

[drsd]

Complaining about people complaining is also complaining, especially when you can't elaborate own opinions, rather steal posts from reddit and pretend it's your own opinion

[jezzerinho]

https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/nba-draft-grades-for-jett-howard-kobe-bufkin-picks-im-a-bit-befuddled.html

I had no clue that other big name draft people didn't really hold back on how baffling Jett Howard 11 is

Especially John Hollinger

I think the issue partially was - having taken a guard at 6 (and already having a glut of guards) are you going to take another PG or combo? That ruled out most of the more attractive options at 11, imo. Even then, I'd have leant towards Hawkins.

[VFX]

https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/nba-draft-grades-for-jett-howard-kobe-bufkin-picks-im-a-bit-befuddled.html

Pretty much what everyone echoed on draft night before reading or watching any of these professional reactions.

Orlando reached for Howard as opposed to maybe 3 other options that all provided varying degrees of the same skillset.

Howard was their guy. They’ve probably known for a while now they were taking him before mock drafts started shaping up. Sure, they could have maximized value by moving back. This FO wouldn’t do something like that. They play everything safe. They just went out and took their guy they’ve known they were taking since probably February.

Jett might become the better player out of all of those other options assuming Weltman took him believing what he told the media about his injury being the reason he was one dimensional and lacked lateral quickness defensively. We’ll see if his bet on Howard pays off and Bufkin, Hawkins, George, Whitehead, and Dick don’t become better players. That’s the bet you are making with the selection.

[tiderulz]

https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2023/06/nba-draft-grades-for-jett-howard-kobe-bufkin-picks-im-a-bit-befuddled.html

Pretty much what everyone echoed on draft night before reading or watching any of these professional reactions.

Orlando reached for Howard as opposed to maybe 3 other options that all provided varying degrees of the same skillset.

Howard was their guy. They’ve probably known for a while now they were taking him before mock drafts started shaping up. Sure, they could have maximized value by moving back. This FO wouldn’t do something like that. They play everything safe. They just went out and took their guy they’ve known they were taking since probably February.

Jett might become the better player out of all of those other options assuming Weltman took him believing what he told the media about his injury being the reason he was one dimensional and lacked lateral quickness defensively. We’ll see if his bet on Howard pays off and Bufkin, Hawkins, George, Whitehead, and Dick don’t become better players. That’s the bet you are making with the selection.

and thats the thing i believe. they come into the draft with their guys and they just CANT modify the plan. maybe they did once and i cant remember, but ive never seen them trade/move in the draft. they aren't agile. they zero in on a prospect or 2 and thats it, they just take them. i will say, Jezz is probably also right in that since the draft of Black, Jett can do both wing positions. he wont be able to guard either one well, but he at least has the size.

[PrimeThyme]

The draft we had is just not the kind of draft the media will ever latch onto.

ESPN and other draft outlets are going to grade and react to drafts based on consensus mocks and the overall star power of a given player. Houston's draft is the kind of draft they go crazy for. A highlight reel guard at the 4 spot and then a highlight reel forward at pick 20 who all of the consensus mocks had going inside the top 9.

Now whether it was actually a better draft than ours or not, will only play out in time.

It's hard to argue that it was better from a team construction standpoint. Whitmore even with all his red flags aside, is about the worst possible fit for Houston considering the ball-dominant/iso culture they already have there and his complete inability to do anything but put his head down and look to score when the ball swings to him. Amen needs the ball in his hands to really capitalize on his talent/skillset, && I rarely see that happening in Houston with the players they have there.

That's not really the point though. In a vacuum, they got great value and drafted players the Media has deemed talented and exciting. Anthony Black for what his skillset is and Jett Howard for where he was mocked just don't check those boxes.

[jonbob17]

Anthony Black was BPA. I would have rather had him than either of the Thompson twins. I like cason too, but he's 6'2.5" vs 6'6". Guys that are tall, can pass, anticipate the game, and play defense have a pretty clear path in the NBA. The shot isn't where it needs to be, but now he will have proper coaching and time to learn the craft.

