2018/2019 NBA draft talk: Who should be our target? (Poll)

[NotACat]

If the Magic take a wing with their first pick, and look for a PG later. What do y'all think of Cassius Winston at Michigan State?

I think he'll be a fine backup PG in the NBA, but I'd rather take a shot at another wing player since Briscoe is playing well and I don't see us moving DJ until we see what Fultz can do.

Tyler Herro anyone?

I'm a fan of the kid, especially his playmaking. He could be a great 6th man and plug in starter if we have injuries. I think he has as good a shot of being successful in the league as anyone else predicted to be drafted in bottom half of the 1st round.

[VFX]

Let me ask you guys this...

If Reddish had been considered a late first rounder and not a top 3 pick in the preseason, would anyone be considering him a sure fire lottery pick right now?

Because that guy's stats are really lacking for a guy who people are still penciling in as a top 5 pick.

Shooting 35.6% from the floor with more assists than turnovers? I'm not seeing it.

It also has a lot to do with the system he’s in at Duke. He’s really the only perimeter threat in the starting lineup alongside Tre Jones, Barrett, and Zion. None of which are amazing shooters. That, and he’s going to be sharing the ball with those guys which means less volume. The ball stops at R.J. and Zion 90% of the time.

[Knightro]

It also has a lot to do with the system he’s in at Duke. He’s really the only perimeter threat in the starting lineup alongside Tre Jones, Barrett, and Zion. None of which are amazing shooters. That, and he’s going to be sharing the ball with those guys which means less volume. The ball stops at R.J. and Zion 90% of the time.

I'm sure you've watched more full Duke games than I have, but doesn't the fact that RJ and Zion create so much gravity and essentially ensure that no defense is ever going to be keyed in on stopping Reddish and he's still not shooting the ball well concern you?

His volume is obviously lower playing with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft, but I would argue that the quality of his shot attempts are actually higher than it would be in a different system.

Every Duke game I've watched this season, it certainly appears that Reddish gets more wide open looks than he would normally get in a system where he was the No. 1 or even No. 2 option.

[MoMM]

Let me ask you guys this...

If Reddish had been considered a late first rounder and not a top 3 pick in the preseason, would anyone be considering him a sure fire lottery pick right now?

Because that guy's stats are really lacking for a guy who people are still penciling in as a top 5 pick.

Shooting 35.6% from the floor with more assists than turnovers? I'm not seeing it.

I would be really disappointed if we draft him.

[yoyojw17]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/252765/Magic-Become-First-NBA-Team-To-Use-AI-Player-Tracking-Data

The Orlando Magic announced an exclusive deal as the only NBA team with access to AutoSTATS, a revolutionary new artificial intelligence (AI) technology from STATS.

The Magic will use tracking data produced by AutoSTATS to analyze collegiate players and improve evaluation and decisions for the NBA draft. AutoSTATS delivers comprehensive player-tracking data directly from video through patented AI and computer vision technology. The new technology gives the Magic exclusive access to the college tracking data currently unavailable at this scale due to the scarce use of in-venue tracking systems.

Wow.... Magic getting all High tech up in this b****! Awesome.... happy to see them incorporate other avenues of intelligence in the hopes of making the best decision possible. Great job WeHam!

[VFX]

It also has a lot to do with the system he’s in at Duke. He’s really the only perimeter threat in the starting lineup alongside Tre Jones, Barrett, and Zion. None of which are amazing shooters. That, and he’s going to be sharing the ball with those guys which means less volume. The ball stops at R.J. and Zion 90% of the time.

I'm sure you've watched more full Duke games than I have, but doesn't the fact that RJ and Zion create so much gravity and essentially ensure that no defense is ever going to be keyed in on stopping Reddish and he's still not shooting the ball well concern you?

His volume is obviously lower playing with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft, but I would argue that the quality of his shot attempts are actually higher than it would be in a different system.

Every Duke game I've watched this season, it certainly appears that Reddish gets more wide open looks than he would normally get in a system where he was the No. 1 or even No. 2 option.

Look, Orlando isn’t drafting Cam anyway because we will be picking somewhere around 15th in the lottery with one of the easier schedules remaining.

This draft is pretty much a total crapshoot outside of the top 3 anyway. Every prospect has serious questions about their game at the next level. I would take RJ, Zion, KZ, and Ja over Cam with what we know up to this point. Probably Culver too.

[MoMM]

Big change in this thread, at first we were expecting a Top 7 pick and perhaps get lucky in the lottery and then draft Zion/Ja/Barrett... Now we are about to draft between 15th and 17th if we make the playoffs. I just hope we can get a useful scoring player at wing with our 1st as we shouldn't spend on a backup PG (Briscoe and Fultz) and C is set (Vuc, Bamba and Birch). If Rui is available, I'd take a flyer on him.

With our 2nd round pick, I think we should go for a backup PF or an international prospect.

