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

[Petre1978]

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.

[OrlandoMagic]

Don’t worry man those who complain are still going to root for the Magic. They just play hard on the forum

[RichCollab]

But you have to admit we had a bad draft. There is no reason to sugarcoat it.

[fendilim]

Could it have been better? Yes.

Black was a good pick. Jett was a reach, but he still checks the box.

I think Jett is more of a fit thing. He can create and run some pick and roll.

Black Jett also has good positional size, Black even elite positional size at the point.

[Mule Tears]

Good post. We'll see.

[The Effect]

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

[The Effect]

.

Black Jett also has good positional size, Black even elite positional size at the point.

Kinda funny, if these 2 guys do pan out and are part of our core 4, think of the size of that line up

PG - 6'7 black
SG - 6'8 Howard
SF - 6'11 Franz (Cole says he's grown since last year lol)
PF - 6'10 Paolo (seems taller in pics this year so who knows)

Now we just need a taller center and we will have a Monsters Inc lineup!

[three3d]

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.

[p0peye]

It was a stinky draft.

[fendilim]

.

Black Jett also has good positional size, Black even elite positional size at the point.

Kinda funny, if these 2 guys do pan out and are part of our core 4, think of the size of that line up

PG - 6'7 black
SG - 6'8 Howard
SF - 6'11 Franz (Cole says he's grown since last year lol)
PF - 6'10 Paolo (seems taller in pics this year so who knows)

Now we just need a taller center and we will have a Monsters Inc lineup!

Zvonimir ivisivic

[Message Boar]

.

Black Jett also has good positional size, Black even elite positional size at the point.

Kinda funny, if these 2 guys do pan out and are part of our core 4, think of the size of that line up

PG - 6'7 black
SG - 6'8 Howard
SF - 6'11 Franz (Cole says he's grown since last year lol)
PF - 6'10 Paolo (seems taller in pics this year so who knows)

Now we just need a taller center and we will have a Monsters Inc lineup!

Zvonimir ivisivic

Kai Sotto, clearly.

[Audi]

Both picks are trash busts. I don’t even need to see them play .01 seconds of NBA basketball, because the mocks don’t lie. Weltham should be immediately fired and we should bring in someone competent from this forum to blow up the team and start from scratch because this ain’t it. Wizards 2.0.

[IllMagic04]

Its absolutely a bad draft on paper. We will see how it looks on the court

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

[Audi]

Its absolutely a bad draft on paper. We will see how it looks on the court

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

What paper are you reading and who exactly wrote it?

[Petre1978]

Its absolutely a bad draft on paper. We will see how it looks on the court

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

I’ve come to realize that I trust this front office enough that they know what they’re doing, than trust our fans and these mock drafts when all they do is watch film and go off of who everyone else is taking, when drafting is a lot more than that.

They have intel and knowledge that we don’t know about with these players.
They have hit more homeruns not only in the draft, but also trades. (Paolo, Franz, WCJ), than strikeouts (Mo Bamba, RJ Hampton).

Clearly the FO saw something in Black and Howard and have a long term vision and I think we all should sit back and watch till otherwise.
At the end of the day we aren’t scouts or experts, we are just fans.

[Petre1978]

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.

[Petre1978]

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

Great post and fair arguments!
Thank you Sir!

[bigdogdylan5]

It’s all opinion. So if you think they had a bad draft or a ok draft or even a good draft it’s all your opinion. I wasn’t thrilled about Black but as long as we do some cleanup on the roster I think I am fine. I really don’t see much difference between Jett and Grady but again that is my opinion. My dad was through this process was like why aren’t we taking Jett and I said because his defense isn’t great. Then you kind of realize that well Grady isn’t exactly a world beater on that end. Sorry if sounding like a broken broken record but I think we are too influenced by mocks. You see Grady at 11 and Howard at 22 and you’re like damn Grady must be twice as good which is bull. Everyone drafted 10-20 we’re pretty much the same tier it’s just preference. Then you had the injury trigger with Jett that made it even worse. But damn every basketball player will have an injury to their ankle at some point lol. The numbers also tell a compelling story there. We will see. Decisions need to be made now. I finally think I agree with Pepe maybe not right now but during this season and certainly after next this can’t be the roster it’s too crowded.

[three3d]

Its absolutely a bad draft on paper. We will see how it looks on the court

Sent from my SM-G970U using RealGM mobile app

I’ve come to realize that I trust this front office enough that they know what they’re doing, than trust our fans and these mock drafts when all they do is watch film and go off of who everyone else is taking, when drafting is a lot more than that.

They have intel and knowledge that we don’t know about with these players.
They have hit more homeruns not only in the draft, but also trades. (Paolo, Franz, WCJ), than strikeouts (Mo Bamba, RJ Hampton).

Clearly the FO saw something in Black and Howard and have a long term vision and I think we all should sit back and watch till otherwise.
At the end of the day we aren’t scouts or experts, we are just fans.

Umm this front office has been seeing something in players all the way back to 2017. How’s that been working out for us….? I honestly think it’s accidental when they get it right and that can probably only be said about Paolo and Franz. Might throw Cole in there but it’s to be determined what they will do with him now. They still have time to mess up the Cole situation and seem to have got a start on it with the draft.

[bigdogdylan5]

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.

It’s always a hilarious to me the pure hubris with some people and their draft opinions. You think you are an expert because you watched 6 10-minute YouTube videos that’s if you didn’t just stop at the strengths and skip the weaknesses. Counter that with the scouts and data team that was probably pulling 12-14 hour days the last month in effort. Not to mention the medical briefings and interviews that you don’t get to see. They might be wrong because the draft is a crap shoot sometimes but I think it’s incredibly telling if you think 1-2 hours of work vs hundreds of hours throughout makes you more knowledgeable I can’t help you.