Howard can shoot, dribble, and pass, has nice size. These are the types of guys that are earn playoff minutes. I preferred Gradey, thought he was better all around, the better shooter, but he looks small compared to Howard. Especially in the shoulders. The defense is worrisome...the lack of rebounding was a put off for me. But the offense looks real. Someone is going to need to light a fire under his ass, and we will see what happens. I think Howard has the potential to be more versatile positionally, think Gradey might get stuck at guard.

I have no idea who people wanted us to take at 6. The only other shooter in the lottery that wasn't available at 11 was Hendricks, and the board had him pegged as a PF.
Seemed like an ideal draft, didn't have to worry about the allure of the Thompsons. Got their guy at 6, and reached for their guy at 11. At least they got guys they are now invested in.

[Kent]

You can call the draft anything you want right now but until a player (or players) have played any significant amount of games, it's still a blank slate.

Go back and read the thread after the trade with Chicago. People thought that was terrible for us. And it could've been if Franz didn't pan out and Wendell didn't prove himself. But even before we see what Jett becomes, I'm sure most of us would agree it was a great trade.

Even if you think it was a bad draft, give yourself and everyone a break and wait to see if they guys show you something.

You have nothing to lose except your current opinion.

[drsd]

Go back and read the thread after the trade with Chicago. People thought that was terrible for us. And it could've been if Franz didn't pan out and Wendell didn't prove himself. But even before we see what Jett becomes, I'm sure most of us would agree it was a great trade.

And-1

Nikola Vučević and Al-Farouq Aminu for Wendell Carter, Otto Porter, Franz Wagner and Jett Howard: Orlando did a LOT more than "win" this trade. Getting rid of Aminu was a value for Orlando in of itself. Porter provided a waivable contact to make cap space. Carter is arguably a better Magician than Vučević is for this team as constructed. So even without Franz Wagner and Jett Howard, this was a pretty good trade for Orlando. With them, WOW. Orlando hosed Chicago!

..

[OrlandoSaban]

I am just looking forward to another garbage season and I can’t wait who we tank for in the draft for 2024. It’s going to finally be the year we get the #1 dream pick we have always wanted

[drsd]

I am just looking forward to another garbage season and I can’t wait who we tank for in the draft for 2024.

Where is the "report this post" button again ????


..

[BlueBalls]

Bad might be putting it nicely, more like a horrible draft IMO. I feel bad for Paolo because defenses can key in on him and Franz even more now clogging the paint. Anthony Black has a totally broke shot and only shot 70% from the free throw line ( Fultz shot 78% this season ) so there isn’t much suggesting it will get better. His mechanics are also bad, he gets no lift or elevation on his shot and it’s so slow. Obviously drafting height and length isn’t working yet we keeping picking the fruit off that tree despite the results. Black can’t play three positions and his only strength doesn’t out way his weaknesses.

Another problem IMO was what happened with picks 7,8,10, and 12, possibly even pick 14. We could have drafted Bilal with the 6th pick and used him to swap with the Wizards at 8 cutting out the Pacers from that deal. We would have still got Anthony Black and whatever else could have be thrown in. OKC jumped in front of us basically at 10 with the Mav’s swap we don’t know why that was but it was strange. We don’t know if there was a plan leaked that caused that but still would have liked to know the story on that one. Pick 14 was reported to have been available as the Pelicans wanted to move up, the time it was reported was around the 10th 11th pick…. Why didn’t the Magic just trade back to 14 and take Howard who would have been there and gain assets?

Jordan Hawkins was the SG we needed. I don’t care what anyone says about him, is perfect for the team we have. Anyone else notice when Hawkins was drafted the comparisons they made for him? Richard Hamilton and Ray Allen! The way he uses screens and catches the ball shooting almost instantly is a huge benefit and threat for defenses. He would have opened up the paint for Paolo and Franz and spaced the floor. His strength alone lifts everyone on the team. That catch and shoot ability coming off those screens and pin downs, his ability to be a threat without the ball in hand, is rare. Bottom line we drafted wrong but not only did we draft wrong, we could have made trades and moved around in the draft to get those guys a little later.

To all fans who criticize the FO for the picks and are dissatisfied:
Take over the FO and do a better job.

Or support another team.

So we need to fall in line and cease any questioning of Big Brothers. Right. We’re allowed to have opinions. Even ones you don’t like. Here’s another - this draft was poo.