[Magic_Johnny12]

Big change in this thread, at first we were expecting a Top 7 pick and perhaps get lucky in the lottery and then draft Zion/Ja/Barrett... Now we are about to draft between 15th and 17th if we make the playoffs. I just hope we can get a useful scoring player at wing with our 1st as we shouldn't spend on a backup PG (Briscoe and Fultz) and C is set (Vuc, Bamba and Birch). If Rui is available, I'd take a flyer on him.

With our 2nd round pick, I think we should go for a backup PF or an international prospect.

Fultz is the unknown and Briscoe isn’t quality depth. We absolutely still need to address the PG position, but I’m not disagreeing with you. If Nickeil Alexander-Walker is there you take him and run and try to move up in the second round and draft one of Coby White or Ponds.

[NotACat]

Big change in this thread, at first we were expecting a Top 7 pick and perhaps get lucky in the lottery and then draft Zion/Ja/Barrett... Now we are about to draft between 15th and 17th if we make the playoffs. I just hope we can get a useful scoring player at wing with our 1st as we shouldn't spend on a backup PG (Briscoe and Fultz) and C is set (Vuc, Bamba and Birch). If Rui is available, I'd take a flyer on him.

With our 2nd round pick, I think we should go for a backup PF or an international prospect.

Fultz is the unknown and Briscoe isn’t quality depth. We absolutely still need to address the PG position, but I’m not disagreeing with you. If Nickeil Alexander-Walker is there you take him and run and try to move up in the second round and draft one of Coby White or Ponds.

I personally think Briscoe has shown he is a solid backup PG, but there's a lot of room for improvement. That 2nd unit desperately needs more shooting. Coby won't be there in the 2nd, but getting Ponds would be great.

[MoMM]

Big change in this thread, at first we were expecting a Top 7 pick and perhaps get lucky in the lottery and then draft Zion/Ja/Barrett... Now we are about to draft between 15th and 17th if we make the playoffs. I just hope we can get a useful scoring player at wing with our 1st as we shouldn't spend on a backup PG (Briscoe and Fultz) and C is set (Vuc, Bamba and Birch). If Rui is available, I'd take a flyer on him.

With our 2nd round pick, I think we should go for a backup PF or an international prospect.

Fultz is the unknown and Briscoe isn’t quality depth. We absolutely still need to address the PG position, but I’m not disagreeing with you. If Nickeil Alexander-Walker is there you take him and run and try to move up in the second round and draft one of Coby White or Ponds.

I personally think Briscoe has shown he is a solid backup PG, but there's a lot of room for improvement. That 2nd unit desperately needs more shooting. Coby won't be there in the 2nd, but getting Ponds would be great.

Yes, we definitely need more scoring from our bench unit, that's why I'd draft Rui if he is available.

As for Fultz-Briscoe combo, if Fultz plays at least backup minutes, we wouldn't be able to develop a 1st round pick PG properly, that's why I think we should focus on other positions. Briscoe is OK as a plan B and I believe that perhaps he can become a good backup. If nothing works with these 2 players, we still can sign a veteran PG for cheap.

[NotACat]

Fultz is the unknown and Briscoe isn’t quality depth. We absolutely still need to address the PG position, but I’m not disagreeing with you. If Nickeil Alexander-Walker is there you take him and run and try to move up in the second round and draft one of Coby White or Ponds.

I personally think Briscoe has shown he is a solid backup PG, but there's a lot of room for improvement. That 2nd unit desperately needs more shooting. Coby won't be there in the 2nd, but getting Ponds would be great.

Yes, we definitely need more scoring from our bench unit, that's why I'd draft Rui if he is available.

As for Fultz-Briscoe combo, if Fultz plays at least backup minutes, we wouldn't be able to develop a 1st round pick PG properly, that's why I think we should focus on other positions. Briscoe is OK as a plan B and I believe that perhaps he can become a good backup. If nothing works with these 2 players, we still can sign a veteran PG for cheap.

Its a good thing that we have one more year of DJ Augustine before we need to make major decisions at the PG position

[VFX]

Congratulations. If the season ended today, Orlando would officially be considered out of the lottery according to tankathon.

Currently at #15 almost none of these prospects are in our range.

[Knightro]

Congratulations. If the season ended today, Orlando would officially be considered out of the lottery according to tankathon.

Currently at #15 almost none of these prospects are in our range.

What do you think of Coby White at or around 15?

[VFX]

Congratulations. If the season ended today, Orlando would officially be considered out of the lottery according to tankathon.

Currently at #15 almost none of these prospects are in our range.

What do you think of Coby White at or around 15?

Guards at 15 in order for me -
Tre Jones, Coby White, Porter Jr.

[Knightro]

Guards at 15 in order for me -
Tre Jones, Coby White, Porter Jr.

I could get behind any of those three for different reasons.

[BadHombre]

Congratulations. If the season ended today, Orlando would officially be considered out of the lottery according to tankathon.

Currently at #15 almost none of these prospects are in our range.

What do you think of Coby White at or around 15?

I’m sure this comp will infuriate people, but I see a lot of similarities to Fournier’s game in Coby. Great shooter, natural scorer, won’t break down a defense with fancy dribbles but can get into the paint when traveling down hill with a head of steam.

Major differences are that Coby has more athleticism and plays with more pace, seems more active in passing lanes on defense, and because he’s been forced into PG this season he’s learning to become a much more natural facilitator (although his passes are the same kind of passes Fournier makes but he just adds the no-look flash).

Kid looks like a really good value pick. Don’t expect him to become a star, but he could become a high quality rotation guy.

[BadHombre]

It also has a lot to do with the system he’s in at Duke. He’s really the only perimeter threat in the starting lineup alongside Tre Jones, Barrett, and Zion. None of which are amazing shooters. That, and he’s going to be sharing the ball with those guys which means less volume. The ball stops at R.J. and Zion 90% of the time.

I'm sure you've watched more full Duke games than I have, but doesn't the fact that RJ and Zion create so much gravity and essentially ensure that no defense is ever going to be keyed in on stopping Reddish and he's still not shooting the ball well concern you?

His volume is obviously lower playing with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft, but I would argue that the quality of his shot attempts are actually higher than it would be in a different system.

Every Duke game I've watched this season, it certainly appears that Reddish gets more wide open looks than he would normally get in a system where he was the No. 1 or even No. 2 option.

Cam will end up somewhere on the spectrum between Ben McLemore and Brad Beal, imo. His season isn’t great so far, but he’s had some strong shooting streaks, and he has all the tools to excel if he can put them together. Would I bank on him as a star to turn a franchise around? Hell no. But I wouldn’t be unhappy if my team drafted him. Right now he looks like a classic case of a guy who needs the game to slow down for him so he can learn to pick his shots and get himself set every time. Ross would be a great mentor for that.

You’re right though, his numbers should be astronomically efficient given the gravity of Zion and RJ. But I don’t think a poor shooting season this season should forever mark him as a bad shooter.

[MMFla]

I'm defintely on the Coby White train. I'd still like him or Garland even with Fultz they can play together off ball as scorers.

2nd round I'm liking Cam Johnson or Matisse Thybulle.

[Xatticus]

It also has a lot to do with the system he’s in at Duke. He’s really the only perimeter threat in the starting lineup alongside Tre Jones, Barrett, and Zion. None of which are amazing shooters. That, and he’s going to be sharing the ball with those guys which means less volume. The ball stops at R.J. and Zion 90% of the time.

I'm sure you've watched more full Duke games than I have, but doesn't the fact that RJ and Zion create so much gravity and essentially ensure that no defense is ever going to be keyed in on stopping Reddish and he's still not shooting the ball well concern you?

His volume is obviously lower playing with the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in the draft, but I would argue that the quality of his shot attempts are actually higher than it would be in a different system.

Every Duke game I've watched this season, it certainly appears that Reddish gets more wide open looks than he would normally get in a system where he was the No. 1 or even No. 2 option.

Cam will end up somewhere on the spectrum between Ben McLemore and Brad Beal, imo. His season isn’t great so far, but he’s had some strong shooting streaks, and he has all the tools to excel if he can put them together. Would I bank on him as a star to turn a franchise around? Hell no. But I wouldn’t be unhappy if my team drafted him. Right now he looks like a classic case of a guy who needs the game to slow down for him so he can learn to pick his shots and get himself set every time. Ross would be a great mentor for that.

You’re right though, his numbers should be astronomically efficient given the gravity of Zion and RJ. But I don’t think a poor shooting season this season should forever mark him as a bad shooter.

I just don't think his toolkit is all that impressive. He has plus size for a wing, but ordinary athleticism. He has shown very little versatility at the offensive end. He doesn't get to the rim and his finishing around the rim is poor. He hasn't been good from midrange either. He scores 56% of his points on 3-point shots. That is an exceptionally high percentage. That's Tony Snell territory. Even prolific 3-point shooters like Trae Young and Steph Curry accrued a much lower percentage of their points from 3-point shots at both the collegiate and NBA levels.

On top of all this, I just don't see any compelling reason to believe that he is a better shooter than what he has shown this season. I don't see a special shooter when I watch him play. I don't see a guy that can use his dribble to create. I don't see a guy that knows how to finish when he gets into the paint. He looks to me like a guy that will be an easy cover at the NBA level and a player that you can hide a poor defender on.

I think to draft Reddish, you have to believe that Duke's system and personnel have been significant hindrances to his ability to use his talents at the offensive end. I'm not talking about per game numbers here, but rather that you have to have legitimate explanations for why he has shown so little versatility as a scorer. I think you would have to be very impressed by his character as well.

[drsd]

Cam will end up somewhere on the spectrum between Ben McLemore and Brad Beal, imo.

Assuming the Magic draft #15, that is a good pickup.


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